UKBouldering.com

technical => computers, technology and the internet => Topic started by: Tris on February 11, 2010, 10:25:16 am

Title: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 11, 2010, 10:25:16 am
After Google announced they were planning on putting a Gigabit broadband network into the US, are they coming here too?

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/broadband/355462/is-google-planning-to-fibre-britain (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/broadband/355462/is-google-planning-to-fibre-britain)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 11, 2010, 10:32:28 am
Better them than BT. They might actually get it done.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Bernard Jefferies on February 11, 2010, 10:38:46 am
I doubt it!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 11, 2010, 10:40:42 am
Better them than BT. They might actually get it done.
That's what I thought, BT are frickin useless  ;D
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 11, 2010, 10:41:04 am
I doubt it!
Do you work for BT?  ;)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 11, 2010, 11:22:02 am
BT are total cunts. We had loads of problems with our broadband and it took three visits from their engineers (and months in between) to find out that it was actually their external wiring to the house that was the problem.

Meanwhile, during one of the visits, one of the fuckers had disconnected the extension to the attic (that we had to pay the cunts to put in when we moved in) although I only found out about this months later when I attempted to shift the wireless modem upstairs. It didn't work and when I checked the extension box downstairs I found that the wires had just been stuffed into it rather than reconnected.

When I called them to complain the woman said that they had no record of the engineers visits because the problem was sorted through Sky (who we have the broadband with) and if I wanted an engineer to come and fix the problem they would charge me £125. MOTHERFUCKERS! £125 to fix the problem they caused! Eventually I got an electrician to fix it for me which cost very little but that's not the point.

We only had the line rental with BT because we used ti be with Talk Talk (also cunts) and couldn't switch everything over to Sky (owned by a cunt but very good service......so far) without first having a BT line again for a year.

During that year we had a few problems (BT overcharging in comparison to quoted costs etc) the major one being our line not working for a few days. We reported the problem (when you called our number you got the mobile of a bloke with a shop on West St) and after jumping through a load of hoops (including having to agree that if the problem was of our causing, you guessed it, a £125 charge) and doing various tests an engineer came out when we weren't in. He put a card through the door and I got a call saying the problem was at the exchange and had been fixed. Except it still didn't work.

So we got another engineer out who came round when I was out but my Mrs was in, told her that the problem had been fixed and that the only problem was that I'd not plugged the router back into the socket. Er....hello! I'd plugged the phone directly into the master test socket thing and there was no dial tone.

Anyway, when I got back I found that it was all working so though nothing of it. The guy had obviously fixed the problem at the exchange prior to coming round to ours and then sorted the setup at our end. This was all fine until we got our final bill from BT (as we were then able to switch to Sky for the line rental) with......... a £125 call out charge on it!

I spent hours on the phone arguing the toss with unfortunate Indian call centre staff, their managers and their manager but got absolutely nowhere as the engineer had written in his report that the only problem when he came out was that we had not plugged the router in. This was a lie but according to them was set in stone.

My Mrs eventually paid them to avoid the lengthy process of it going to small claims etc and possibly affecting her credit rating. To be honest it is well worth £125 just to never have to deal with the fucking cunty cunts again.

/rant
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 11, 2010, 11:33:12 am
Fuck, what a fucking nightmare - I feel your pain  :)

We have a guy at work in the Networks and Comms team and his job is literally to ring up and shout at BT each day, I kid you not. So even if you pay them hundreds of thousands of pounds each year, they are still shit!!

I could list several ludicrous stories of BT's continual shitness, but I don't want to bore people  ;D
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 11, 2010, 12:03:26 pm
Fuck, what a fucking nightmare - I feel your pain  :)

We have a guy at work in the Networks and Comms team and his job is literally to ring up and shout at BT each day, I kid you not.

 :lol:

I'm qualified for that job.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 11, 2010, 02:00:49 pm
Not come across this myself, but according to my colleague it is fairly common:

Intel says warranties evaporate when kit resold (http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2010/02/11/intel_warranty/)

A 2 second google seems to suggest similar policies applying to cars, mobile phones and Nikon cameras  :o

Well you learn something new every day! I will be thinking twice about buying second hand goods in future...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: dave on February 11, 2010, 02:25:26 pm
Obviously second-hand gear isn't covered by the original warranty, this is perfectly normal. Warranties almost always apply only to the original purchaser.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 11, 2010, 02:36:17 pm
One exception I encountered was the 7-year warranty on the bodywork of my car which, from what I'd read, was time and not owner limited (unfortunately the door which had developed rust wasn't original so I couldn't claim anyway  >:().
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: dave on February 11, 2010, 02:48:48 pm
Did that warranty cover peak district tarmac rash to the doors, roof, other door, door again, roof, other door etc etc?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 11, 2010, 02:54:06 pm
As I said I've not come across this before, mainly because I don't tend to be second hand kit (of any variety) and have only ever needed to claim under manufacturers warranty for failed hard drives (which I buy from new) and a washing machine (again bought from new).

The thing is, I'm sure there are many things that are resold frequently - like cars, cameras/lenses etc and I would expect the warranty to still exist with the new owner.

As slack---line says the paint on his car was an exception, however if I bought a one year old Audi I would expect it to still be under warranty, clearly I assumed wrong!!!

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 11, 2010, 02:57:16 pm
Did that warranty cover peak district tarmac rash to the doors, roof, other door, door again, roof, other door etc etc?

 :lol: Unfortunately not  :-[

(Overall a good thing writing the car off as it meant we I didn't have to sort out the rusty door, or have the thing devalue further)

Most warranties are designed to expire just before the items develop problems anyway, so are pretty useless.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 11, 2010, 03:04:52 pm
Bird at work has a Sony TV which packed in after 13 months. Exactly a month after the warranty expired. I suggested trading standards, Sale of Goods Act or something should still cover it as 13 months is hardly an acceptable life for a £600 TV.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 11, 2010, 03:26:59 pm
Bird at work has a Sony TV which packed in after 13 months. Exactly a month after the warranty expired. I suggested trading standards, Sale of Goods Act or something should still cover it as 13 months is hardly an acceptable life for a £600 TV.
I've been doing some reading about this after my revelation about warranties earlier. It seems that under UK law you have up to 6 years (in England) to claim if they develop a fault. I could be interpreting this wrong though..

I agree (and I think most people would too) and would expect a TV to last longer than 12 (13) months...

http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/consumers/fact-sheets/page38311.html (http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/consumers/fact-sheets/page38311.html)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: dave on February 11, 2010, 03:34:27 pm
Bird at work has a Sony TV which packed in after 13 months. Exactly a month after the warranty expired. I suggested trading standards, Sale of Goods Act or something should still cover it as 13 months is hardly an acceptable life for a £600 TV.
I've been doing some reading about this after my revelation about warranties earlier. It seems that under UK law you have up to 6 years (in England) to claim if they develop a fault. I could be interpreting this wrong though..

You're reading it right. Manufacturers/retailers often play dumb on this point though, knowing that a proportion of people won't bother to follow them up. Same goes for the retailer's old line of "well, you'll have to contact the manufacturer about that, its nothing to do with us" etc etc.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 11, 2010, 03:40:30 pm
Word. Know your rights. BT are still cunts though.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Houdini on February 11, 2010, 03:44:56 pm
I'm confused Jasper  ???


Could you clarify what BT are for me, please?

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 11, 2010, 03:55:43 pm
CUNTS.

Apologies for not making myself more clear.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Houdini on February 11, 2010, 03:59:17 pm
Thanks  ;)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 11, 2010, 04:00:10 pm
CUNTS.
A shared opinion:

http://ohforfuckssake.com/category/tags/bt-are-cunts (http://ohforfuckssake.com/category/tags/bt-are-cunts)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 11, 2010, 04:04:30 pm
I thought I might need to cut back on the amount I swear until I read this........

http://ohforfuckssake.com/blogs/im-cunt-and-windows-7-was-my-idea (http://ohforfuckssake.com/blogs/im-cunt-and-windows-7-was-my-idea)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 11, 2010, 04:08:03 pm
I thought I might need to cut back on the amount I swear until I read this........

http://ohforfuckssake.com/blogs/im-cunt-and-windows-7-was-my-idea (http://ohforfuckssake.com/blogs/im-cunt-and-windows-7-was-my-idea)

Thats fucking brilliant!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 11, 2010, 04:10:38 pm
Quote
dude... cunt the cunt right off...

Lyrical mastery...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: cofe on February 11, 2010, 04:11:50 pm
Jasper does swear a lot doesn't he?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 11, 2010, 04:42:56 pm
Opera have released their new browser this morning claiming to be faster than Chrome (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/11/opera/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 11, 2010, 05:36:26 pm
If you are running Windows XP be careful about installing any updates (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/11/ms_bsod_update_glitch/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on February 11, 2010, 07:06:56 pm
I thought I might need to cut back on the amount I swear until I read this........

http://ohforfuckssake.com/blogs/im-cunt-and-windows-7-was-my-idea (http://ohforfuckssake.com/blogs/im-cunt-and-windows-7-was-my-idea)

Jasper, do you own your own firm or does your boss give you internet access in hrs of work?

It's just if I swore all the fucking time on work servers I'd b cunted by the spyware the twats have installed.

( 3G dongle saves me)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 12, 2010, 08:13:54 am
You work for the NHS, I do self employed work for a firm where 6 of us work and I have known my boss for 10 years. We don't have any filters etc.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 12, 2010, 08:54:15 am
I thought I might need to cut back on the amount I swear until I read this........

http://ohforfuckssake.com/blogs/im-cunt-and-windows-7-was-my-idea (http://ohforfuckssake.com/blogs/im-cunt-and-windows-7-was-my-idea)

Jasper, do you own your own firm or does your boss give you internet access in hrs of work?

It's just if I swore all the fucking time on work servers I'd b cunted by the spyware the twats have installed.

( 3G dongle saves me)

I had no problem swearing on forums whilst working at the NHS, conceptually I don't see how "spyware" might detect what you're typing.

What they could do is trace what web-sites you've been visiting based on your browsers cache and deduce who you are in that manner, but you'd likely have to spend an inordinate amount of time doing stuff to attract anyone's attention, or be in trouble already and have your employers looking for a reason to dig up dirt on you.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 12, 2010, 09:19:58 am
Also linked from the ohforfuckssake site is this:

http://ifuckinghatehorses.com/ (http://ifuckinghatehorses.com/)

Check out the 5 great Christmas gifts for your horse...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 12, 2010, 10:06:35 am
I like the spot the difference.....

(http://ifuckinghatehorses.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Sarah_Jessica_Horseface_Parker.jpg)

Can't find any myself.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 23, 2010, 10:20:12 am
Some big ass storage hitting the shops (inc 64GB SD cards) (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/23/sandisk_seagate/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on February 23, 2010, 10:43:45 am
Broadband tax to be scrapped (hopefully) (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/broadband/355750/mps-government-should-scrap-broadband-tax)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 23, 2010, 11:06:28 am
That is good news, provided they listen.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 25, 2010, 11:32:41 pm
Perhaps replacing the OS and software that has allowed the "botnet" to become established in the first place might help solve the problem? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8537741.stm)

I know of a few alternatives  :)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 04, 2010, 12:24:56 pm
House of Lords thrown out piracy clause to digital economy bill (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8549112.stm).

Not sure the alternative of blocking "certain sites" (i.e. trackers) is such a good idea though, still plenty of anonymous proxies and ways round it though for those who are so inclined.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Bubba on March 04, 2010, 12:38:25 pm
That's insane - "The Great Firewall of China the UK" implemented under the ruse of protecting rights-holders.

I don't know why nobody has pointed out to UK Gov that this whole exercise is a waste of time. As slackers says below there are plenty of ways round this.

For $5 p/month you can subscribe to a commercial darknet based in a country where the UK will have no legal resource. You can then effectively do what you want.

And anyway such legislation will just drive the further development and uptake of trackerless bittorrent (and similar) technologies.


Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 10, 2010, 12:34:15 pm
Chat Roulette (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/mar/08/chatroulette) is a new one on me.

Any plans to implement video chat here at UKB?  :P

I know Bubba put the real-time chat in a while back, but never used it myself and it no longer appears to be linked from the "Info Centre" at the bottom of the front page.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on March 10, 2010, 05:27:01 pm
Chat Roulette (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/mar/08/chatroulette) is a new one on me.

Any plans to implement video chat here at UKB?  :P

I know Bubba put the real-time chat in a while back, but never used it myself and it no longer appears to be linked from the "Info Centre" at the bottom of the front page.

Ahem...
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,13633.msg245148.html#msg245148 (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,13633.msg245148.html#msg245148)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 10, 2010, 05:45:23 pm
Chat Roulette (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/mar/08/chatroulette) is a new one on me.

Any plans to implement video chat here at UKB?  :P

I know Bubba put the real-time chat in a while back, but never used it myself and it no longer appears to be linked from the "Info Centre" at the bottom of the front page.

Ahem...
http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,13633.msg245148.html#msg245148 (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,13633.msg245148.html#msg245148)

 :oops: an oversight, despite outward appearances I don't spend 24/7 on UKB.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 10, 2010, 05:52:29 pm
Seems the internet has gone sentient (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8560469.stm)

Do we all get a share of the prize money  :shrug:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on March 11, 2010, 04:50:18 pm
:oops: an oversight, despite outward appearances I don't spend 24/7 on UKB.
Is it more like 23/7?  :P
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Paul B on March 12, 2010, 01:02:50 am
Also linked from the ohforfuckssake site is this:

http://ifuckinghatehorses.com/ (http://ifuckinghatehorses.com/)

Check out the 5 great Christmas gifts for your horse...

I may be a long way down a 75cl bottle of leffe 9 but that made my eyes water.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Palomides on March 12, 2010, 08:18:05 am

New social networking site - [url=http://www.myouterspace.com]http://www.myouterspace.com (http://www.myouterspace.com)[/url]

WARNING - CONTAINS WILLIAM SHATNER !!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 12, 2010, 02:29:57 pm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2010/mar/12/demise-music-industry-facts (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2010/mar/12/demise-music-industry-facts)

Record labels, stop fucking bleating. Government, stick the Digital Economy Bill up your arse.

 :spank:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 18, 2010, 03:07:43 pm
Not news but I just got pointed to this amazing Douglas Adams article about the internet from 1999.........

http://www.douglasadams.com/dna/19990901-00-a.html (http://www.douglasadams.com/dna/19990901-00-a.html)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jim on March 18, 2010, 03:21:30 pm
dynamite
Quote
3) anything that gets invented after you’re thirty is against the natural order of things and the beginning of the end of civilisation as we know it until it’s been around for about ten years when it gradually turns out to be alright really

bring back the old man shaking his cane smilie!
:old:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: dave on March 18, 2010, 03:22:50 pm
adams was ahead of his time before it was fashionable.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 18, 2010, 03:44:31 pm

bring back the old man shaking his cane smilie!
:old:

(http://www.shredguitars.com/images/smilies/oldfogey.gif)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 22, 2010, 02:37:41 pm
http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?blogid=14&entryid=2865 (http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?blogid=14&entryid=2865)

Spot on this article. Brown bangs the drum about "internet for all" and yet the Digital Economy Bill will restrict internet usage in libraries and other places where those who don't yet have access will be most likely to get it. All in a desperate and short sighted attempt to protect the interests of Mandy's mates in the recording industry. It's a fucking joke.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 22, 2010, 02:56:11 pm
http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?blogid=14&entryid=2865 (http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?blogid=14&entryid=2865)

Spot on this article. Brown bangs the drum about "internet for all" and yet the Digital Economy Bill will restrict internet usage in libraries and other places where those who don't yet have access will be most likely to get it. All in a desperate and short sighted attempt to protect the interests of Mandy's mates in the recording industry. It's a fucking joke.

 :agree: Good find.  Very interesting and important detail they pick up on too about open data formats.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 22, 2010, 03:13:58 pm
Got it from @glynmoody who is well worth following on Twitter (if people aren't already).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 23, 2010, 12:06:24 pm
More of the same via @bengoldacre:

http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/networking/2010/02/26/open-wi-fi-outlawed-by-digital-economy-bill-40057470/ (http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/networking/2010/02/26/open-wi-fi-outlawed-by-digital-economy-bill-40057470/)

I've written to my MP about this. It's a total and utter disgrace.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: ChrisC on March 23, 2010, 01:30:33 pm
It's old and probably posted before, but every time I read anything about the digital economy bill it reminds me of this daily mash article, that sums up the corruptness of the bill quite nicely.

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/mandelson-pledges-to-support-geffen-yacht-dream-200908181990/ (http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/mandelson-pledges-to-support-geffen-yacht-dream-200908181990/)

It also bears some similarity to last nights dispatches program thinking about it. 
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on March 23, 2010, 05:45:48 pm
Not sure who to vote for in the general election? Vote Pirate Party (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/356644/pirate-party-calls-for-file-sharing-to-be-legalised)  :lol:

(http://torrentfreak.com/images/SharingPoster.jpg)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on March 24, 2010, 12:20:28 pm
Adobe CS5 coming in April (http://cs5launch.adobe.com/?sdid=FDSFE)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 30, 2010, 05:15:25 pm
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/regulation/2010/03/30/lib-dems-to-fight-digital-economy-bill-over-wash-up-40088498/ (http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/regulation/2010/03/30/lib-dems-to-fight-digital-economy-bill-over-wash-up-40088498/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 30, 2010, 05:21:30 pm
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/regulation/2010/03/30/lib-dems-to-fight-digital-economy-bill-over-wash-up-40088498/ (http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/regulation/2010/03/30/lib-dems-to-fight-digital-economy-bill-over-wash-up-40088498/)

Hope it has some effect.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 30, 2010, 05:24:43 pm
Increasingly I'm finding that the Liberal Democrats are the only party who have any policies I agree with.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on March 30, 2010, 05:28:15 pm
 :agree:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 01, 2010, 01:58:04 pm
http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2010/04/01/the-digital-economy-bill-the-power-of-not-being-elected/ (http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2010/04/01/the-digital-economy-bill-the-power-of-not-being-elected/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on April 01, 2010, 05:16:41 pm
Google street view gets a warm welcome in Germany (http://www.news.com.au/technology/google-street-view-car-vandalised-in-germany-police/story-e6frfro0-1225847791124)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 01, 2010, 05:46:28 pm
Another good post about the DEB. (http://confusedofcalcutta.com/2010/03/29/the-digital-economy-bill-a-taxation-on-salt/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 02, 2010, 12:25:34 pm
Fuck me, Jack of Kent's blog is a mine of good stuff:

http://jackofkent.blogspot.com/2009/10/copyright-infringement-is-not-theft.html (http://jackofkent.blogspot.com/2009/10/copyright-infringement-is-not-theft.html)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on April 21, 2010, 10:41:44 am
First man to be convicted of fixing Ebay auctions in the UK... (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/357370/ebay-seller-convicted-of-fixing-auctions)

Quote
"I didn't know I was doing anything wrong,”
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 23, 2010, 10:59:47 am
This disgraceful act must be removed. Vote the corrupt bastards who rushed it through out:

http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/when-it-meets-politics/2010/04/has-the-digital-economy-prohib.html (http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/when-it-meets-politics/2010/04/has-the-digital-economy-prohib.html)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on April 23, 2010, 01:42:36 pm
http://reason.com/blog/2010/04/21/first-they-came-for-hitler (http://reason.com/blog/2010/04/21/first-they-came-for-hitler)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on April 28, 2010, 04:27:57 pm
Windows 7 coming to your TV (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/357586/microsoft-to-bring-windows-7-to-tvs)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on May 10, 2010, 04:22:10 pm
Gigabit WIFI or not? (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/357808/gigabit-wi-fi-on-the-way)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Johnny Brown on May 14, 2010, 09:36:55 am
The future of social networking? (http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/196017994/diaspora-the-personally-controlled-do-it-all-distr)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Control freak on May 17, 2010, 04:32:27 am
Limewire likely to be no more??

Slashdot (http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/05/16/1932218/LimeWire-Likely-To-Shut-Down-Soon?from=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Slashdot/slashdot+(Slashdot)&utm_content=Google+International)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 15, 2010, 02:24:56 pm
The Red Queen is about to shift up a gear (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8740426.stm) (although overall its a good thing).

Now all we need is everyone to switch to IPv6.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: dobbin on June 15, 2010, 03:43:23 pm
IPv6 will fundamentally revolutionise networking. I cant be bothered to explain NAT and RFC1918 but there will no longer be requirement for private networks. Never before has the firewall and IDS been more important.

The IPv6 address space delivers 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456 addresses as opposed to 4,294,967,296 which is why we havent enough now and we must use things like NAT to preserve address space.

Mind boggling. Arguably, less so than NAT is now, but when you've got your head round that then this is a paradigm shift.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: BB on June 15, 2010, 04:10:15 pm
I can't see many corporate entities rushing to convert to IPv6. As far as I can see it's and enormous amount of expense and network upheaval for not a lot of benefit. What difference does it make if you use NAT or IPv6 for your internal network?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: dobbin on June 16, 2010, 09:13:39 am
Totally agree - i mean, if it aint broke etc. Especially, security takes on a whole new importance in the new post IPv6 world. And it doesnt matter if you use NAT and private IP addressing schemes, except perhaps in terms of load on routers maintaining NAT tables, but again - they are coping, so why change?

Reckon the first big leaps in this will come from either greenfield sites, mobile things (such as embedded SIM and smart metering and all that) and then asia.

"Hang on, I cant ping the toaster!"
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on June 18, 2010, 11:40:04 am
Yet more BT broadband bollocks (possibly) (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/broadband/358792/looming-bt-strike-threatens-broadband-disruption)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on June 30, 2010, 01:32:08 pm
Storage going daft  :o - 3TB external drives (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/359095/seagate-unveils-3tb-external-hard-drive)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on August 19, 2010, 02:41:54 pm
Intel to buy McAfee (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11025866)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Johnny Brown on August 19, 2010, 02:48:03 pm
Storage going daft  :o - 3TB external drives (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/359095/seagate-unveils-3tb-external-hard-drive)

Quote
While the 3TB version sells for just $250 in the US, it will cost £329 in the UK

How the fuck do they justify that?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on August 19, 2010, 03:53:42 pm
Absolutely brilliant takedown of Paul McGuinness' idotic GQ piece (http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2010-08/13/gq-music-paul-mcguinness-on-music-piracy/file-sharing-on-spotify-and-piracy):

http://xrrf.blogspot.com/2010/08/bonos-friends-how-to-save-music.html (http://xrrf.blogspot.com/2010/08/bonos-friends-how-to-save-music.html)

No wonder he and Bono get on well.  :wank:

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 09, 2010, 05:52:01 pm
EU funds open source software (http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/neelie-kroes/open-source-helping-to-avoid-the-digital-black-hole/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 30, 2010, 03:39:13 pm
Twattish bully boy lawyer pisses off 4chan. Only one winner.......

http://theitlawyer.blogspot.com/2010/09/not-good-week-for-andrew-crossly.html (http://theitlawyer.blogspot.com/2010/09/not-good-week-for-andrew-crossly.html)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 01, 2010, 01:44:34 pm
Time for a BIOS upgrade (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11430069)  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 13, 2010, 12:31:05 pm
Apple to play Big Brother, and prevent you from sending smutty private texts to your loved one (http://techcrunch.com/2010/10/12/apple-patents-anti-sexting-device/)  :wank: :wank: :wank:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 28, 2010, 05:35:22 pm
Not seen it mentioned here despite cropping up a few days ago.

People might want to be wary of using unencrypted WiFi networks as there is a Firefox plugin called Firesheep (http://codebutler.com/firesheep) that allows users to steal account login details from others using unencrypted WiFi connections.

See one article (of many) on it here (http://www.boingboing.net/2010/10/27/sheep.html).

One solution is to use the HTTPSEverywhere (https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere) plugin to ensure that your connection to the site is encrypted even if the WiFi you're connected over isn't.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Stubbs on October 28, 2010, 09:49:09 pm
Erm if I have to type in a password to use by interweb connection, does that mean it's encrypted or just password protected? Is this something I should be setting up on my router or on my laptop?  (Yes I know I could Google this stuff, but I'm really not that bothered and I'm sure the answers are to hand for others!)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on October 28, 2010, 10:14:50 pm
Probably yes. Slackers knows more than me on this, but afaik when you connect it will say if it is an 'unsecured' network... (or not). Online banking things and shopping (where the padlock icon appears in your browser) are OK - or any address with https:// instead of http:// are OK... as this encrypts your data as you send it to and from your PC to the server etc..
The security gap highlighted by the firesheep plug in allows you to pick off usernames and passwords for sites like facebook and twitter that do not use a encrypted connection when you log in and off... (I think~!)

T
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 29, 2010, 12:00:57 am
There are two layers of encryption, one for connecting to your router which will be one of WPA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access) (old and dated), WEP (better, but also superseded by...) WEP2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wired_Equivalent_Privacy).

You set which of these you want to use on your router and set the password.  Then every device that connects to the router (laptop, PS3, Xbox, smart phone etc.) has to provide the password.  You'll likely have come across this in public WiFi where you need to get a password from the store owners.

If you are not using this then you are vulnerable to the Firesheep exploit.

You then have a second layer of encryption after having established a connection to a WiFi router which kicks in when you are connecting to a web-site, and this is provided by Secure Sockets Layers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Sockets_Layer) (SSL), and when you attempt to connect to a site you will be asked for a username/password, once logged in you will have https at the start of your URL and the padlock on the bottom of your browser will be "locked".

There are however many web-sites (e.g. UKBouldering, Farcebook, Twitter) which require log-in but do not use SSL to encrypt things.

If you're using sites that require login but do not use SSL and you are connected via a WiFi that isn't using WPA/WEP/2 then you can have your usernames and passwords sniffed (irrespective of whether your using Firefox or not, since the Firesheep plugin is simple a way of getting this information from others).

So to answer your questions directly...

Erm if I have to type in a password to use by interweb connection, does that mean it's encrypted or just password protected?

If you are typing your password in to use your internet connection each and every time you connect to your home router then you are likely using WPA/WEP/2, but should really set your laptop to remember it so you don't have to type it in every time you connect.


Is this something I should be setting up on my router or on my laptop?

Both, but as I say it sounds as though you already have it in place.

Also if you use Firefox then install the plugin I suggested.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on November 01, 2010, 09:52:22 am
More BT internet issues over the weekend... (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/broadband/362404/bt-tight-lipped-over-widespread-internet-outage)  :furious:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on November 01, 2010, 12:17:23 pm
iPhone alarm bug - can Apple fix it before USA get's hit? (http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/01/iphone-dst-bug-causing-alarms-to-fail-across-europe/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on November 09, 2010, 01:16:27 pm
(http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/packages.png) (http://xkcd.com/576/)

Life reflects art (http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-11/09/xkcd-packages-script) (as does Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/trademe_xkcd576)).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on November 10, 2010, 03:04:00 pm
There are two layers of encryption, one for connecting to your router which will be one of WPA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Protected_Access) (old and dated), WEP (better, but also superseded by...) WEP2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wired_Equivalent_Privacy).

You set which of these you want to use on your router and set the password.  Then every device that connects to the router (laptop, PS3, Xbox, smart phone etc.) has to provide the password.  You'll likely have come across this in public WiFi where you need to get a password from the store owners.

If you are not using this then you are vulnerable to the Firesheep exploit.

You then have a second layer of encryption after having established a connection to a WiFi router which kicks in when you are connecting to a web-site, and this is provided by Secure Sockets Layers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Sockets_Layer) (SSL), and when you attempt to connect to a site you will be asked for a username/password, once logged in you will have https at the start of your URL and the padlock on the bottom of your browser will be "locked".

There are however many web-sites (e.g. UKBouldering, Farcebook, Twitter) which require log-in but do not use SSL to encrypt things.

If you're using sites that require login but do not use SSL and you are connected via a WiFi that isn't using WPA/WEP/2 then you can have your usernames and passwords sniffed (irrespective of whether your using Firefox or not, since the Firesheep plugin is simple a way of getting this information from others).

So to answer your questions directly...

Erm if I have to type in a password to use by interweb connection, does that mean it's encrypted or just password protected?

If you are typing your password in to use your internet connection each and every time you connect to your home router then you are likely using WPA/WEP/2, but should really set your laptop to remember it so you don't have to type it in every time you connect.


Is this something I should be setting up on my router or on my laptop?

Both, but as I say it sounds as though you already have it in place.

Also if you use Firefox then install the plugin I suggested.

just seen this, where do I stand with the static MAC typed in only access system I have for my home network? I dont have WEP etc.. enabled. This all started with me getting a ps3 to work with voice whilst online gaming... for which I got some awesome advice of slackers & bubba at the time.

BTW all computers are apple, with safari as default browser if that makes a difference.

cheers.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on November 10, 2010, 03:24:46 pm
just seen this, where do I stand with the static MAC typed in only access system I have for my home network? I dont have WEP etc.. enabled. This all started with me getting a ps3 to work with voice whilst online gaming... for which I got some awesome advice of slackers & bubba at the time.

BTW all computers are apple, with safari as default browser if that makes a difference.

cheers.

Well the exploit is a Firefox plugin (called Firesheep), but it simply snoops on data passing over an unencrypted network (such as yours as you say you disabled WEP/WPA, the fact that you assign IP address' statically based on MAC address' is irrelevant here).

If someone else is sat outside your house and using this Firesheep plugin they can sniff out your personal connections because data passing between Safari on your Apple devices to the server (Farcebook etc.) is unencrypted (see one anecdotal example of someone sniffing on their own Safari usage (http://mcyukon.tumblr.com/post/1443010697/firesheep)).  So you are vulnerable.

I'm not overly familiar with OSX/Safari so my advice is limited but...

a) Make sure you always use SSL authenticated sessions this is when the URL starts with https and you have a little padlock that is locked in the bottom of most browsers to indicate that you are securely connected.

b) Try the OSX support site/forums for more info e.g. (http://discussions.info.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=12557034)

If you were using Firefox (which is I believe available for OSX) then you could install the above mentioned Firefox plugin which automagically forces sessions to be SSL authenticated.  I don't know if similar plugins/settings are available for Safari though.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on November 10, 2010, 03:31:35 pm
cheers mate... awesome advice as usual.

so, to take it back to basics... even if I got WEP ( for example) enabled I can still be snooped on, & even if I'm not putting passwords / private date through the computers at home soemone can *look in* find that data from one of my computers and nick it for malice? Or is it not that bad & i Just always ensure I have ssl / the padlock when typing in credit card details / on line bank?

To put it simply, do I keep the static network but enable WEP etc.. to be safe or am I screwed whatever unless i move to firefox & get this plugin.

I'm likely to have got the wrong end of the stick.... I apologise for my lack of router / wifi savy.. I've never really got it.. obviously.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on November 10, 2010, 03:49:29 pm
cheers mate... awesome advice as usual.

so, to take it back to basics... even if I got WEP ( for example) enabled I can still be snooped on,

No, not with Firesheep, it only works on unsecured wireless networks that are not using WEP or WPA/WPA2.

To put it simply, do I keep the static network but enable WEP etc.. to be safe or am I screwed whatever unless i move to firefox & get this plugin.

The 'static network' part is how IP address' are assigned to devices connecting to your network and has nothing to do with it at all, so leave it as it is.

Just always ensure I have ssl / the padlock when typing in credit card details / on line bank?

This should happen anyway with banks (it would be a shit online banking service if they didn't already use it), and personally I'd never buy anything from a web-site that doesn't use SSL (padlock in bottom corner).  Thus you are likely already protecting yourself on the money transaction front simply through your behaviour.

The point of Firesheep is that it allows you to snaffle username and passwords from sites that require login information but don't use SSL to do so, such as social networking sites like Farcebook and Twatter and likely even UKB.  The HTTPSEverywhere plugin for Firefox simply forces the use of https if it is available on these sites thus preventing Firesheep from sniffing.

If you're bothered about people sniffing on your Farcebook/Twatter/UKB accounts (some of which may well contain a lot of detailed personal information depending on what you've/members of your family have added to their account) then you might consider switching to Firefox and using that plugin or more practically seeking advice on the Apple forums as to how to get Safari to do the same.





Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on November 10, 2010, 06:50:00 pm
 :bow:


many thanks

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on November 12, 2010, 11:44:58 am
Kinect hacked in ~3hrs!!! :bow: (http://www.adafruit.com/blog/2010/11/10/we-have-a-winner-open-kinect-drivers-released-winner-will-use-3k-for-more-hacking-plus-an-additional-2k-goes-to-the-eff/)

Kinect open source driver demo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKhW-cvpkks#)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 02, 2010, 01:20:15 pm
Protect your browsing history (http://whattheinternetknowsaboutyou.com/) although technically that just tells you the information they'd harvest, if using Firefox or such like use NoScript (http://noscript.net/) to block everything and then allow those sites that you trust (temporarily too if ultra-paranoid).

(BBC News article (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-11899092))
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 02, 2010, 03:47:45 pm
Heads-up for Win7/Vista 64-bit AVG users (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/12/02/avg_auto_immune_update/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 21, 2010, 02:08:20 pm
Virtual Sex with Xbox
NSFW  :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bk7AMY_ocU&has_verified=1

(Already declined by M$ (http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-12/21/thrixxx-kinect-game)).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 04, 2011, 07:31:44 am
This is fucking brilliant news as its sticks two-fingers up at Sony for removing the OtherOS functionality that enticed me to buy a PS3 in the first place.

PS3 Security in tatters (http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-ps3-security-in-tatters)

Sounds like there is absolutely dick all they'll be able to do about this. :lol:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 04, 2011, 08:20:30 am
Sounds as if they've shot themselves in the foot too as the hackers only bothered with the PS3 after the OtherOS functionality was removed. Silly fuckers.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 04, 2011, 10:11:48 am
Aye, where there's a will there's a way and all that jazz.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 06, 2011, 11:18:14 am
Firs Custom PS3 Firmware tools released (http://kakaroto.homelinux.net/2011/01/ps3-first-custom-firmware-now-working/)  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jim on January 06, 2011, 07:37:15 pm
Firs Custom PS3 Firmware tools released (http://kakaroto.homelinux.net/2011/01/ps3-first-custom-firmware-now-working/)  :thumbsup:
sounds good
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 07, 2011, 11:56:36 am
Mac owners be wary (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12135460) (time to get some AV installed perhaps as piracy == potential for viruses.)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 14, 2011, 10:18:57 am
Don't shoot the penguin! (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/12/spain_anti_terror_forces_regret_operation_linux/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on January 18, 2011, 11:07:54 am
Don't shoot the penguin! (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/12/spain_anti_terror_forces_regret_operation_linux/)

 :lol:

Quote
Penguin lovers have been known to complain about things that are ultimately of no consequence whatsoever
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 18, 2011, 12:09:05 pm
Farcebook opens up privacy to API developers (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/17/facebook_privacy/)

So if you use Farcebook, be wary of who you permit access to your personal data, they could easily cull a load of info and sell it on and you get more crap through your mail box.  And just because you've not explicitly added your mobile number to your account doesn't mean others haven't (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2010/oct/06/facebook-privacy-phone-numbers-upload) (particularly if you've a smart phone and access Farcebook through it)..
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 24, 2011, 12:58:24 pm
Apple screwing with your iphone

Apple's Diabolical Plan to Screw your iPhone (http://vimeo.com/18764019)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 26, 2011, 08:58:03 am
Blackmail attempt backfires on dodgy twat:

Hahahahaha!!!! (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12253746)

I love the fact that they've tried to drop all charges but the judge is now basically investigating them.  ;D
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 27, 2011, 09:44:00 am
Fracebook users beware...

(http://i.imgur.com/d44kb.jpg)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Stubbs on January 27, 2011, 10:06:24 am
(http://files.sharenator.com/oh_noes_Oh_noes-s500x375-49739-580.jpg)

Oh Noes! Someone could find out my fake name, and if this does bypass the profile security setting, that I live in London. Nothing like another good FB scare story.

<insert Slackers tirade regarding not using Facebook, and only using Gnubook, where you have to program your own security settings and update your kernel twice a week>
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 27, 2011, 02:21:48 pm
Someone could find out my fake name

You're breaking the Farcebook T&C if you're using a fake name (Section 4 Item 1 (http://www.facebook.com/terms.php?ref=pf), its why Kate Middleton from Kent was banned the other day, they thought she wasn't using her own name (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-12270648)).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Tris on January 27, 2011, 03:01:41 pm
More Facebook security shizzle (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/364723/facebook-lets-users-opt-in-to-security) - you have to opt in apparently....

More on the photo thing at the bottom of article.

{disclaimer: I am not on Facebook}
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Stubbs on January 27, 2011, 08:20:05 pm
So do you use Facebook Slackers?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jim on January 27, 2011, 08:32:13 pm
on more relevant news, windows 7 SP1 RC is available for download
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=c3202ce6-4056-4059-8a1b-3a9b77cdfdda (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=c3202ce6-4056-4059-8a1b-3a9b77cdfdda)
been out for a couple of weeks now. am using it myself although it came slipstreamed with my current install.
I don't notice any difference tbh. here is some other info to keep slackline happy (although I'm sure any of this post interests you at all)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff817622%28WS.10%29.aspx (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff817622%28WS.10%29.aspx)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 28, 2011, 08:44:31 am
So do you use Facebook Slackers?

No.

here is some other info to keep slackline happy (although I'm sure any of this post interests you at all)

Cheers Jim, I have the laborious task of trying to encourage my wife to keep her laptop (running Win7) up-to-date herself, until such time as she takes this on-board and does it herself I have to make sure its kept up to update.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 28, 2011, 10:04:16 am
What happens when you cut a country of 80 million off from the internet (http://www.renesys.com/blog/2011/01/egypt-leaves-the-internet.shtml)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 28, 2011, 10:32:25 am
Wow.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: SA Chris on January 28, 2011, 10:38:44 am
More Facebook security shizzle (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/364723/facebook-lets-users-opt-in-to-security) - you have to opt in apparently....

More on the photo thing at the bottom of article.

{disclaimer: I am not on Facebook}

Quote
Nothing like another Good FB scare story
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 28, 2011, 11:39:52 am
Wow.

 :lol: you dick!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 28, 2011, 01:22:14 pm
I realise it's a case of the boy who cried wolf but I wasn't taking the piss!

It's a massive story.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 28, 2011, 02:00:43 pm
Yeah, there are still a few places getting information out e.g. Guardian live blog (http://m.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/jan/28/egypt-protests-live-updates?cat=news&type=article) (where it sounds as though the police are joining the protestors)

(you're still a dick  :-*)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 31, 2011, 03:57:07 pm
Another security flaw in IE (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12325139)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 31, 2011, 04:06:26 pm
Does anyone still use IE?  :shrug:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 31, 2011, 04:30:12 pm
Does anyone still use IE?  :shrug:

The whole of the NHS  :wall:

Worse still, its often IE6 and even worse than that they develop their websites to work with this browser which is one of the least compliant with the W3C standards.  :wall: :wall: :wall: :wall: :wall:

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 01, 2011, 09:13:48 am
I realise it might be a daft question but...........why?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 01, 2011, 09:43:04 am
I realise it might be a daft question but...........why?

'Cause they're run/managed by fucking retards who don't have a clue.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 01, 2011, 09:56:50 am
Thought that might be the case. It's like that classic tweet by Eric Pickles that spawned loads of pisstakes about upgrading to Windows 95 etc:

http://twitter.com/EricPickles/status/20959330537 (http://twitter.com/EricPickles/status/20959330537)

Showing just how IT savvy the government isn't.

 :wall:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 02, 2011, 11:42:00 am
Sony playing cat and mouse (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/02/01/ps3_hacked_again/), they should just give up and learn from it as its their own fault for using crap encryption methods.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 02, 2011, 11:52:56 pm
Interesting (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/microsofts-bing-uses-google-search.html)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 03, 2011, 04:26:59 pm
Oh, just piss off Rupert:

http://wireman.tumblr.com/post/3079369799/yesterdays-news-tomorrow (http://wireman.tumblr.com/post/3079369799/yesterdays-news-tomorrow)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 04, 2011, 02:32:18 pm

Showing just how IT savvy the government isn't.

 :wall:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/feb/04/government-it-contracts-information-commissioner-office (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/feb/04/government-it-contracts-information-commissioner-office)

 :wall: :wall: :wall:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 04, 2011, 02:47:58 pm

Showing just how IT savvy the government isn't.

 :wall:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/feb/04/government-it-contracts-information-commissioner-office (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/feb/04/government-it-contracts-information-commissioner-office)

 :wall: :wall: :wall:

They just shouldn't out source things.

Where I work the databases (db's) are designed/managed by a University spin-off company, which sounds great but in reality is a fucking ballache because if any of the db's are found to be lacking money has to be found to pay them to implement the lacking feature.  Would be far more sensible to employ someone in-house to work on and design databases (which is what is done in some of the larger gene mapping projects which I used to be involved in).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 04, 2011, 03:46:44 pm

Showing just how IT savvy the government isn't.

 :wall:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/feb/04/government-it-contracts-information-commissioner-office (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/feb/04/government-it-contracts-information-commissioner-office)

Read a bit more of that article and this stands out to me...

Quote
Last August Liam Maxwell at the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead reckoned that councils could save at least £51m, and potentially up to £200m, by shifting to open source from Microsoft Office – but it would require a mandate from central government. That hasn't come.

Now thats quite a lot of money across all councils!

Take it one step further and you could do as they have in Germany and embrace open source (http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/german-government-drinks-greatness-linux).  66% savings is not to be sniffed it in these supposedly frugal times.

But wait, that would require someone in charge to have a fucking clue in the first place and the hordes of M$-certificate waving IT staff to learn a little bit more (not a lot, the principles are the same, they're just implemented slightly differently).  :wall: :wall: :wall:

 :wall: :wall: :wall:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 04, 2011, 04:42:14 pm
 :oops:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on February 06, 2011, 04:59:53 pm
I realise it might be a daft question but...........why?

'Cause they're run/managed by fucking retards who don't have a clue.

i have to use my work PC for various NHS web based apps, which are now becoming commonplace.... procurement, prescribing & imaging... it's a nightmare.

thankfully I can get my mail forwarded out to NHS net and then onto my macbook. Groupwise email..... brings tears to me eyes

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 08, 2011, 11:03:38 am
I realise it might be a daft question but...........why?

'Cause they're run/managed by fucking retards who don't have a clue.

i have to use my work PC for various NHS web based apps, which are now becoming commonplace.... procurement, prescribing & imaging... it's a nightmare.

thankfully I can get my mail forwarded out to NHS net and then onto my macbook. Groupwise email..... brings tears to me eyes

If you want to use your macbook at work consider installing Virtualbox (http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads) and then install M$-Windoze under that and you'll be able to do everything from there without having to rely on using a work computer (assuming your allowed to connect your macbook to the work network).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 08, 2011, 11:04:48 am
Complete and utter waste of money (http://www.reghardware.com/2011/02/08/bbc_iplayer_ipad/) I bet they spent a fair bit of money "developing" the app for the ipad just to be seen to be hip and on the ball.  :wank:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 16, 2011, 12:47:36 pm
Finally the penny drops (http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-02/16/universal-music-streaming)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 17, 2011, 07:57:19 am
Clever things computers the people who program computers (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/computer-puts-human-supremacy-in-jeopardy-2217157.html)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 17, 2011, 08:23:08 am
Meh. Not news. I seem much more clever when I've got a search engine in front of me too.  ;)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 17, 2011, 08:38:28 am
Meh. Not news. I seem much more clever when I've got a search engine in front of me too.  ;)

What if you could only search a subset of the billions of pages on the net?

Quote
Watson's memory is loaded with 200 million pages of data, and draws solely on this "brain", rather than searching online.

(Ok, some of those 200 million may have included Wikipedia).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 22, 2011, 11:34:57 am
Blind 20 year old who plays video games...

Best gaming achievement ever: beating an entire game, with ONLY sound and NO visuals (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23JgGAmCGVU#)

Loved playing the original Oddworld (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oddworld) : Abe's Oddysee (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oddworld#Oddworld:_Abe.27s_Oddysee) when it first came out, great fun (and very reminiscent of Dizzy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dizzy_%28series%29)).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 28, 2011, 12:31:47 pm
Google remove Facebook contacts under Android (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12565527)

Its all about reciprocally sharing information that is causing this to be removed, at present its a one-way street as Facebook aren't letting their contact list be shared with anyone else.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 28, 2011, 01:06:40 pm
(http://23.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kvhkvwh5GB1qzf94so1_400.gif)

 :)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Paul B on February 28, 2011, 05:59:12 pm
it doesn't work properly anyway, if the contact has +44 then Android does something daft and to fix it you have to end up copying the contact and effectively remove the function of auto-updating numbers.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 01, 2011, 08:43:33 am
Not really news but a cool video of android handset activations world-wide over time...

Global Android Activations, Oct '08 - Jan '11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqFpq9WXbJo#ws)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 01, 2011, 09:04:46 am
 8)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 08, 2011, 10:01:24 am
I'm not talking about AV because, like you said, that involves effort on the part of the user, I'm talking about a completly worry free, maintainance free service.

There we go a "completely worry free, maintenance free service"* (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12667540), although as noted it doesn't address apps bought through unofficial market places, over which Google have no control and in my opinion should be avoided.

* Although in my "quirky" opinion updates are, and always will be worth doing, for the simple reason that no code is ever bug free and over time these get removed.  At the same time new features and functionality are added over time.  To keep the original software on a phone is to me myopic (even if it takes a while for the updates to filter from source, through manufacturers and finally the phone companies).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 13, 2011, 10:37:44 am
Twitter pull the rug from under 3rd Party Developers (http://arstechnica.com/software/news/2011/03/twitter-tells-third-party-devs-to-stop-making-twitter-client-apps.ars)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 15, 2011, 11:19:14 am
Cheaper cross-network calling charges (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12743038)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 16, 2011, 03:22:16 pm
ACS Law......  :spank:

http://twitter.com/ispreview/status/48018481295269888 (http://twitter.com/ispreview/status/48018481295269888)

 :dance1:  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 21, 2011, 10:50:47 am
Xbox Kinnect cracked to work with PSe (http://www.reghardware.com/2011/03/21/kinect_powers_a_ps3/)   8)

[youtube]Kinect-PS3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QnWDRF9w7k#)[/youtube]

I was wondering when this would happen after Kinect was hacked pretty quickly to work under Linux and M$ said they'd open-source the code.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Palomides on March 21, 2011, 04:20:24 pm
RSA get hacked (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/18/rsa_breach_leaks_securid_data/)

If the company lost the source code to it's SecurID system, it should be no big deal.

IF they lost their seed keys or the master seed key (if one exists) then they (and/or all SecurID users) are proper fucked.

 :popcorn:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 23, 2011, 02:39:11 pm
BT in "doing something useful" shocker:

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/story/2011/03/23/broadband-isp-bt-retail-uk-forces-anti-piracy-firms-to-erase-customer-details.html (http://www.ispreview.co.uk/story/2011/03/23/broadband-isp-bt-retail-uk-forces-anti-piracy-firms-to-erase-customer-details.html)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 29, 2011, 12:09:47 pm
M$ Spotify users beware (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12891182)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 31, 2011, 09:28:13 am
The shoe is on the other foot now! (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12918059)

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 31, 2011, 12:09:15 pm
http://www.itproportal.com/2011/03/30/ruling-digital-economy-act-may-take-two-months/ (http://www.itproportal.com/2011/03/30/ruling-digital-economy-act-may-take-two-months/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 04, 2011, 03:58:56 pm
Babbage's Difference machine made from Lego (http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2011/05/start/babbage-lego)

(http://cdni.wired.co.uk/620x413/a_c/5504_WiredUK_Hero_lego_04_620x413.jpg)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on April 04, 2011, 04:23:47 pm
8)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 05, 2011, 10:07:30 am
Sony invoke Anonymous' wrath (http://anonnews.org/?p=press&a=item&i=787) :popcorn:

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 06, 2011, 01:31:02 pm
Twitter has some potential (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12976254)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Falling Down on April 07, 2011, 01:09:57 pm
C64 to rise again (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12997245)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on April 07, 2011, 09:25:51 pm
C64 to rise again (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12997245)
they should put a blu-ray player in the old external floppy disk casing, but for authenticity they would have to make it buzz and click for about an hour before anything loaded.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Commodore_1541_front_cropped.jpg/800px-Commodore_1541_front_cropped.jpg)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 08, 2011, 02:00:08 pm
Oops! (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/06/georgian-woman-cuts-web-access)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on April 10, 2011, 09:17:05 pm
bet you'd be gutted that a cable find  that big wasn't made out of copper... but glass...

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: butters on April 11, 2011, 12:49:54 am
It happens more often than you would think in this country but at least we have some sort of built in redundancy so any disruption is minimal from the end user POV at least.

bet you'd be gutted that a cable find  that big wasn't made out of copper... but glass...

I tend to look upon it as a justice of sorts in that while they are causing me some inconvenience and a whole lot more for British Rail and the guys who have to find the break and fix it at least they haven't gotten away with anything in real monetary terms.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on April 15, 2011, 08:34:54 pm
random thoughts on this?

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2010/02/25/ironkey-secure-flash-drive-review/ (http://the-gadgeteer.com/2010/02/25/ironkey-secure-flash-drive-review/)

ta
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on April 15, 2011, 08:37:58 pm
random thoughts on this?

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2010/02/25/ironkey-secure-flash-drive-review/ (http://the-gadgeteer.com/2010/02/25/ironkey-secure-flash-drive-review/)

ta

Its a nice bit of kit, but a bit OTT for carrying around my lectures and the odd pdf's... ;)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on April 15, 2011, 08:46:25 pm
NHS information governance....

me... my bike... waterproof.... means I work at home a bit more...

I'm tempted.

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on April 15, 2011, 08:50:49 pm
I've known a few memory sticks go through the washer ok... when I'm next in work I'll take a pic of my fave.. its the plug, the bare circuit board then wrapped in old elastic bands for some 'protection' still goin' fine!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Stubbs on April 16, 2011, 12:37:12 am
NHS information governance....


Is there not just remote log ins to email or even to the server?  Seems like overkill really.

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on April 16, 2011, 09:55:52 pm
IG has got the NHS in a banking / high corporate level to the extreme.

only way i'll get sanction from work to use a USB is with one like this.


I agree.

you want NHS employees to carry on leaving patient details on trains... or MPs sons leaving NHS data in pubs...

seems like a no brainer to me... except the cost.. ouch.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 18, 2011, 07:42:05 am
Have them at work, never use them as I just ssh to my work computer or mount network drives over VPN when working at home.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on April 18, 2011, 04:28:11 pm
well, you have to work somwhere  :P

seriously, do they work OK?

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 18, 2011, 04:36:39 pm
From my perspective no, they're an utter waste of time because the firmware that makes them secure only comes for M$.

More generally though I've zero experience in cryptography and how to crack protected data systems, so you'd really need to find someone who is to be able to comment on whether they "work" (by which I'm guessing you mean keeping data secure should it be lost).

(None of this constitutes IT news though, any admins could syphon these posts into their own thread where it can be found in future instead of having to trawl through this IT news thread?)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 19, 2011, 07:15:03 am
Sony end law suit against Hotz by gagging him (https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/04/sony-v-hotz-ends-whimper-i-mean-gag-order)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 20, 2011, 03:06:42 pm
Big Brother Steve Jobs & co. are watching you (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/20/iphone-tracking-prompts-privacy-fears)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 20, 2011, 08:35:51 pm
Big Brother Steve Jobs & co. are watching you (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/20/iphone-tracking-prompts-privacy-fears)

Now you can use a Free Open Source Software package to find out from your iFern where you've been with iFern Tracker (http://petewarden.github.com/iPhoneTracker/)  :geek:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on April 20, 2011, 08:54:01 pm
Big Brother Steve Jobs & co. are watching you (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/20/iphone-tracking-prompts-privacy-fears)

Now you can use a Free Open Source Software package to find out from your iFern where you've been with iFern Tracker (http://petewarden.github.com/iPhoneTracker/)  :geek:

Shame the program only works on macs... ferking typical..
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 21, 2011, 07:23:06 am
Big Brother Steve Jobs & co. are watching you (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/apr/20/iphone-tracking-prompts-privacy-fears)

Now you can use a Free Open Source Software package to find out from your iFern where you've been with iFern Tracker (http://petewarden.github.com/iPhoneTracker/)  :geek:

Shame the program only works on macs... ferking typical..

Being FOSS you can get the source and compile it under any OS ;) :geek:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Palomides on April 21, 2011, 12:37:42 pm
random thoughts on this?

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2010/02/25/ironkey-secure-flash-drive-review/ (http://the-gadgeteer.com/2010/02/25/ironkey-secure-flash-drive-review/)

ta

As far as I know, it's still about the best encrypted flash drive around (according to people who know better than I!!).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on April 21, 2011, 11:46:14 pm
got one... seems to work OK

only really know if it's worth it's salt if I lose / drown it.

hope to need to consider neither...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 03, 2011, 03:36:07 pm
Update on Sony's stupendous cock-up in allowing their PSN to be hacked (http://uk.playstation.com/psn/news/articles/detail/item369506/PlayStation-Network-Restoration-Update/)

See various blogposts here (http://blog.eu.playstation.com/) for more information.  :wank:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 10, 2011, 03:16:14 pm
Perhaps it might be an idea for the ICO to check on whether or not proven liar Andrew Crossley is telling the truth about being skint!

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/367240/file-sharing-lawyer-avoids-big-ico-fine-because-hes-too-poor (http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/367240/file-sharing-lawyer-avoids-big-ico-fine-because-hes-too-poor)

 :-\
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 17, 2011, 09:43:21 am
PC emulator written in Javascript (http://bellard.org/jslinux/) (and running GNU/Linux)  :geek:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 17, 2011, 11:36:13 am
Interesting article on technology uptake....driven by pr0n (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13416598)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on May 17, 2011, 12:03:21 pm
PC emulator written in Javascript (http://bellard.org/jslinux/) (and running GNU/Linux)  :geek:

Thats neat. But what can you do with it?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 17, 2011, 12:09:21 pm
Android has holes in it too (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13422308)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 18, 2011, 04:29:45 pm
Sony are a bunch of useless dicks (i.e. PSN hacked again) (http://www.mcvuk.com/news/44380/Sony-suffers-frech-hack)  :chair:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Will Hunt on May 19, 2011, 05:51:29 pm
 :jaw:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13358608 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13358608)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 20, 2011, 07:17:17 am
Seen films of him climbing before, first I'd heard about using his tongue to "see" though.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 20, 2011, 04:47:50 pm
OSX users beware (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13453497)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Iesu on May 20, 2011, 05:50:16 pm
OSX users beware (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13453497)

you'd have to be soft in the 'ead to install something about which you knew f' all and which even the most cursory of google searches would identify as a bad thing, surely?

cue jokes about mac os using "softies"!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on May 20, 2011, 11:12:48 pm
OSX users beware (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13453497)

thanks.....

basically... whatever OS you are using... ignore what yr browser flags up. consider the risks yourself..
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 21, 2011, 08:04:39 am
you'd have to be soft in the 'ead to install something about which you knew f' all and which even the most cursory of google searches would identify as a bad thing, surely?

Why do you think there are so many viruses, trojans, phishing scams, dodgy emails etc. etc.

Aside from M$ leaving firewalls wide-open by default and writing some dodgy email client that could be easily exploited its human behaviour that is the weak link in computer security.

Still trying to instill the idea in my wife that just because a box has appeared asking you if you want to do something, it doesn't mean that you click on "Yes" without understanding what it is your doing.  :wall:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Iesu on May 23, 2011, 12:27:16 pm
it's a pretty terrifying concept that people click away with gay abandon really; but then again I do the same when the T's & C's pop up for EULA or Terms of Use or whatever.

surely a good line of supporting evidence/reasoning behind the success of iOS: most "consumers" want stuff that works without worrying about the security of downloaded software, beit OS or add-ons (apps).

[Security bugs/holes/(semi)intentional storing of user data notwithstanding of course....]
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 23, 2011, 01:39:49 pm
The "Filter Bubble" (http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles.html) very interesting and important problems with "personalised search".
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 24, 2011, 02:30:12 pm
BT are snooping again (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/24/bt_snooping/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 24, 2011, 03:42:23 pm
Interesting article on technology uptake....driven by pr0n (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13416598)

Interesting bit about the Apple store frenzy etc

Quote
And when a team of neuroscientists with an MRI scanner took a look inside the brain of an Apple fanatic it seemed the bishop was on to something.

The results suggested that Apple was actually stimulating the same parts of the brain as religious imagery does in people of faith.

 :lol:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 24, 2011, 03:54:30 pm
You should watch South Park Series 15 Episode 1 : The HumancentiPad (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2011/apr/29/apple-tracking-south-park) fucking hilarious.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 06, 2011, 12:01:39 pm
Google to phase-in support for HTML5 browsers (http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/our-plans-to-support-modern-browsers.html)

Basically they won't be checking Gmail/Apps/Docs/etc. work with < IE7/< FF4/< Safari 3/<Chrome(no idea of version for HTML5 support).  :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 16, 2011, 01:10:22 pm
Sarko's HADOPI fuck up could be good news for us........

http://www.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/7022428/government-split-over-enforcing-the-digital-economy-act.thtml (http://www.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/7022428/government-split-over-enforcing-the-digital-economy-act.thtml)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on June 16, 2011, 02:23:11 pm
Google to phase-in support for HTML5 browsers (http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/our-plans-to-support-modern-browsers.html)

Basically they won't be checking Gmail/Apps/Docs/etc. work with < IE7/< FF4/< Safari 3/<Chrome(no idea of version for HTML5 support).  :2thumbsup:

Interesting article yesterday about 'Spartan' a fb secret project to write effectively an fb app in html5 so it negates the apple AppStore on iOS... HTML5 seems to be gaining a lot of traction #byebyeflash
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: stevej on June 21, 2011, 12:20:54 pm
Unconfirmed reports that lockheed martin have lost the UK census to lulzsec who are having a nosey and are preparing to release it on pirate bay... link (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/21/uk_census_lost/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 21, 2011, 12:23:38 pm
Unconfirmed reports that lockheed martin have lost the UK census to lulzsec who are having a nosey and are preparing to release it on pirate bay... link (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/21/uk_census_lost/)

 :lol:  :spank:  :rtfm:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 21, 2011, 03:26:02 pm
Or perhaps not......

http://twitter.com/LulzSec/status/83172089711964161 (http://twitter.com/LulzSec/status/83172089711964161)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 28, 2011, 09:34:36 am
Interesting and potentially scary stuff, computer virus that infected nuclear power plants, its like a hollywood movie script!

Stuxnet: Anatomy of a Computer Virus (http://vimeo.com/25118844)


Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 28, 2011, 10:15:45 am
Why all figures from the entertainment industry should be assumed to be bollocks until investigated:

http://www.boingboing.net/2011/06/27/hollywoodonomics-how.html (http://www.boingboing.net/2011/06/27/hollywoodonomics-how.html)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on June 28, 2011, 10:58:35 am
Interesting and potentially scary stuff, computer virus that infected nuclear power plants, its like a hollywood movie script!


Good post Slackers, Interesting.. though I may use that video as an example of how not to use presentation software ;)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 29, 2011, 09:14:42 am
Irish ISP sent "first strike" letters to 300 completely innocent people:

http://torrentfreak.com/isp-wrongfully-sent-300-first-strike-letters-to-innocents-110617/ (http://torrentfreak.com/isp-wrongfully-sent-300-first-strike-letters-to-innocents-110617/)

When are people going to realise that this isn't going to work?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 30, 2011, 11:34:56 am
Murdoch takes $545m hit on Myspace cockup:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/news-corp-sells-myspace-whats-myspace/article2080136/ (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/top-business-stories/news-corp-sells-myspace-whats-myspace/article2080136/)

 :clap2:

Trousersnake thinks he can make a go of it:

http://www.gigwise.com/news/64477/Justin-Timberlake-Buys-Stake-In-Myspace-As-Part-Of-35-Million-Deal (http://www.gigwise.com/news/64477/Justin-Timberlake-Buys-Stake-In-Myspace-As-Part-Of-35-Million-Deal)

Quote
You can keep up to date with all the latest news from Gigwise by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

 :lol:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: SA Chris on June 30, 2011, 12:09:22 pm
Savour the irony.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 08, 2011, 10:37:00 am
Record label sharp practice explained:

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110707/03264014993/riaa-accounting-how-to-sell-1-million-albums-still-owe-500000.shtml (http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110707/03264014993/riaa-accounting-how-to-sell-1-million-albums-still-owe-500000.shtml)

....and they expect us to believe their figures when they tell us how much money they are losing from piracy?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 08, 2011, 01:42:04 pm
And topically enough, how will they spin this one?!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jul/08/us-album-sales-rise (http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jul/08/us-album-sales-rise)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Johnny Brown on July 20, 2011, 02:16:26 pm
Mac OSX Lion released today. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2011/jul/19/apple-lion-release-wednesday-1330)

Amongst the new features is 'the ability to resize windows from anywhere on the side'. Well fuck me, thank god for that. Welcome to windows mactwats!

Some of the other stuff looks decent, will give it a few weeks to see what doesn't work first though...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on August 03, 2011, 10:51:41 am
Government drop plans to block websites accused of infringing copyright (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14372698)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on August 08, 2011, 12:28:55 pm
Smart kid (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14443001)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on August 09, 2011, 12:17:18 pm
Smart phones could as as ad-hoc wireless networks when conventional avenues are shut down (http://hackerdemia.com/)  8)

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on August 12, 2011, 01:44:53 pm
Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Admits-Handing-over-European-User-Data-to-US-Intelligence-Agencies-215740.shtml).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: remus on August 14, 2011, 08:30:35 am
Google Admits Handing over European User Data to US Intelligence Agencies (http://news.softpedia.com/news/Google-Admits-Handing-over-European-User-Data-to-US-Intelligence-Agencies-215740.shtml).

Im interested to see what comes of this, as it seems google was in a no win situation. you never know, the EU might even slap some sense in to the US.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on August 16, 2011, 08:39:45 am
How Linux Mastered Wall Street (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9219204/How_Linux_mastered_Wall_Street)  :geek:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on August 28, 2011, 09:03:54 am
Anonymous threaten to "kill facebook" (http://my.opera.com/portalnews/blog/2011/08/10/anonymous-threatens-to-kill-facebook)

More importantly Surfing the net can increase work productivity (http://my.opera.com/portalnews/blog/2011/08/23/study-proves-web-surfing-increases-productivity-at-work) something I've suspected for a long time  :strongbench:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tommytwotone on September 01, 2011, 06:20:53 pm
Not so much IT News as something one of my mate's who's fluent in French passed on to me - apparently "twitter" has evolved into common usage as a verb!

Je twitte
Tu twittes
Il twitte
Nous twittons
Ils twittent

And apparently it's regular in the past tense as well...

J'ai twitte (can't add the accent on the e)

etc etc

Genial!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on September 01, 2011, 09:11:46 pm

More importantly Surfing the net can increase work productivity (http://my.opera.com/portalnews/blog/2011/08/23/study-proves-web-surfing-increases-productivity-at-work) something I've suspected for a long time  :strongbench:

I suspect thats more down to person will power.. I have disabled the (external) internet at work and my productivity has shot up. I have about as much will power as Kerry Katona placed before a table laden with booze and pain killers...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 06, 2011, 08:48:48 am
Unsurprsing finding that the government waste money on IT procurement and are tied into expensive upgrades (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14765545)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 07, 2011, 05:08:08 pm
Mac users beware when "trashing" confidential documents (http://www.reghardware.com/2011/09/07/apple_mac_os_x_lion_the_nanny_os/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 13, 2011, 02:16:44 pm
Theres some twisted irony in this....

Man accused of being part of Anonymous.....is forced to be anonymous online (http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110912/10255815907/guy-accused-being-part-anonymous-banned-court-using-his-real-name-online.shtml)  :lol:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 13, 2011, 04:00:43 pm
A free OS that isn't *NIX based....ReactOS (http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on September 13, 2011, 07:43:00 pm
A free OS that isn't *NIX based....ReactOS (http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html)
I'd be surprised if this doesn't break multiple MS copyrights
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on September 13, 2011, 08:24:31 pm
A free OS that isn't *NIX based....ReactOS (http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html)
I'd be surprised if this doesn't break multiple MS copyrights

Yes, that's what I thought.. The start button for starters! Looks like it's .ru based...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on September 13, 2011, 11:34:09 pm
Mac users beware when "trashing" confidential documents (http://www.reghardware.com/2011/09/07/apple_mac_os_x_lion_the_nanny_os/)

excellant synopsis of a dire OS I'm forced into for the iCloud ( aka actually working MobileMe, to then find snow leopard will actually run it)

lion is  a bugged ipad esk front piece that simply worsens the OSX users experiences and hinders their needs.

the new MS et arrive
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 14, 2011, 07:09:18 am
A free OS that isn't *NIX based....ReactOS (http://www.reactos.org/en/index.html)
I'd be surprised if this doesn't break multiple MS copyrights

MS should have used the GPL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html)  :P

excellant synopsis of a dire OS I'm forced into for the iCloud ( aka actually working MobileMe, to then find snow leopard will actually run it)

lion is  a bugged ipad esk front piece that simply worsens the OSX users experiences and hinders their needs.

the new MS et arrive

I thought Apple could do no wrong?

All boils down to choice, you could always install GNU/Linux on your Mac. Holler if you want some pointers :tease:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on September 14, 2011, 10:46:00 pm
like I can be arsed... the lazy *pay for it to work* aka " it just work"s strap line still holds true.. in the main... I'll stay with OSX.. but the love affair has ended
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on September 14, 2011, 10:52:06 pm
like I can be arsed... the lazy *pay for it to work* aka " it just work"s strap line still holds true.. in the main... I'll stay with OSX.. but the love affair has ended

Isnt Toasted Rhino (or whatever the latest release is called) supposed to be pretty good?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on September 14, 2011, 10:57:10 pm
nope, it's an iPad skin that gets in the way of doing real work... and is nothing like what a new OSX should be.

it's shite.

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 15, 2011, 07:59:03 am
Isnt Toasted Rhino (or whatever the latest release is called) supposed to be pretty good?

Mac users beware when "trashing" confidential documents (http://www.reghardware.com/2011/09/07/apple_mac_os_x_lion_the_nanny_os/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 20, 2011, 12:01:38 pm
Gamers crack decades old AIDS protein puzzle in 3 weeks:

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/09/gamers-help-crack-aids-protein.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news (http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/09/gamers-help-crack-aids-protein.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: dave on September 20, 2011, 01:14:18 pm
I hope it was good AIDS and not bad AIDS.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 20, 2011, 01:19:33 pm
Thats not overly surprising, automated "maximisation/minimisation" algorithms are well known to be prone to converging on local rather global solutions.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 21, 2011, 11:00:00 am
Looks like theres a makeover of the BBC site in the offing (http://beta.bbc.co.uk/).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: mr__j5 on September 21, 2011, 04:20:21 pm
Looks like theres a makeover of the BBC site in the offing (http://beta.bbc.co.uk/).

Horrific. It looks like it's designed for blind people
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 04, 2011, 04:32:51 pm
New iFern on the way here are some of the "features" (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/10/04/why_not_buy_an_iphone_5/).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 05, 2011, 08:28:38 am
New iFern on the way here are some of the "features" (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/10/04/why_not_buy_an_iphone_5/).

People will read that............. and still buy it as soon as it comes out.  :shrug:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Johnny Brown on October 05, 2011, 09:14:12 am
I think its reached the point where the higher they price it, the more people assume its amazing and the less rational they get about the features.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 05, 2011, 09:22:49 am
No iPhone 5, just an "upgrade" to the iPhone4S (with features it should really have had in the first place, many of which are software, which is what I thought applications were for!).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 05, 2011, 09:25:11 am
I think its reached the point where the higher they price it, the more people assume its amazing and the less rational they get about the features.

It's a fucking clever business model!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Fatboy on October 05, 2011, 09:36:15 am
No iPhone 5, just an "upgrade" to the iPhone4S (with features it should really have had in the first place, many of which are software, which is what I thought applications were for!).

Yeah its not a big leap either in terms of keeping up with the competition (http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/iphone-4s-vs-the-smartphone-elite-galaxy-s-ii-bionic-and-tita/).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jim on October 05, 2011, 10:13:25 am
the misses has the galaxy S2 and its an amazing bit of kit. I'm still yet to be impressed by the android OS tho
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on October 05, 2011, 10:20:42 am
Well the 3Gs was a big success, so I guess they are going along with that business model.

My 4 is going fine so I see no need to upgrade... but I know folk who have a 3Gs who are looking to upgrade and this is good news for them (as far as they are concerned)...

The camera stuff is nice - and the A5 processor will make things snappier (as indeed they are on the iPad2), longer battery life all good etc.. so it makes perfect sense for someone wanting to upgrade or buy an Ifern for the first time but not for those with a 4 already. Much the same as when the 3Gs superceded the 3G...

I dont really get the whole voice thing. I have dragon speak, and voice recognition on the handsfree in the car, but I never use them. I prefer pressing keys (or screen) to dictating an email to people. You would look a complete cock dictating your sales report to your phone on the 8:12 to Waterloo for example...

I think the whole hardware/software/ revenue model of the IT industry is really interesting at the moment...

Apple make $$ from the hardware but a fair bit from content with Itunes too...

Amazon are being clever with the fire - and kindles - if they play their cards right they will make $$$ from the content rather than the hardware (Which is probably at or close to a loss)

Also in the news this week is that IBM have overtaken MS in company value for the first time since the 80's... this is on the back of them ditching their hardware operation (to Lenovo) and working on core business IT...

And then theres MS, making $$ still from OS, and banking on a tablet/desktop crossover OS (which I think will be a good idea..) as well as Xbox, though dont they make the $$ on content and licencing rather than hardware??

And Google.. who make money from adverts.. but seem to be creeping into every day life inexorably..
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Stubbs on October 05, 2011, 10:48:17 am
I note from that comparison that the competition are all massive, at some point HTC are just going to start selling tablets labelled up as phones!  Hopefully there will be something of a more normal size when it comes to updating by Desire.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 05, 2011, 12:02:27 pm
You would look a complete cock dictating your sales report to your phone on the 8:12 to Waterloo for example...

Blue Tooth Man (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooxTIF98_lQ#ws)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 05, 2011, 12:05:11 pm
I note from that comparison that the competition are all massive, at some point HTC are just going to start selling tablets labelled up as phones!  Hopefully there will be something of a more normal size when it comes to updating by Desire.

The offering compared there is a Win7 based phone.

The next Android offering after the Desire was the Sensation, the recently announced Ruby/Amaze (http://androidandme.com/2011/09/devices/htc-ruby-aka-amaze-4g-pictured-flaunting-its-specs/) is their next Android based phone (and continues the large size trend).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on October 05, 2011, 06:15:52 pm
I think its reached the point where the higher they price it, the more people assume its amazing and the less rational they get about the features.

as someone who has to  self fund a smart phone of a certain level of encryption  to work effectively ( leaves me with the choice of blueberri or ifern) then I would say havin to upgrade to original 4  from a 3G was a rather flat, and expensive experience. This "S" seems to just fix the crap bits of the 4 IMO.. and to close down the free siri app and then ask cash for it is like way poor....

faster performance and better battery would be cool.. but I'm not bothered.

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 06, 2011, 09:10:35 am
(http://i.imgur.com/1gUNl.png) (http://www.apple.com/stevejobs/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: cofe on October 06, 2011, 09:13:25 am
Very sad.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 06, 2011, 09:43:33 am
Get the new 4GS to cheer you up, you know its what he would have wanted.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on October 06, 2011, 10:16:03 am
Thats a bit glib slackers...

Apple fanboi or not, you have to admit that in the past 10 years Apple (under Jobs' influence) have made fundamental changes in how we use phones, to a degree computers, listen to music and buy music..
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 06, 2011, 10:24:18 am
He was a very savvy (and aggressive) business man/marketeer, no doubt about it.

Apple will continue without him though as he also had a very large team designing and making the products.

I think mp3 players and smartphones would have happened anyway, and there are better alternatives to Apples products on these fronts as I don't agree with the DRM of music (and other media) that stems from his influence.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: cofe on October 06, 2011, 10:32:37 am
Thats a bit glib slackers...

agreed.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 06, 2011, 10:38:55 am
Sorry to have offended you, I just can't empathise with the feeling of loss when some "celebrity" dies that there is no personal connection with.  I've more empathy for my work colleague who got home yesterday to find out his father in Zimbabwae had died.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 06, 2011, 01:04:06 pm
Lunchtime news trawl...

To me, to you, to me, to you (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15166663) I wonder when these companies will gen up on Game Theory and learn that tit-for-tat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tit_for_tat#Problems) is not the optimal strategy.  :wall:


New first person "shooter" (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15166663)



Been reading some interesting obits on Jobs (eg (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/technology-obituaries/8810037/Steve-Jobs-obituary.html)), and he's not quite the business magnate I'd thought he was, with tales of him pursuing his own ideas regardless, he was just lucky to have anticipated mp3 players and smart phones.  And strange that as a buddhist he seemed to have little time for environmental issues and far less, almost non-existant, philanthropic tendencies for his fellow humans than his contemporary Gates.  And he may well have fiddled his taxes too.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on October 06, 2011, 01:11:06 pm
I feel sad for the premature loss of an amazing individual.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 06, 2011, 01:21:48 pm
I only found out quite recently that he was in charge of (and majority shareholder in) Pixar until Disney bought it (making him the largest individual shareholder in Disney).

Whatever you think of Apple (or indeed Disney) as a company, that's a pretty amazing cv / portfolio he had!

Thought this was quite funny re the ridiculous outpouring of grief on Twitter though:

www.twitter.com/andykiko/status/121914427384668162 (http://www.twitter.com/andykiko/status/121914427384668162)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: fatdoc on October 06, 2011, 01:26:25 pm
in the context of his death this is isad, without the hysterics

http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html (http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html)

start it at 9:45 for the best bit
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 06, 2011, 01:27:57 pm
iSad for the premature loss of an amazing individual.

Amazing perhaps, but despite all the things he did with Apple and NeXT (/Pixar) from the above linked obit...

Quote
...his ruthless streak became apparent aged 23 when his then girlfriend gave birth to his daughter. For two years, though already wealthy, he denied paternity while the baby's mother went on welfare. At one point he even swore an affidavit to the effect that he was "sterile and infertile", so could not be the father.

Quote
...was vicious about business rivals, and in contrast to, say, Bill Gates, refused to have any truck with notions of corporate responsibility. He habitually parked his Mercedes in the disabled parking slot at Apple headquarters and one of his first acts on returning to the company in 1997 was to terminate all of its corporate philanthropy programmes.

Quote
He ruled Apple with a combination of foul-mouthed tantrums and charm, withering scorn and carefully judged flattery. People were either geniuses or "bozos", and those in his regular orbit found that they could flip with no warning from one category to the other, in what became known as the "hero-shithead roller coaster". Employees worried about getting trapped with Jobs in a lift, afraid that they might not have a job when the doors opened.

One senior executive admitted that before heading into a meeting with Jobs, she embraced the mindset of a bullfighter entering the ring: "I pretend I'm already dead."

Sounds like he was quite ruthless :devangel:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: cofe on October 06, 2011, 01:52:29 pm
a ruthless businessman - you don't see many of those  :o
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 06, 2011, 01:56:00 pm
I know its quite unsettling to think there are these companies being led by people who have nothing but cash symbols in their sight.

Denying paternal responsibilities is a rather cuntish thing to do too (something which he eventually rescinded).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: cofe on October 06, 2011, 01:59:04 pm
..and you read the Telegraph ;)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 06, 2011, 02:12:47 pm
Nah followed a link from someone on twitter (never look at the site as I was under the impression that its all pay-walled, but I was mistakenly thinking of The Times).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: cofe on October 06, 2011, 02:15:13 pm
I was kidding.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 06, 2011, 02:19:32 pm
And here I am thinking you were trying to seduce me with the winking-smile.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: dave on October 08, 2011, 07:57:50 pm
Interesting short piece on iJobs and the photo everyone's been using this week: (http://pdnpulse.com/2011/10/steve-jobs-visionary-inventor-and-very-challenging-photo-subject.html)


(http://www.apple.com/home/images/t_hero.png)

(I still think it looks like he's holding up a cardboard mask on a of his own face on a stick.)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on October 21, 2011, 01:24:51 pm
Jobs vowed to "destroy" Android:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15400984 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15400984)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Stubbs on October 21, 2011, 01:36:37 pm
This piece from the FT covers similar ground, but also mentions that he delayed having cancer surgery and tried alternative treatments which may have allowed time for the cancer to become incurable, very sad.  http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/1cc07d6c-fb83-11e0-9587-00144feab49a.html#axzz1bQ30ssmA (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/1cc07d6c-fb83-11e0-9587-00144feab49a.html#axzz1bQ30ssmA)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 31, 2011, 04:55:38 pm
Samsung 'announce' devices to receive Android update (http://www.reghardware.com/2011/10/31/samsung_highlights_tech_for_ics_update_2012/) (will be eagerly awaited by many as whilst for example the SII is dual core, its running Android 2.3 which doesn't have any tweaks to make the most of the additional power).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on November 25, 2011, 10:07:10 am
This really is the most fucking retarded thing I have seen this year, a USB handset......for a phone! (http://www.reghardware.com/2011/11/25/accessory_of_the_week_thumbs_up_desktop_phone/)  :blink: :wall:

(http://regmedia.co.uk/2011/11/10/dphone_2.jpg)

Just goes to show that some people are dumb enough to buy anything.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 17, 2012, 11:39:34 am
Wikipedia blackout to protest SOPA/PIPA (http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/English_Wikipedia_anti-SOPA_blackout)

The former (SOPA) has already effectively been killed (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/jan/16/sopa-shelved-obama-piracy-legislation) but PIPA has the same implications (fucking around with DNS being a major problem).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 17, 2012, 11:47:15 pm
How to By-pass SOPA blocking to reach sites directly (http://howto.cnet.com/how-to-bypass-sopa-blocking-to-reach-sites-directly/8301-11310_39-57359004-285.html) (using Firefox that is).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 22, 2012, 11:43:19 am
Space Pirates with Raspberry Pi's (http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2012/03/pirate-airships-an-alternative.html)  :lol:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 05, 2012, 02:43:02 pm
Mac owners might be wise to bust out some AV (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17623422)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 11, 2012, 07:50:54 am
Interesting (http://www.fastcodesign.com/1669997/this-sci-fi-touchscreen-can-give-the-iphone-real-buttons)
Tactus Technology Introduction on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/43431035)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Fatboy on June 11, 2012, 10:01:29 am
Interesting (http://www.fastcodesign.com/1669997/this-sci-fi-touchscreen-can-give-the-iphone-real-buttons)
Tactus Technology Introduction on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/43431035)

You beat me to it Slackers!
I saw this last night and was gob-smacked - the future is nigh!!  :ninja:

I wonder when we will start to see this in handsets, or if that is even viable in the short/medium term??
The guys in this video go to great lengths to stress that it is realistic in terms of cost but then I guess that is subjective...

I wonder which manufacturer we will see if from first?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 12, 2012, 10:09:18 am
Apple ditches Google Maps from iOS6 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18393993) (but provides an alternative).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 14, 2012, 01:34:40 pm
Genius, charge users for the additional development time to make web-sites compliant with non-standard browsers (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18440979).  :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 14, 2012, 04:08:14 pm
Good old Apple, out to help people (http://niederfamily.blogspot.be/2012/06/silencing-of-maya.html)

Bunch of fucking cunts!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: cofe on June 19, 2012, 09:45:43 am
Microsoft Surface tablet. (http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-tablet-announced/)

(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/06/microsoft-surface-for-windows-rt-story.jpg)

If I've read it right, the smart cover is also the keyboard.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on June 19, 2012, 09:52:41 am
Yup - keyboard(and trackpad)/Cover is 3mm thick and comes with moving keys or not...
Also reading the spiel, two flavours of tablet, one ARM and one x86 - the latter is 4-5mm thicker but basically same architecture as a PC. ARM one is slightly heavier than iPad but a mm or so thinner. Mg case whatever that means!

Interesting move - as if they've got the hardware right it'll do well - as W8 is good (from my testing) and perfect for touchscreens.... Undermines the laptop market even more.

Also interesting as IBM and HP have effectively given up the PC hardware market but MS are moving back in.... maybe had a good look at Apples revenue figures!

MS hardware history has a mixed reputation... xbox good, zune bad...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: cofe on June 19, 2012, 10:01:11 am
Better photo of the cover/keyboard:

(http://www.mediabistro.com/appnewser/files/2012/06/about2.jpg)

Be interesting to see how usable it is.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on June 19, 2012, 11:50:37 am
Mg case whatever that means!
Magnesium?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on June 19, 2012, 03:09:18 pm
Mg case whatever that means!
Magnesium?

Indeed. But what advantages does that give? Mg alloy is light - but .. and... yes.. well.. etc..?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 19, 2012, 05:13:14 pm
Can't think of any other thread this is appropriate to, but....

It might be worthwhile remove cookies when booking at RyanAir (http://www.bitterwallet.com/save-money-on-ryanair-fares-by-deleting-your-cookies/42133)  :wank:


Seems I may have been duped by an Urbane Myth (http://blog.getinvisiblehand.com/2011/04/08/ryanair-manipulating-prices-with-cookies-it’s-an-urban-myth/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 21, 2012, 02:15:05 pm
Better photo of the cover/keyboard:

(http://www.mediabistro.com/appnewser/files/2012/06/about2.jpg)

Be interesting to see how usable it is.

Not very if this launch demo is anything to go by (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/video/2012/jun/21/microsoft-surface-error-windows-video)  :lol:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: cofe on June 21, 2012, 02:20:03 pm
oh dear.

(http://smileq8dotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/laptop-vs-microsoft-surface.jpg?w=604)

Be nice if they hurried up and released price and availability.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 24, 2012, 07:46:57 am
A powerful opinion...

Linus to Nvidia: Fuck You ! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxHqi8tx048#ws)

...has resulted in consequences fo nVidia in China (http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2012/6/21/china-nvidia-loses-face-and-a-10-million-pc-order-over-linux-drivers-and-nres.aspx) (quite how this has less to do with open source as stated in the article I'm not sure, as if the drivers were open source nVidia wouldn't be telling China it would cost them shit loads to recompile the drivers :-\ ).

Full video is quite interesting, very focused individual....

Aalto Talk with Linus Torvalds [Full-length] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MShbP3OpASA#ws)

Not done bad for a hacking project he started himself really, the desktop market is about the only place Linux isn't ubiquitous.
Title: IT News
Post by: Oldmanmatt on June 24, 2012, 09:45:08 am
oh dear.

(http://smileq8dotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/laptop-vs-microsoft-surface.jpg?w=604)

Be nice if they hurried up and released price and availability.

All I see is an iPad locked in landscape, with a non detachable keyboard cover...

AKA.... A laptop. (actually a net book).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 04, 2012, 02:47:06 pm
ACTA Rejected (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18704192)   :2thumbsup::
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 06, 2012, 08:09:22 am
Linux used in discovery of Higgs Boson (http://www.ubuntuvibes.com/2012/07/linux-played-crucial-role-in-discovery.html)

More interesting is dumb patent law-suit lost (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18709232)

(http://d.asset.soup.io/asset/2503/2525_1e70.jpeg)

Apple court case thrown out in the US too (http://www.techdirt.com/blog/wireless/articles/20120623/00213319445/judge-posner-rips-apart-apples-patent-litigation-strategy-being-really-annoyed-is-no-reason-to-sue.shtml)

Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end for dumb patents and innovation can resume instead wanking money away to lawyers.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 06, 2012, 05:28:10 pm
"Being really annoyed is no reason to sue"  :lol:

Really pleased about this. It was a fucking stupid move by Apple and as you say the only winners were always going to be the lawyers in the end.

Don't really understand why Apple are so scared anyway. However big Android's market share becomes (and however superior the products made by Samsung etc become) there are always going to be millions of Apple worshipers who'll spend whatever it takes to get the latest iThing.

Better to spend the money on more clever marketing than law suits.  ;)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 09, 2012, 07:35:02 pm
More sense from UK courts over Apples attempt to sue/block the Samsung Galaxy Tab which is now [ulr=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18773690] officially 'not cool'[/url]
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 19, 2012, 08:46:40 am
More sense from UK courts over Apples attempt to sue/block the Samsung Galaxy Tab which is now  officially 'not cool' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18773690)

And further, Apple now have to apologise (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18895384)  :lol:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on July 19, 2012, 03:37:34 pm
More sense from UK courts over Apples attempt to sue/block the Samsung Galaxy Tab which is now  officially 'not cool' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18773690)

And further, Apple now have to apologise (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18895384)  :lol:

I keep thinking of a naughty school kid having to stand up in front of the class and say it's sorry!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 27, 2012, 12:46:42 pm
I've never quite seen the utility of Near Field Communication (or NFC for lovers of acronyms) and would be very circumspect of using it.

Seems that caution may be well founded (http://arstechnica.com/security/2012/07/android-nokia-smartphone-hack/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: cofe on September 07, 2012, 10:51:03 am
New Kindle Fire tablets, and now available in the UK (but not the bigger one). (http://www.thebookseller.com/news/kindle-fire-UK-release-25th-October.html) Kindle Paperwhite too, but not in UK.

Undercuts the Google tablet, and the new Kobo ones. Despite the huge amount of content, I don't think I'd want to be tied into Amazon.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on September 07, 2012, 11:03:47 am
New Kindle Fire tablets, and now available in the UK (but not the bigger one). (http://www.thebookseller.com/news/kindle-fire-UK-release-25th-October.html) Kindle Paperwhite too, but not in UK.

Undercuts the Google tablet, and the new Kobo ones. Despite the huge amount of content, I don't think I'd want to be tied into Amazon.

Theres probably a way of de-amazonconfobulating it - though it may involve sticking half a coat hanger up its usb port whilst singing the US national anthem backwards, whilst balancing a jelly model of the Eiffel tower on a floppy paper plate in the other hand.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: robertostallioni on September 07, 2012, 11:10:51 am
http://www.zurmat.com/2012/08/29/samsung-pays-apple-1-billion-sending-30-trucks-full-of-5-cent-coins/ (http://www.zurmat.com/2012/08/29/samsung-pays-apple-1-billion-sending-30-trucks-full-of-5-cent-coins/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 07, 2012, 11:17:26 am
If only (http://www.snopes.com/politics/satire/samsung.asp)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: robertostallioni on September 07, 2012, 11:19:58 am
 :lol:  :-\   :(
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 10, 2012, 12:40:52 pm
Original laptop designer dies (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19542934).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on September 11, 2012, 11:36:10 am
4G to launch in 16 UK cities This Year...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19543042 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19543042)

Good news.

(especially in Hull where I may get the chance to break from Karoo - the only ISP)...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on September 11, 2012, 01:49:32 pm
 :o

tomtom you'll have to get a new phone!

Quote
EE will offer several handsets to use with the service. Within the year, these will be Samsung's Galaxy S III LTE; HTC's One XL and Huawei's Ascend P1 LTE.

The company will also offer Nokia's Lumia 820 and Lumia 920 - the latter of which the company has as an exclusive deal.

The day after EE's launch, Apple is holding an event at which it is thought to be unveiling the next version of its iPhone.

This will also be able to handle 4G but it is not yet clear if it will work on the frequencies that EE's early services will use.


 ;)

Joking aside this is good. Although I'm in no rush so wont be desperately switching networks in order to get 4G asap. Better to wait until the other networks also have it so competition brings the prices down.
Title: IT News
Post by: tomtom on September 11, 2012, 02:02:52 pm
Indeed.. I like the look of the new Nokias, and I'm a bit bored of the icons/iOS/android approach...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 11, 2012, 02:06:36 pm
Indeed.. I like the look of the new Nokias, and I'm a bit bored of the icons/iOS/android approach...

Install a terminal emulator! :clown:
Title: IT News
Post by: tomtom on September 11, 2012, 02:47:24 pm
Indeed.. I like the look of the new Nokias, and I'm a bit bored of the icons/iOS/android approach...

Install a terminal emulator! :clown:

I like the look of the tiles :)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 11, 2012, 02:52:53 pm
Tiles == icons organised into a grid without space between them. 

 :tease:
Title: IT News
Post by: tomtom on September 11, 2012, 03:16:11 pm
Tiles == icons organised into a grid without space between them. 

 :tease:

Or like lots of mini terminals ;)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 11, 2012, 03:27:09 pm
All the programs run from a CLI, thats cool and worth a look. :tease:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 17, 2012, 12:34:40 pm
Buying a new computer?  First things first, run some AV/spyware (http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/microsoft-admits-millions-of-computers-could-be-infected-with-malware-before-theyre-even-out-of-the-box-8139437.html)

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 18, 2012, 02:17:31 pm
Buying a new computer?  First things first, run some AV/spyware (http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/microsoft-admits-millions-of-computers-could-be-infected-with-malware-before-theyre-even-out-of-the-box-8139437.html)



More exploits found in IE7/8/9 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/sep/18/microsoft-internet-explorer-zero-day-flaw)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 28, 2012, 12:11:08 pm
AI game bots pass Turing Test (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/27/game_bot_turing_test/) by bearing a grudge!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 12, 2012, 11:08:16 am
US Court of Appeal overturns ban on Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19919298) (the ban on the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was overturned a few weeks ago).

At last the courts are starting to see sense.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 03, 2012, 08:27:15 pm
#freeandopen (http://goo.gl/X4Z7c)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 17, 2012, 09:38:18 am
(http://themixingbowl.org/static/img/smilies/panic.gif) (http://themixingbowl.org/static/img/smilies/panic.gif) (http://themixingbowl.org/static/img/smilies/panic.gif)

Stuxnet: Anatomy of a Computer Virus on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/25118844)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 17, 2012, 01:56:59 pm
Security issue in Samsung Exynos kernels (affects some Galaxy SII's) (http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/distribution-tables/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Wood FT on December 17, 2012, 03:04:08 pm
Security issue in Samsung Exynos kernels (affects some Galaxy SII's) (http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/distribution-tables/)

is that the right link?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 17, 2012, 03:09:48 pm
Security issue in Samsung Exynos kernels (affects some Galaxy SII's) (http://www.statsoft.com/textbook/distribution-tables/)

is that the right link?

Ooops, no sorry, used the wrong buffer to paste from, here is the right one (http://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-exynos-kernel-exploit-what-you-need-know).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 20, 2012, 02:55:39 pm
Bye bye ACTA :wave: (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/12/20/acta_gets_last_last_rites/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 03, 2013, 10:36:30 am
Ubuntu on your phone (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20891868) (been in the pipeline for ages, but you can then plug your phone into a monitor and use it as a desktop when you're on the move). :geek:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 03, 2013, 11:19:52 am
Ubuntu on your phone (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20891868) (been in the pipeline for ages, but you can then plug your phone into a monitor and use it as a desktop when you're on the move). :geek:

Something "extraordinary" apparently!

Ubuntu for phones - Industry proposition (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpWHJDLsqTU#ws)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 04, 2013, 01:08:21 pm
Update your browsers (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20908546)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 07, 2013, 12:38:37 pm
Update your browsers (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20908546)

That's a major concern for the 15 people who use Google+.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 07, 2013, 12:47:24 pm
Update your browsers (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20908546)

That's a major concern for the 15 people who use Google+.

 :lol:  Although I don't think its limited to Google+.

They've recently introduced "Communities" though which I think will make it a bit more functional, makes it a bit more like Reddit.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: stevej on January 09, 2013, 09:10:46 am
CS2 activation servers turned off, adobe releases recompiled binaries without the activation stuff, and gives the world the serial keys. Technically only for people that have already paid of course (probably because there's lots of licensed stuff in premier especially) but it's heavily implied that they're regarding it as abandonware and fair-game. PS CS2 is 7 years old but still lightyears better than any of the freebies unless you have a mate in prison etc.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/08/free_adobe_cs2_download/ (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/08/free_adobe_cs2_download/)

http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/index.html (http://www.adobe.com/downloads/cs2_downloads/index.html)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 11, 2013, 08:11:02 am
Amazon AutoRip (http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/01/10/amazon-introduces-autorip-a-new-service-that-gives-mp3s-to-customers-who-bought-cds-from-amazon-within-the-last-15-years/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: mr__j5 on January 11, 2013, 09:42:33 am
Amazon AutoRip (http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/01/10/amazon-introduces-autorip-a-new-service-that-gives-mp3s-to-customers-who-bought-cds-from-amazon-within-the-last-15-years/)

That is very cool.

The fact that when you log into CloudPlayer it automatically adds all of the mp3s that you've bought from Amazon is probably more that some providers might do, but doing it for physical purchases too is very impressive.

Although none of my CD purchases have actually shown up yet.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 11, 2013, 09:51:38 am
Seems most of the CDs I've bought aren't covered, all I've got is Erik B & Rakim's "Paid in Full" and the RATM single I bought a few years ago around xmas.

Bought loads of Fabric Live CD's in the past six months, although all second hand, so that may be one factor why they're not being added.

I'm still impressed with Google Music, as its allowed me to backup well over a decade worths of Essential Mixes, all Blue Jams and tons of other mixes too as well as all my ripped CDs and I've still got room for another 13000 tracks!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 11, 2013, 12:37:24 pm
Only in US currently according to this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20972027 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20972027)
Which could be why they aren't appearing yet.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 11, 2013, 12:44:47 pm
Well I got one album, but to be honest I can't remember the last time I bought a new album, so I suspect it doesn't cover second hand purchases.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 14, 2013, 01:35:25 pm
Microfluidics (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20970928)  8)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 16, 2013, 09:21:19 am
Genius! Outsource your own job + repeat (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/16/developer_oursources_job_china/)  :clap2: :lol:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on January 16, 2013, 09:42:39 am
That's brilliant.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 28, 2013, 04:52:09 pm
Not really news but a simple guide to minimise some of the tracking (http://fixtracking.com/#types) that goes on when you surf the net.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Iesu on January 29, 2013, 09:50:55 am
good shout that; I use duckduckgo.com at work at home and on the phone. I do default to google for shopping errands occasionally (the only shortcoming of ducks in my opinion).
I wouldn't consider myself a "power user" though; what's all this "bang!" stuff all about?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: andy_e on January 29, 2013, 10:04:55 am
Very good shout. I've been using AdBlock Plus for months now and it's brilliant. It even stops you from getting adverts on 4OD making it much easier to watch a program!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 29, 2013, 10:10:15 am
what's all this "bang!" stuff all about?

I've no idea what you are talking about?

(NB - That link takes you to a page which detects which browser you are using and returns instructions specific to that, I use Opera and suspect you may not be).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Iesu on January 29, 2013, 12:19:01 pm
i think i just answered my own question:

https://duckduckgo.com/bang.html

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 06, 2013, 01:38:10 pm
North Korea propaganda falls foul of copyright (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21351051)  :lol:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 07, 2013, 11:31:10 am
Unlimited to mean what its supposed to for BT Broadband customers (http://conversation.which.co.uk/technology/unlimited-broadband-package-no-fair-usage-policy/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 11, 2013, 10:09:57 am
Work around against M$-Win8 UEFI secure boot released (http://www.zdnet.com/linux-foundation-releases-windows-secure-boot-fix-7000011084/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 15, 2013, 10:49:47 am
A word of caution (http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/does-your-copy-of-office-2013-die-with-your-computer-20130208-2e3a1.html) if you are going to buy/upgrade to Office 2013.  You'll only ever be able to install it on one computer, if you upgrade or it dies you have to buy another license!  :wank:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 15, 2013, 11:04:51 am
I'm still using 2003 and don't intend to change.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 15, 2013, 11:07:16 am
I'm still using 2003 and don't intend to change.

Until clients start sending you documents in new formats that can't be read!

(At which point Google Docs/Libreoffice will come in handy).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on February 15, 2013, 11:34:10 am
Yeah at the moment it's easy to convert from newer versions but I'm sure that'll change!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 12, 2013, 04:08:24 pm
Of interest for those who don't have Sky Sports subscriptions and don't mind streaming...

BitTorrent Premieres New Live Streaming Platform (http://torrentfreak.com/bittorrent-new-live-streaming-platform-130312/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 12, 2013, 08:21:44 pm
That could be massive.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Paul B on March 12, 2013, 11:56:48 pm
Of interest for those who don't have Sky Sports subscriptions and don't mind streaming...

BitTorrent Premieres New Live Streaming Platform (http://torrentfreak.com/bittorrent-new-live-streaming-platform-130312/)

something tells me not everyone will be so thrilled about another advance in Torrent technology. The potential seems incredible.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 15, 2013, 12:02:53 pm
Is a bubble about to burst?

Study by eBay suggests keyword advertising is a waste of money (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/mar/13/google-keyword-advertising-wastes-money-ebay).

Full report (http://conference.nber.org/confer/2013/EoDs13/Tadelis.pdf).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 18, 2013, 04:27:16 pm
Government Service Design Manual (https://www.gov.uk/service-manual) (guide for developing digital resources) states a preference for open-source software (https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/making-software/open-source.html) (in-line with their policy on open standards (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-bodies-must-comply-with-open-standards-principles))
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 20, 2013, 07:44:09 am
Why you should change your default passwords (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/03/19/carna_botnet_ipv4_internet_map/) or more interestingly, how a "researcher" exploited weak passwords to derive the most comprehensive map of the internet to date.

(Achieved because people connect devices to the internet that they shouldn't and/or left the default login/password as either 'login/login' or 'root/root'  :slap:  :no: :rtfm: )
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 25, 2013, 11:53:00 am
Snoopers charter to be blocked by Lib Dems (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22292474)  :clap2:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 10, 2013, 08:21:18 am
ISS switches from XP to Linux for improved reliability (http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/155392-international-space-station-switches-from-windows-to-linux-for-improved-reliability)


Petition to change (US) Patent laws (https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/05/while-patents-are-everyones-mind-now-time-defend-innovation)

(https://www.eff.org/sites/default/files/effpatentchart.png)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: mr__j5 on May 11, 2013, 04:28:26 pm
ISS switches from XP to Linux for improved reliability (http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/155392-international-space-station-switches-from-windows-to-linux-for-improved-reliability)

Articles like this are always funny.

It basic says: Some company decides to ditch and old outdated OS for a modern more secure one. The fact that they moved from MS to Linux is basically irrelevant, but is the point that is always laboured on.

If they had updated from a 10 year old version of UNIX to the latest Linux distro, then it's a pretty similar result (apart from the lack of people bothering to write viruses for old UNIX's, but not because they couldn't) or updating from XP to Windows 7 or 8 would have given the same result.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 14, 2013, 08:13:20 am
Perhaps laboured by some because there is still a view that Linux isn't mainstream (despite the fact it underpins a high proportion of the internet, smartphones, smart TV's, wireless routers, and other embedded devices). 
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 20, 2013, 09:21:33 am
Shodan (http://www.shodanhq.com/)  8) but also  :no:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 21, 2013, 12:33:54 pm
Doesn't sound anything like anonymised data (http://www.openrightsgroup.org/blog/2013/ee-selling-your-data-to-pollsters-and-police) being sold by EE to Ipsos Mori (who it sounds as though are in discussion with the police, who have the power to obtain such information if they need to anyway).

Ask your mobile provider what they do with your data here (http://www.openrightsgroup.org/campaigns/mobileprivacy).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on June 04, 2013, 01:49:58 pm
Good example why you should update Java etc

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22689158 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22689158)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: mr__j5 on June 04, 2013, 03:03:48 pm
A nice example of tainted input. Brings me back to one of my favourite xkcds:

(http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/exploits_of_a_mom.png)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on June 07, 2013, 10:17:55 am
Whilst not particularly surprising, still pretty shocking.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 10, 2013, 04:17:16 pm
US & Israel wrote stuxnet virus that infected Iranian nuclear power stations (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/08/snowden_us_israel_stuxnet/)


I wonder if Edward Snowden has some evidence to back this up.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on September 25, 2013, 02:37:50 pm
If you're using Apples maps to navigate watch out for planes[/ul]. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24246646)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 03, 2013, 11:46:54 pm
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/10/lowering-your-standards (https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/10/lowering-your-standards)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 07, 2013, 02:29:08 pm
Silk Road 2.0 (http://techcrunch.com/2013/10/04/deep-web-users-are-ready-to-launch-silk-road-2-0/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 29, 2013, 10:31:37 am
iOS7 has daylight saving bug similar to that identified in iOS4 in 2010 (http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/10/27/another-daylight-saving-time-bug-strikes-apples-ios-7-affects-calendar-display) (which was actually fixed, but you'd think they could sort such a simple thing out by now).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on October 30, 2013, 09:26:27 am
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/oct/30/adobe-hack-38m-users-photoshop-acrobat (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/oct/30/adobe-hack-38m-users-photoshop-acrobat)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on November 13, 2013, 07:55:18 am
Bugs in your phone (http://www.osnews.com/story/27416/The_second_operating_system_hiding_in_every_mobile_phone)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on November 13, 2013, 05:05:35 pm
So much for the Conservatives being open and transparent (http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/public-sector/2013/11/conservatives-erase-internet-h.html).  :wank:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on November 21, 2013, 07:53:48 am
Winamp are shutting up shop (http://www.winamp.com/media-player/en)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Bubba on November 22, 2013, 12:30:14 am
I've used Winamp for as long as I can remember :(
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on November 22, 2013, 08:34:37 am
I used to use it ages ago too.

Seems thin on details as to why they're winding up, although the rise of streaming media and pre-installed media players will have had an impact on its usage.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on November 27, 2013, 09:47:40 am
(http://i.imgur.com/Njdm3q5.jpg) (http://www.esquire.com/blogs/news/pr0n-sites-obamacare)

(Click through for interview, you will have to revert the '0' (zero) to an 'o' due to UKB changing the text)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 02, 2013, 12:32:02 pm
Amazon Prime Air (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98BIu9dpwHU#ws)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 04, 2013, 10:00:42 am
Bitcoins Stolen (~$60 million) (http://www.newstatesman.com/future-proof/2013/12/theres-£60m-bitcoin-heist-going-down-right-now-and-you-can-watch-real-time)


Follow comments from those who've had them stolen (https://blockchain.info/address/1CbR8da9YPZqXJJKm9ze1GYf67eKAUfXwP)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 07, 2013, 03:42:21 pm
Patent ruling could end Microsofts earnings from Android (http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/12/06/german-patent-ruling-threatens-microsofts-windows-phone-earnings-from-android/)

Best of all its because of "Prior art" from Linux Torvalds for files with long names :thumbsup:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 10, 2013, 07:27:32 am
Reddit’s empire is founded on a flawed algorithm (http://technotes.iangreenleaf.com/posts/2013-12-09-reddits-empire-is-built-on-a-flawed-algorithm.html)  :geek:

Seems like a pretty obvious error (once you know what the algorithm is).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 10, 2013, 10:28:29 am
Samsung expect you to waive your rights for their warranty (http://www.dailydot.com/business/samsung-fire-hazard-coverup/) (worth reading most amusing).

Here are the videos.  Samsung wanted, amongst other things, this video to be taken down before they would honour the warranty...

samsung galaxy s4 caught fire proof for samsung (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc4duKuPrQ0#ws)

In repsonse to the rather over-bearing requirements Samsung tried to impose (including not making the terms of the agreement public) he made this video....

samsung galaxy s4 catches on fire samsung wants silence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QHd-_qncEU#ws)

....which has now had twice as many views than the first one!  :lol:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 11, 2013, 09:16:41 am
We all use them, and curse when they fail, but heres some real data analysis, gathered over four years from a company that kept 25000 hard drives running over that period on...

How long hard drives live for (http://www.extremetech.com/computing/170748-how-long-do-hard-drives-actually-live-for)


If only analysing human survival data were so straight-forward (left and right censoring, co-morbidities, non-constant hazard ratios etc. etc.)!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 12, 2013, 11:17:48 am
We all use them, and curse when they fail, but heres some real data analysis, gathered over four years from a company that kept 25000 hard drives running over that period on...

How long hard drives live for (http://www.extremetech.com/computing/170748-how-long-do-hard-drives-actually-live-for)


If only analysing human survival data were so straight-forward (left and right censoring, co-morbidities, non-constant hazard ratios etc. etc.)!

Google report on HD failutres (http://research.google.com/archive/disk_failures.pdf)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Fultonius on December 16, 2013, 05:15:45 pm
Maybe a little O/T but Ihad to pp[ost this somewhere. I logged a call to our IT department to get IE8 upgraded as many websites are no longer supporting it.

The reply:

Quote
Good afternoon,

 

Unfortunately we are unable to provide IE9 onto any machines as IE8 is the company default web browser. Apologies for this.

 

Kind regards,

 


 :wall:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 16, 2013, 08:13:41 pm
Maybe they're going to bump you straight to IE10.  :P

More practically if you're allowed USB drives then you can get programs such as Firefox to run completely off of those.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Fultonius on December 16, 2013, 08:47:38 pm
Maybe they're going to bump you straight to IE10.  :P

More practically if you're allowed USB drives then you can get programs such as Firefox to run completely off of those.

Half of us have been moved to Windows 7. I have not idea why the other half are still on XP.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on December 16, 2013, 08:55:21 pm
Maybe they're going to bump you straight to IE10.  :P

More practically if you're allowed USB drives then you can get programs such as Firefox to run completely off of those.

Similarly we are totally locked down, but I can still run Chrome Portable off a local drive.
http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/google_chrome_portable (http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/google_chrome_portable)

Start with this...
http://portableapps.com/ (http://portableapps.com/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Paul B on December 17, 2013, 01:45:00 am
Half of us have been moved to Windows 7. I have not idea why the other half are still on XP.

I'd imagine by Apr none of you will be on XP given it is no longer receiving updates etc. from then on.

Nat got into trouble when I 'upgraded' her work laptop.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 03, 2014, 07:35:17 am
Got an account with Adobe/Sony/SnapChat/Vodafone/Yahoo! or one of a handful of other sites that have had security leaks? Check to see if your account has been compromised (https://haveibeenpwned.com/).


Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 07, 2014, 07:20:31 am
Linksys resurrect their classic router design (http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/01/linksys-resurrects-classic-blue-router-with-open-source-and-300-price/)

Seems a bit pricey, but if its as robust as the WRT54g it'll be solid as a rock.  I still use one of the two I have as a network switch.  Great that they are opening up the source code/APIs from the start this time.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 07, 2014, 12:11:57 pm
This could push the price of processors (and in turn computers up) but is a good thing....

Intel chips to be "conflict free" (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25636001)

On the flip side, if they may need less materials...

Dual-core Intel chips the size of an SD card (http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/06/intel-edison/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 22, 2014, 06:04:20 pm
We all use them, and curse when they fail, but heres some real data analysis, gathered over four years from a company that kept 25000 hard drives running over that period on...

How long hard drives live for (http://www.extremetech.com/computing/170748-how-long-do-hard-drives-actually-live-for)


If only analysing human survival data were so straight-forward (left and right censoring, co-morbidities, non-constant hazard ratios etc. etc.)!

Google report on HD failutres (http://research.google.com/archive/disk_failures.pdf)

Some of the data has been broken down by manufacturer (http://techreport.com/news/25940/hard-drive-reliability-study-names-names). 

Seagate might have to pull their socks up.

I might shop around for Hitachi's next time I'm in the market for HD's.

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Wood FT on January 22, 2014, 06:40:40 pm
so with a seagate 1tb I'm in the clear right, right??????????  :blink:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 22, 2014, 06:49:59 pm
Its worth noting as the article says that these were consumer-grade HDs used in RAID arrays which may not be optimal usage as they're not designed to be used in RAIDs (and unless you've RAID arrays yourself you may be fine).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on January 27, 2014, 04:17:50 pm
To avoid confusion with Sky TV (the first thing you think of when looking for cloud storage  :slap:)…Microsoft were forced by BSkyB to change the name of Sky Drive and they chose the not confusing at all 'One Drive'.
So that’s…
OneDrive (https://preview.onedrive.com/)
Not to be confused with…
One.com cloud drive (https://www.one.com/en/clouddrive)
One Drive (http://www.one-drive.com/)
1Drive (https://www.idrive.com/index.html)
Ondrives (http://www.ondrives.com/)

Are we clear now?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 29, 2014, 11:49:33 am
First sensible thing from the coalition since the announcement of the referendum on scrapping first past the post...

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude plans to standardise on open formats to cut costs on Office suite and break 'oligopoly' of IT suppliers (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/29/uk-government-plans-switch-to-open-source-from-microsoft-office-suite)

Quote
Some £200m has been spent by the public sector on the computer giant's [Microsoft] Office suite alone since 2010.
  :o


Quote
In the first instance, this will help departments to do something as simple as share documents with each other more easily. But it will also make it easier for the public to use and share government information. ... Technical standards for document formats may not sound like the first shot in a revolution. But be in no doubt: the adoption of compulsory standards in government threatens to break open Whitehall's lock-in to proprietary formats. In turn we will open the door for a host of other software providers.


 :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 11, 2014, 07:58:43 am
The Day we Fight Back (https://thedaywefightback.org/international/) is today, a day of "action" against survielence.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 13, 2014, 03:56:44 pm
Europes highest court decides not to break the internet (http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/02/13/phew-europes-highest-court-decides-not-to-break-the-internet/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 14, 2014, 08:57:02 am
If you're running < Android 4.2 then be wary of scanning QR Codes, as there is an exploit that makes your phone vulnerable (https://community.rapid7.com/community/metasploit/blog/2014/02/13/weekly-metasploit-update?et=watches.email.blog).

As good a reason as any to root and install Cyanogenmod or another ROM if you are stuck waiting for (or if they've been abandoned)  OEM updates .
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on February 17, 2014, 02:55:14 pm
Quote from: Cisco
DON'T turn it off and on again!

Cisco’s official advice regarding an issue with a dodgy memory component present in a lot of their kit is to ‘Minimize unnecessary power cycling’ aka ‘DON’T turn it off and on again!’ which is probably a first from an IT company.
http://blogs.cisco.com/news/ciscos-commitment-to-customers/ (http://blogs.cisco.com/news/ciscos-commitment-to-customers/)
http://www.cisco.com/web/about/doing_business/memory.html#~impacted (http://www.cisco.com/web/about/doing_business/memory.html#~impacted)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 23, 2014, 04:51:41 pm
Major cock up by Apple n the way they implement SSL/TLS (the technology behind making secure connections). Affects iOS & OSX, amazing that they've made such a fundamental error. Some patches available but not for everything yet.



 Apple mobile devices at risk of hacking, firm says (http://gu.com/p/3nxzv)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 26, 2014, 10:55:53 am
OSX patch now released (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/25/apple_mac_os_x_10_9_2_ssl/) for Apple fans to apply.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on February 26, 2014, 11:35:28 am
OSX patch now released (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/25/apple_mac_os_x_10_9_2_ssl/) for Apple fans to apply.

eh? like this? ;)

(https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ1TD50pVMJXcR2DaKjOa65FvqBoZMmGgiRYDEi6pTi5Qhsbfno)(http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/usb-apple-fan-novelty-gadget-0.jpg)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 26, 2014, 11:41:48 am
 ;D

You could try, but I doubt it would sort out the SSL/TLS problems.


This is a very basic, yet serious cock-up on Apple's behalf, and I would expect it to undermine people's confidence in their products (but realise it will likely have little impact).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 03, 2014, 01:59:05 pm
Another goverment body saves money switching to open source (http://itsfoss.com/canary-islands-saves-700000-euro-open-source/).

Munich, Valencia, Canary Islands, Brazil  and even talk of the UK following suit (first step being open document formats linked above, software should follow though).  Its a long slow process but tides are changing.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: mr__j5 on March 03, 2014, 05:30:42 pm
I do wish that these journos would stop using 'open source software' and 'free software' as interchangeable terms.

Open source software does not imply that it is free to use. Take Android as a good example of that.


The articles always say 'money saved by switching to open source' when they really be 'money saved by switching to free software'
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 03, 2014, 08:09:01 pm
Most of the stories seem to lack the detail to be able to make the distinction, but somewhere like Munich has gone with FOSS (Free Open Source Software) in so much as they derived their own customised Linux distribution for use on government desktops.  Brazil use GNU/Linux on a lot of their data servers.  I guess the big saving outside of switching OS is an Office Suite and whilst Star Office used to be Open Sourced it was only free for individual/educational use and not for commercial, but my understanding is that OpenOffice and LibreOffice are both FOSS.

Of course there is nothing at all stopping companies from giving away open source software for free and charging for subsequent support (it works well for Red Hat).

Android is both though isn't it?  The licensing of Google Applications (Gmail, Maps, Now, Search, Translate etc.) on top of AOSP (Android Open-Source Project) (https://source.android.com/).  Thats why custom ROMs are free and you install the ROM/Android in one step and GApps in another as the ROM developers aren't allowed to distribute the Google applications.

Besides, theres not many journalists who seem to do decent research on what their asked/expected to write up.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 04, 2014, 08:37:42 am
I do wish that these journos would stop using 'open source software' and 'free software' as interchangeable terms.[/url]

I went back and re-read it and whilst later in the paragraph they do use the term "open source" its only after they have stated that they are using FOSS...

Quote
Last year, the IT department successfully concluded the switch to a cluster of computers, running free and open source software. This cluster includes 30,000 servers and workstations and is used for government’s databases, payroll systems, the government websites and its email services.. As per La Provincia, this switch to open source saved around a million euro in proprietary software. Good news is that the islands government pays 300,000 euro per year for the support for free software used by IT department.

So in this article they have made it quite clear at the outset (but not in the articles title) that the software is both free and open-source (and that they are paying for support rather than a license and support).

Do you have links to any examples where its reported that savings have been made from "open source" when in reality they are using proprietary software that is simply given away for free?

I'm genuinely interested and not attempting to pick holes as I think switching to open document formats (current proposal by UK government) and the switch to FOSS (and not just free or just open source software*) is a good thing in general, and in order to encourage this it needs to be reported accurately so that others don't get the wrong idea.


Title: Re: IT News
Post by: mr__j5 on March 04, 2014, 08:55:45 am
It was more the sentences like -

As per La Provincia, this switch to open source saved around a million euro in proprietary software.

that I was getting at.

I was complaining about the fact that they switch between the 2 terms as though they are the same.
I don't recall any articles where they only refer to OSS and assume that it is free.



BTW, as I understand it, although Android is free to download and build yourself, it includes open source implementations of technology that needs to be licensed, such as some MS patents and so it isn't theoretically free to use.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 04, 2014, 09:57:15 am
Cheers, I think the interchangeable use of the two terms stems from the fact that Open Source Software is almost always given away for free, and as you say the opposite isn't necessarily true as there are many proprietary projects that give away the compiled programs for free without allowing access to the source code.

Its like everyone referring to "Linux" which is just the kernel that gets the hardware to communicate with each other, when most people install GNU/Linux, the "GNU/" part being a huge suite of software developed by the Free Software Foundation (even on embedded devices such as routers, they still have stripped down set of GNU tools doing all the software and networking tasks, whilst the Linux kernel gets the hardware working together).  On Android the Linux kernel is used to get (most of) the hardware working together, whilst the UI is what is really Android....

...I'd heard that before about Android needing a license from MS due to patents, but from what I recall, and a quick search suggests (http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2011/10/microsoft-collects-license-fees-on-50-of-android-devices-tells-google-to-wake-up/) (although dated from 2011) suggests its not necessarily Android in and of itself, rather some of the hardware that some manufacturers choose to use in their devices which presumably require proprietary drivers for which Microsoft hold a patent, since its the hardware manufacturers who pay the fee*.  A more recent article (http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-is-making-2bn-a-year-on-android-licensing-five-times-more-than-windows-phone-7000022936/) from the end of last year also suggests its manufacturers who foot this license.  Hard to find details of exactly what patent is being infringed though (and I don't really have much inclination to trawl through tons of tedious legalese).

Here is an article (http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/23/how-google-controls-androids-open-source) that covers more about the bundling of Google applications I was referring to.  Individuals can still download the apps and install them themselves.


* This could of course be the only way to get any fee if Google give away Android for free, but it that then raises the question of how they are able to give away patented software which you shouldn't be able to do, which makes me think its more a specific hardware/driver patent.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 04, 2014, 10:22:52 pm
Slightly more entertaining is a survey of Americans knowledge (or lack) of technical terms (http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-1-10-americans-html-std-study-finds-20140304,0,1188415.story)...

Quote

    11 % of respondents thought "HTML" is a sexually transmitted disease.  It stands for Hyper-Text Mark-up Language
    77% of respondents could not identify what SEO means. SEO stands for "Search-Engine Optimization"
    27% identified "gigabyte" as an insect commonly found in South America. A gigabyte is a measurement unit for the storage capacity of an electronic device.
    42% said they believed a "motherboard" was "the deck of a cruise ship." A motherboard is usually a circuit board that holds many of the key components of a computer.
    23% thought an "MP3" was a "Star Wars" robot. It is actually an audio file.
    18% identified "Blu-ray" as a marine animal. It is a disc format typically used to store high-definition videos.
    15% said they believed "software" is comfortable clothing. Software is a general term for computer programs.
    12% said "USB" is the acronym for a European country. In fact, USB is a type of connector.

Despite the incorrect answers, 61% of the respondents said it is important to have a good knowledge of technology in this day and age.

 :lol: (Survey source may be slightly biased though).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 05, 2014, 01:44:19 pm
Senior UK Politicians Start To Call For Review Of GCHQ's Spying Activities (http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140304/03580826422/finally-senior-uk-politicians-start-to-call-review-gchqs-spying-activities.shtml)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on March 05, 2014, 09:10:44 pm
:D

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/one-in-10-americans-think-html-is-a-sexuallytransmitted-disease-study-finds-9170597.html
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 11, 2014, 05:41:28 pm
Cat and mouse continues for the movie industry with PopCornTime (http://getpopcornti.me/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on March 11, 2014, 09:33:04 pm
Cat and mouse continues for the movie industry with PopCornTime (http://getpopcornti.me/)

Works great if you don't mind watching the middle bit first :tease: might be quite good for something like Pulp Fiction!
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 12, 2014, 09:29:28 am
Not tried it as I don't torrent copyrighted material, but I figured they might have thought about that and tweaked the torrent protocol to favour the start of the file first.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on March 12, 2014, 10:52:32 am
According to their FAQs it won't work in the UK without a proxy. I think it would best be avoided anyhow, easy enough for all the powers that be take note all the users and start legal proceedings...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 12, 2014, 11:05:59 am
The thing that gets me is that the "industry" are so far behind in terms of the technology.

Its only recently that they cottoned on to cheap streaming being a method of combatting traditional torrenting that they hated, and now the ante has been upped with an improved system of streaming the media.  Why they aren't all over this sort of stuff and trying to adopt it rather than suing people who are early technology adopters is beyond me.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on March 12, 2014, 01:54:27 pm
 :agree:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Evil on March 12, 2014, 03:45:14 pm
 :agree: I am reminded of this:

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/game_of_thrones (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/game_of_thrones)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on March 12, 2014, 03:49:13 pm
Presumably it's because, depite all the bleating about piracy killing the industry, the big players are still raking in ridiculously huge piles of cash (http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/jan/06/2014-us-box-office-record-transformers-spiderman). Like most things in the entertainment industry, until they actually feel the pinch they don't bother innovating.

:agree: I am reminded of this:

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/game_of_thrones (http://theoatmeal.com/comics/game_of_thrones)

ROFL!  ;D
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 13, 2014, 12:51:51 pm
UK government are still forging ahead with their own version of China's Great Firewall by getting backdoors to YouTube....

Quote
the British government has to do more to deal with some material “that may not be illegal, but certainly is unsavoury and may not be the sort of material that people would want to see or receive”.  (http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/technology/youtube-to-be-monitored-by-british-security-1.1722722)

Fuck of you twats I don't need your moral arbitration.  :wank:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 17, 2014, 08:01:30 am
Take note Apple...EU votes 550-12 to standardise mobile phone chargers to help reduce wastage (http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/03/eu-votes-in-favor-of-universal-mobile-charger/)

Also of good news is that they are also considering voting to abolish roaming charges (http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/mar/16/legislation-abolish-roaming-charges-european-parliament) (they're due to reduce massively later this year anyway).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 25, 2014, 01:59:27 pm
US Judge rules IP address' do not identify individuals (http://torrentfreak.com/ip-address-not-person-140324/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 27, 2014, 11:01:36 am
Computer program beats Go champion (http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2014/03/the-electronic-holy-war.html) 
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 03, 2014, 02:49:28 pm
EU passes strong net neutrality laws, along with major roaming reforms (http://gigaom.com/2014/04/03/european-parliament-passes-strong-net-neutrality-law-along-with-major-roaming-reforms/) 

Of particular note...

Quote
The amendments (PDF) were introduced by the Socialist, Liberal, Green and Left blocs in the European Parliament after the final committee to tweak the package – the industry committee – left in a bunch of loopholes that would have allowed telcos to start classifying web services of their choice as “specialized services” that they can treat differently.

:2thumbsup: :clap2:

<sarcasm>Those pesky socialist/libreals/greens keeping things equal for everyone.  How dare they, do they not know that there is money to be made?</sarcasm>  ::)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 09, 2014, 04:56:09 pm
Hearbleed Information (http://heartbleed.com/)

This is something that everyone should pay attention to because it affects almost every site that you have to log into, email, internet banking, forums, shopping etc.

Test if a given site has been protected by going to here (http://filippo.io/Heartbleed/). 

My understanding of the best approach to deal with this is that if a site you use regularly passes, clear its cookies from your browser and login and then change your password (there is little point in changing your password before hand).

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 09, 2014, 05:34:41 pm
And in case anyone is wondering UKB passes the test (http://filippo.io/Heartbleed/#ukbouldering.com)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 11, 2014, 09:50:13 am
An insight into how heartbleed could (and should) have been avoided (http://article.gmane.org/gmane.os.openbsd.misc/211963)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 28, 2014, 03:53:10 pm
Protect the net neutrality (http://www.savetheinternet.com/sti-home) as the Federal Communications Commission is attempting to kill neutrality.

(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/07/08/opinion/sunday/the-strip-slide-5GWG/the-strip-slide-5GWG-jumbo.png)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on May 13, 2014, 01:28:52 pm
Spaniards have just opened potentially a massive can of :worms:...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27394751 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27394751)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 13, 2014, 03:27:18 pm
Spaniards have just opened potentially a massive can of :worms:...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27394751 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27394751)

Quote
Likewise, Index on Censorship said removing results from search engines was "akin to marching into a library and forcing it to pulp books"

Not its not, its akin to getting the library to delete the index of one of the books they hold, because the ruling is simply that the search results should not link to the original article which remains in-tact.

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 21, 2014, 07:00:02 am
FBI struggling to hire programmers who don't smoke pot (http://gizmodo.com/the-fbi-is-struggling-to-hire-hackers-who-dont-smoke-we-1579183208)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 22, 2014, 07:11:15 am
eBay hacked recommending users change passwords (http://www.businessinsider.com/ebay-paypal-password-changes-2014-5)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 22, 2014, 12:15:57 pm
FCC still planning to end Net Neutrality, well worth letting them know what you think about this (http://act.freepress.net/sign/internet_fcc_nprm/).

Personally I think its a really bad idea, I pay my ISP for bandwidth, its no one else's business what comes over that bandwidth (providing its legal).  Whether I look at GIFs of cats or stream Netflix, I've paid for it already and there shouldn't be paid for prioritisation of data.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 24, 2014, 06:45:32 am
300% speed improvement and 60% less power usage for SSDs (http://www.neowin.net/news/ssd-breakthrough-means-300-speed-boost-60-less-power-usage-even-on-old-drives)  :2thumbsup:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 29, 2014, 01:29:49 pm
If you use TrueCrypt to encrypt your harddrives (http://truecrypt.sourceforge.net/)...

Quote
WARNING: Using TrueCrypt is not secure as it may contain unfixed security issues

This page exists only to help migrate existing data encrypted by TrueCrypt.

The development of TrueCrypt was ended in 5/2014 after Microsoft terminated support of Windows XP. Windows 8/7/Vista and later offer integrated support for encrypted disks and virtual disk images. Such integrated support is also available on other platforms (click here for more information). You should migrate any data encrypted by TrueCrypt to encrypted disks or virtual disk images supported on your platform.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on May 30, 2014, 01:03:11 pm
Spaniards have just opened potentially a massive can of :worms:...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27394751 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27394751)

In an attempt to comply with EU legislation Google have announced a "forget me" form (https://support.google.com/legal/contact/lr_eudpa?product=websearch).

Commentary on the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27634746)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 02, 2014, 08:16:11 am
30% of the cost of smartphones covers patents (http://www.androidauthority.com/percent-smartphones-price-comes-patent-royalties-388270/)  :wank:



Surely they could all sell more phones for less if they weren't bickering over who came up with...

(http://pics.kuvaton.com/kuvei/apple_slide_to_unlock.jpg)

(one of the features Apple have been trying to sue Samsung over in the US).


Thankfully there seems to be some common sense (http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/06/its-payback-time-as-findthebest-wrests-legal-fees-from-patent-troll/) emerging with regards to software patent (and patent trolls in particular).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 03, 2014, 10:40:14 am
North Korea RedStar Linux Distribution (http://www.dhyrule.se/north-korea-redstar-linux-distribution)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 12, 2014, 03:58:33 pm
(https://static.fsf.org/nosvn/enc-dev0/img/full-infographic.png) (https://emailselfdefense.fsf.org/index.html)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Oldmanmatt on June 12, 2014, 04:39:22 pm
If you really want to stop the Gov reading your mail. Write about 1000 or so each day in reply to all those nice Nigerian widows who so liked your profile and feel they can trust you with all that money daddy left them...

Watch the NSA wage bill triple...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 12, 2014, 11:43:21 pm
Anyone reading my emails would be so bored. Unless they like the constant repetition of explaining to people what an annual return is and that Companies House is staffed by dicks.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on June 13, 2014, 09:06:32 am
Arouse NSA suspicions by referring to HMRC in complimentary terms....
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: lagerstarfish on June 13, 2014, 09:46:27 am
how often should I submit an annual return?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on June 13, 2014, 09:54:39 am
how often should I submit an annual return?

Thats the sort of difficult question people pay accountants to sort out for you.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: lagerstarfish on June 13, 2014, 10:14:51 am
I tried asking HMRC, but after 3 days of trying to get through the boy I spoke to didn't know
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 13, 2014, 10:51:41 am
They wouldn't know. You only submit it to Companies House. ;)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 19, 2014, 02:26:59 pm
crApple solder memory to motherboards to prevent upgrades (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/06/19/help_apple_have_soldered_my_motherboard_shut/) and thus ensuring that the upgrade cycle is shortened, in turn increasing electronic waste.  :wank:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Stubbs on June 19, 2014, 03:19:43 pm
I thought this was really good on net neutrality, helped me understand it

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO): Net Neutrality (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpbOEoRrHyU#ws)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 24, 2014, 09:05:59 am
httpa (http://motherboard.vice.com/read/how-http-with-accountability-will-let-you-track-who-uses-your-data)

Sounds like a good idea to me. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 24, 2014, 11:50:36 am
Microsoft release an Android phone (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27992439).

I wonder if they bill themselves for patent royalties (http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-earns-2-billion-per-year-from-android-patent-royalties-2013-11)?  :-\
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on June 24, 2014, 02:45:40 pm
Had to happen sooner or later. Whatever they may say, how long before Windows Phone OS is dead and top of the range Nokias are all Android?  :goodidea:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 30, 2014, 07:44:36 am
Facebook (might) have fucked with you (http://online.wsj.com/articles/furor-erupts-over-facebook-experiment-on-users-1404085840). :spank:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 30, 2014, 09:25:06 am
Facebook (might) have fucked with you (http://online.wsj.com/articles/furor-erupts-over-facebook-experiment-on-users-1404085840). :spank:

Original article on PNAS (http://www.pnas.org/content/111/24/8788.full)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 04, 2014, 08:35:20 am
NSA classes Linux Journal as an "extremist forum" and its readers get flagged for extra surveillance (http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/nsa-linux-journal-extremist-forum-and-its-readers-get-flagged-extra-surveillance)

 :wank:

UK "pr0n filters" block 1/5th of all websites (http://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawoollacott/2014/07/02/uk-pr0n-filters-block-one-fifth-of-all-websites/)

Check whether a site is being block using this site from Open Rights Group (https://www.blocked.org.uk/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 08, 2014, 12:42:29 pm
Could be some bargain Samsung devices coming to the market soon (http://www.zdnet.com/samsung-suffers-massive-robbery-in-brazil-7000031304/).

Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 15, 2014, 08:09:14 am
Child suspected to be allergic to iPad (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/07/15/child_found_to_have_ipad_allergy/)



Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Jaspersharpe on July 15, 2014, 11:05:02 pm
NSA classes Linux Journal as an "extremist forum" and its readers get flagged for extra surveillance (http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/nsa-linux-journal-extremist-forum-and-its-readers-get-flagged-extra-surveillance)

 :wank:

UK "pr0n filters" block 1/5th of all websites (http://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawoollacott/2014/07/02/uk-pr0n-filters-block-one-fifth-of-all-websites/)

Check whether a site is being block using this site from Open Rights Group (https://www.blocked.org.uk/)
Re the site blocking thing. Why are they even bothering with this crap? If you want to view a site that the isps have been forced to block it only takes five seconds to search for "how to view..." and er view it. You don't have to be some sort of hacker or even slackers.

E.g. the pirate bay "taken down" and blacklisted by every isp but still there and still very easily accessible from anywhere no matter which isp you use.

It's just stupid. Annoyingly stupid as governments are wasting huge amounts of money and time on this pointless nonsense. It's proper Canute stuff.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 16, 2014, 07:17:23 am
Cynically (or perhaps not) the only reason I can think of is that its a vote winner.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 16, 2014, 08:05:55 am
Amazing phone call to cancel ISP from Comcast (http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/07/15/331681041/comcast-embarrassed-by-the-service-call-making-internet-rounds)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 24, 2014, 04:43:11 pm
UK Government selects standard formats for electronic files.  PDF/A and HTML for viewing Government documents and ODF* for sharing or collaborating on documents (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/open-document-formats-selected-to-meet-user-needs)  :2thumbsup:

* Stems from the StarOffice/OpenOffice/LibreOffice FOSS alternative to M$-Orifice and since its open is compatible with Google Docs (no idea how compatible it is with M$-Orifice, but if it encourages greater uptake of LibreOffice that can't be a bad thing).
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 25, 2014, 03:23:22 pm
Wikipedia blocks 'disruptive' page edits from US Congress (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28481876)  :spank:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 30, 2015, 06:33:34 am
Micro$oft bring Android and iOS applications to Windoze 10 (http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/04/29/microsoft-brings-android-ios-apps-to-windows-10/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on June 01, 2015, 07:38:32 pm
Goodbye Sourceforge (https://helb.github.io/goodbye-sourceforge/) :wave:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on November 17, 2015, 05:40:51 pm
Quote
The European Union could create damaging new regulations for how we share and collaborate online. Right now they’re considering proposals supported by powerful copyright industries to limit your ability to link, share videos, and to express yourself online.

https://savethelink.org/yourvoice
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on December 08, 2015, 08:24:09 am
Quote
The European Union could create damaging new regulations for how we share and collaborate online. Right now they’re considering proposals supported by powerful copyright industries to limit your ability to link, share videos, and to express yourself online.

https://savethelink.org/yourvoice

Legislators are still trying to push through legislation that amounts to copyrighting links (https://savethelink.org/listen?utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=6997)

Not only would this harm the ability to post pointless pictures, but it would have serious impacts on the original intent of the web that Tim Berners-Lee designed it for, sharing information.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 17, 2016, 03:14:20 pm
A dangerous precedent (http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/) by Tim Cook
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Mike Tyson on February 17, 2016, 08:52:29 pm
Completely off topic, but where did Tris who started this thread go?
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on February 17, 2016, 09:08:47 pm

Completely off topic, but where did Tris who started this thread go?

Afaik he's still living in Altrincham - but not seen him in years...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 07, 2016, 08:49:32 pm
Anyone using Transmission Bit-Torrent client v2.90 on OSX is recommended that you upgrade to v2.92

Transmission-BT Forum thread (https://forum.transmissionbt.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17834) where users report discovering infected  OSX builds (post from  livings124 » Sun Mar 06, 2016 2:51 pm suggests updating to 2.92).

From the front page (https://www.transmissionbt.com/)

Quote
Read Immediately!!!!

Everyone running 2.90 on OS X should immediately upgrade to and run 2.92, as they may have downloaded a malware-infected file. This new version will make sure that the “OSX.KeRanger.A” ransomware (more information available here) is correctly removed from your computer.

Users of 2.91 should also immediately upgrade to and run 2.92. Even though 2.91 was never infected, it did not automatically remove the malware-infected file.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 15, 2016, 03:48:50 pm
UKBouldering to be subject to the all-encompassing, poorly thought out Snoopers Charter Investigatory Powers Bill (https://medium.com/@mala/the-investigative-powers-bill-britain-wants-you-to-hack-your-customers-450815f50552#.c5xsk9a67)


Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Obi-Wan is lost... on March 16, 2016, 04:57:22 pm
UKBouldering to be subject to the all-encompassing, poorly thought out Snoopers Charter Investigatory Powers Bill (https://medium.com/@mala/the-investigative-powers-bill-britain-wants-you-to-hack-your-customers-450815f50552#.c5xsk9a67)

Frightening stuff...
Quote
How would I challenge an order if I receive one?
Not easily. Unlike Apple, you won’t be able to raise the matter publicly, as every order is secret, and sharing it is a crime, punishable with imprisonment.
:o
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on March 24, 2016, 05:43:11 pm
Microsoft AI Twitter-bot that 'became a Hitler-loving sex robot' (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/03/24/microsofts-teen-girl-ai-turns-into-a-hitler-loving-sex-robot-wit/)  :lol:


Pr0nhub launch free VR channel (http://gizmodo.com/pr0nhub-just-launched-a-free-vr-channel-and-it-is-wild-1766603651?)  :lets_do_it_wild:
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on March 24, 2016, 05:55:09 pm

https://www.facebook.com/lee.henman/videos/10154649973968852/
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 04, 2016, 09:00:39 am
What every Browser knows about you (http://webkay.robinlinus.com/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: Oldmanmatt on April 04, 2016, 10:59:51 am
What every Browser knows about you (http://webkay.robinlinus.com/)

Interesting, but 468 miles out on my location...
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 11, 2016, 03:12:50 pm
If you've been hacked and held to ransom....

find key in seconds to restore petya ransomware encrypted mft (https://github.com/leo-stone/hack-petya)


What every Browser knows about you (http://webkay.robinlinus.com/)

Interesting, but 468 miles out on my location...

Geo-location based on IP addresses isn't an exact science as this article details...

How an Internet Mapping Glitch turned a Kansas Farm into a Digital Hell (http://fusion.net/story/287592/internet-mapping-glitch-kansas-farm/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on April 14, 2016, 07:11:57 pm
Microsoft to sue US Government to protect people's rights to privacy (https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2016/04/14/keeping-secrecy-exception-not-rule-issue-consumers-businesses/#sm.00000p6isjp5x6foetpmg2hpxsgwv)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 05, 2016, 07:48:57 am
UN declares internet access a Human Right (https://www.article19.org/data/files/Internet_Statement_Adopted.pdf)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on July 08, 2016, 09:03:04 am
Reddit now tracks your outbound clicks, simple to disable though (https://np.reddit.com/r/changelog/comments/4rl5to/outbound_clicks_rollout_complete/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on November 17, 2016, 11:31:11 pm
Snoopers Investigatory Powers Bill passed (http://www.wired.co.uk/article/ip-bill-law-details-passed)

Time to start using a VPN 24/7.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on January 15, 2017, 09:27:56 am
WhatsApp doesn't have a backdoor (https://whispersystems.org/blog/there-is-no-whatsapp-backdoor/)
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tomtom on January 15, 2017, 10:20:52 am
Does she doesn't she does she doesn't she....
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: slackline on February 01, 2017, 09:23:05 am
https://www.newgovernmentjobs.co.uk/ (https://www.newgovernmentjobs.co.uk/)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWX6sr9ceGE


Does she doesn't she does she doesn't she....

Doesn't the blog post from OpenWhisper that was linked explained why, it was a design choice.
Title: Re: IT News
Post by: tommytwotone on February 14, 2018, 12:47:43 pm
Excellent article on Facebook, Trump, fake news etc:


https://www.wired.com/story/inside-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-2-years-of-hell/ (https://www.wired.com/story/inside-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-2-years-of-hell/)
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