Polish MP Returns iPad Citing Lack of Control

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Polish MP Returns iPad Citing Lack of Control

Posted by Unknown on Wednesday August 22, 2012 @02:14AM from the cloud-is-watching-you dept.

rysiek writes "Polish MP and spokesperson for one of Polish political parties Dariusz Joski returned his state-issued iPad, citing lack of control (Google-translated). Polish Free and Open Source Software Foundation (of Anti-ACTA fame) offered (free of charge, of course) to help him choose, install and configure Linux on his laptop, including setting-up disk encryption. We are still waiting for an answer from the MP." Another concern of his appears to have been a lack of security regarding communications with other government officials.

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I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by FalconZero · 2012-08-22 02:19 · Score: 4, Insightful

...but this story to me reads as a "Man does not like thing." fluff piece.

Can anyone enlighten me?

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Windows in 6 Bytes (IA-32) : 90 90 90 90 CD 19
1. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by PCK · 2012-08-22 02:38 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Well as a politician I'm pretty sure he had one eye on the free publicity for him this would cause, seems to have worked I'd say.
2. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by blind+biker · 2012-08-22 02:58 · Score: 1, Informative
  
  ...but this story to me reads as a "Man does not like thing." fluff piece.
  Maybe there's more to it. Let me try: even a politician (who, on average, seem to be utterly clueless on technology) realizes that Apples walled garden is a bad thing.
  
  --
  "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
3. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 03:27 · Score: 0
  
  He tried to train his falcon with an iPad app and it wrecked the touchscreen.
  Also the screen gets messy too fast when you're eating caviar by the handfull.
4. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by FalconZero · 2012-08-22 03:40 · Score: 1
  
  The thing is that the even though some regard the walled garden thing to be a problem, it's a problem that most consumers are ok with, or indifferent to.
  
  It is acknowledged that there are many things you can't do with an iPad, but the same is true of a hammer - I can't inflate a baloon with a hammer, but that doesn't stop it from being perfectly good at driving nails.
  
  To me this story is a comparable story to "Polititian retuns government car because he can't change the paint colour."
  
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  Windows in 6 Bytes (IA-32) : 90 90 90 90 CD 19
5. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 04:00 · Score: 0
  
  ...but this story to me reads as a "Man does not like thing." fluff piece.
  It's more than that, it is "Govt issues ipad to legislator claiming that it is secure and can be used for confidential govt business."
6. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 04:09 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I think the big story is that there still exist people who don't know about the lack of control. On Slashdot we all know; in the mainstream most people don't.
  Obviously the guy cares about being The master of his computer, knowing who has access to his imap password, etc. Had he known how bad this particular personal computer would be about such things, he would have avoided it from the beginning. But he didn't.
  This suggests to me that more educating of the public, could help everyone a lot. People ought to know about iOS' problems before, not after. Finding out after is why Apple is doing so well (as Microsoft before them), and at the public's expense since control issues are zero-sum games.
  This guy should never have been put into this situation where he has to get rid of the already-paid-for junk. But unlike many problems, we actually have the power to prevent this one, simply by spreading the word.
  Apple-bashing isn't sufficient; you have to say why you're Apple-bashing. Explain the problem enough, and eventually people won't need things bashed anymore, because the products' defects will scream at the prospective customers for themselves. They'll see that some products aren't advertised as serving their users or as being secure, and realize "oh right, that stuff matters, and it's suspicious when the manufacturer weasels about it."
  There's no reason we can't get the state of the art in security (who has access to your email?) at least back to as well as it was 20 years ago (which was pretty bad, but I'm only comparing it to 2012 so the bar is absurdly low). All it takes it getting the public to think that way.
7. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by FalconZero · 2012-08-22 04:43 · Score: 2
  
  Well, Google Translate didn't do a great job in this instance, so I'll have to take that as an assumption, (unless you read Polish or have a better source and can tell me definitively) .
  
  What I did get from the article is what I assumed to be the principle objection - a quote stating "Admin has access to everything." - which holds true for any organisation which uses email.
  
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  Windows in 6 Bytes (IA-32) : 90 90 90 90 CD 19
8. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 04:58 · Score: 0
  
  Did the buyer of Slashdot front for MS or is it caused by shill posters, mods, and submitters from outside? Why is Apple no-longer showing as a choice at the left side of the page, and there's no access to the option to enable it? I miss the old days.
  Besides not being "stuff that matters", there's been a lot of industry propaganda, bashing/flamebait, and junk science in stories. This should be investigated as it is a crime if some are attempting to manipulate stock to advantage. And if its general bad behavior we should know what companies or agencies. It's also illegal for the government to use propaganda on its own citizens.
9. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 05:04 · Score: 0
  
  You can play any music you want on an iPad, you can connect to any Wi-Fi hotspot and recharge it via any electrical source.
10. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by rtkluttz · 2012-08-22 05:43 · Score: 2
  
  The hammer analogy has been used before and is completely irrelevant. Hammers have always been designed for a single task. Computing devices are general tools that have traditionally been open to the owner to work with and change as he pleases. The only limits have traditionally been limits in imagination and coding skill. The last 10 years has seen a new breed of computing devices that ARTIFICIALLY limited, broken by design, so that you work within limits set by the overlord errr Apple and/or have those restrictions removed one by one to generate a revenue stream.
  Kudos to ANYONE with enough brains to say no, even if this motive might be secondary in this case.
  
  --
  Digital is, by definition, imperfect. Analog is the way to go.
11. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by bhagwad · 2012-08-22 05:58 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  A hammer is a clearly specialized instrument. A computer is not. Moroever, there's nothing stopping you from using a hammer for anything you care to find a use for. With computing devices these days, customers are ARTIFICIALLY restricted from doing stuff. And that is what I find offensive because the open culture of general purpose computing is one of the greatest achievements of mankind.
12. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by oakgrove · 2012-08-22 06:15 · Score: 2
  
  The thing is that the even though some regard the walled garden thing to be a problem, it's a problem that most consumers are ok with, or indifferent to.
  You're responding to an easily assailable strawman and chopping it down. If I were more cynical, I'd think you wrote the AC comment you're replying to.
  The politician gave very clear reasons why he didn't want to use the iPad and it wasn't some vague notion of "walled garden = do not want". He rejected it because in his opinion he lacked control over data stored on the device. He wondered if the data is backed up and the back-up service gets breeched then the public will be severely harmed. My Polish is non-existent and Google translate isn't much better but I'm pretty sure that's the jist of his complaint and deserves more credence than the condescending and vague "walled garden" presumption. As far as what "consumers" want, I don't think this MP was making a general statement on iPad suitability and the consequences of his data falling into the wrong hands would effect many more people than the typical consumer's data would.
  
  --
  The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
13. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by rtkluttz · 2012-08-22 06:15 · Score: 1
  
  Wow. Are you me or am I you? Our posts were almost identical (the post just above yours). Let me guess, you're about 6'3 with Sean Connery level good looks, great brain on your shoulders and absolutely DOES NOT live in your moms basement?
  
  --
  Digital is, by definition, imperfect. Analog is the way to go.
14. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 06:19 · Score: 0
  
  I'd think you wrote the AC comment you're replying to.
  Er, Slashdot switched out a username for the AC I saw. Or maybe I got hacked!
15. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by oakgrove · 2012-08-22 06:25 · Score: 1
  
  Yo dawg, I heard you like analogies in your analogies...
  
  --
  The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
16. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by FalconZero · 2012-08-22 07:21 · Score: 1
  
  (I'll reply to the duplicate here :) )
  
  I guess it depends on which side of the device convergence field you're coming from. I've always regarded tablets as being more in the vein of specialized utility devices (hence the hammer analogy) than computers. I do own a tablet (Nexus7 FWIW), but I regard it (and tablets as a whole in their current incarnation) as more of a toy than a tool.
  
  For pretty much anything more than web browsing (or anything I can't do with my phone), I turn to a 'real' computer. I did own a hybrid laptop (convertible flip screen), but never really found much use for that either (apart from sketching drawings in meetings).
  
  I suspect (hope) that in the long run, the specific foibles of devices will be a moot point anyway, although there's a fair chance that will be derailed if people start throwing their toys out of the pram and breaking HTML5(+) compatibility.
  
  --
  Windows in 6 Bytes (IA-32) : 90 90 90 90 CD 19
17. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by sjames · 2012-08-22 07:29 · Score: 1
  
  If by that you mean "man realizes there are significant security implications to using the iPad, they are unacceptable given the data he will work with, and the user isn't able to make the changes necessary to fix it", then yes.
  Much like the story of a man having poison in his coffee is a 'man does not like condiment' story.
18. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by DarwinSurvivor · 2012-08-22 07:34 · Score: 1
  
  Just wait, in a few minutes they'll switch yours out as well!
19. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by DarwinSurvivor · 2012-08-22 07:35 · Score: 1
  
  A better analogy would be a hammer that suddenly turned to puding if you tried to hit the wrong brand of nail with it or use it to straighten a bent rod.
20. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by FalconZero · 2012-08-22 07:41 · Score: 1
  
  No need for cynicism - the AC somehow turned into an account (It showed as AC for me too at first).
  
  You're right, the walled garden isn't the thrust of what the politician was saying; I was just replying directly to the comment.
  
  However, I think my point still stands - the politician doesn't like something about a device, but the specific issue he raises is a general concern about data security - not something specific to an iPad. As far as I understand it (not being a regular user of Apple products), if you were to install an IMAP client (Or use a native one?IDK) on an iPad and use that to access your email, then your data is no more or less secure than using a laptop (Linux or not). The abstract (at least - the article itself is badly translated), implies that the politician reject the iPad specifically because he felt it not as secure as an alternative.
  
  As I say, my knowledge of Apple products is limited, and if you were to tell me that an iPad takes unconditional snapshots of it's entire storage (including third party app storage), and backs that up online then I would concede that it is less secure.
  
  --
  Windows in 6 Bytes (IA-32) : 90 90 90 90 CD 19
21. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by FalconZero · 2012-08-22 07:49 · Score: 1
  
  I like the condiment analogy.
  
  I fully accept that he doesn't like the security implications, but that's kind of what I'm getting at - if a device (which for the sake of clarity vsvs another conversation I'm having above, I regard as more of a specialized tool than a 'real' multi-purpose computer) doesn't do what you need/want it to do, then you get rid of it (which I simplified as "do not want". From my point of view, I didn't get why this was a story, however as per the discussion above, if you treat them (iPads) as real viable omni-purpose devices, then I can see why this would be newsworthy.
  
  --
  Windows in 6 Bytes (IA-32) : 90 90 90 90 CD 19
22. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by oodaloop · 2012-08-22 07:54 · Score: 1
  
  Crawling up the wall, I saw a fly.
  
  --
  Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
23. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by Darinbob · 2012-08-22 07:56 · Score: 1
  
  Are you saying you can't hammer in nails by using an iPad?
24. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by sjames · 2012-08-22 08:05 · Score: 1
  
  It's a story because it COULD be suitable if Apple would loosen their grip a bit and because the breathless hype generally glosses over the very important security implications of the iPad.
  Throw in the OMG a politician actually understood technology! aspect and there you go! :-)
  How about this nice double cappuccino? It only has a little cyanide in it!
25. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by richlv · 2012-08-22 08:48 · Score: 1
  
  that would be more like a hammer that only allows you to hit round nails - no square, threaded or "striped". you would have to buy a separate hammer for each type, and for some types they would also be restricted by diameter and length of the nails.
  
  --
  Rich
26. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by oldmac31310 · 2012-08-22 09:07 · Score: 1
  
  Whoa! Wait a minute! You are implying that a hammer is only good for driving nails. Not true. Also good for removing nails. Is a good paperweight. Can be used as a weapon.
  
  --
  http://www.acetonestudio.com
27. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by vakuona · 2012-08-22 09:07 · Score: 0
  
  An iPad is not a general purpose computing device. It was not designed as one, and is not expected to be one. It was designed as a device on which one mostly consumes content, stays in touch, write short emails and so on. It's like comparing an F1 car and a off-roader, and complaining that an F1 car is artificially restricted because they didn't give it good ground clearance.
  To make an iPad do what it does well, Apple made choices. And from the looks of things, many other companies making tablets are making similar choices.
  People need to stop thinking of computers as PCs. The first computers were PCs, and most people could not afford more than one of them, and so each computer had to do everything. Now computers are cheap. The computer in my pocket (my iPhone) has more RAM, more computing power and more disc space than my first computer (a Duron 1.2 GHz which had a 40GB harddrive). I have a laptop and a tablet as well as a Tivo box (which is really another specialised computer). Oh, and I have a work issue Blackberry. So if there is anything one of my computers doesn't do (that I need it to do), then I either have some really out there use cases, or the CIA ought to be looking at what I am trying to do (that is not an invitation).
  Basically, an iPad is a specialised computer, and yes, computers can be specialised. A computer is not a (general purpose) PC!
28. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by collet · 2012-08-22 15:57 · Score: 1
  
  iPads play FLAC?
29. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by Raenex · 2012-08-22 16:18 · Score: 2
  
  An iPad is not a general purpose computing device.
  "There's an app for that." Actually, that was for the iPhone. The iPad is pretty much the iPhone with a bigger screen and not intended to act as a phone. The device is locked down because Apple wants iron-fisted control, not because it inherently needs to be.
30. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by Serpents · 2012-08-22 22:31 · Score: 1
  
  The gist of the story (native Polish speaker here):
  1) The guy lost his iPad and asked the admins what he should do.
  2) They told him they could copy all data from the tablet onto a CD/DVD.
  3) He then asked them if they could also copy his private e-mails and they said 'yes'
  4) He reached the conclusion that since they could copy and store all his data it could easily be made public (and, knowing his party's track record, no wonder it scared him shitless).
  5) He returned the iPad and got himself a laptop.
  So no, it's not a case of "Me not like" but rather a case of "What do you mean by *we've got all your data right here and we can read your e-mail* ?"
31. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by galanom · 2012-08-23 01:32 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, because any granny or grandpa, any farmer or fisherman, any plumper or electrician in Poland with voting rights, cares about closed platforms or proprietary software or patent trolls.
32. Re:I like Apple bashing as much as the next man... by blind+biker · 2012-08-23 10:01 · Score: 1
  
  If I were more cynical, I'd think you wrote the AC comment you're replying to.
  My feelings are hurt.
  
  --
  "The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
Lack of control? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 02:19 · Score: 5, Funny

The MP probably doesn't realize that Apple has plenty of control over all iPads.
1. Re:Lack of control? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 02:28 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  On the contrary. He seems to have realized exactly that - and so he returned the thing. Ipads are fine for surfing and "family use", but I wouldn't trust one to keep state secrets. For that, you use a machine where you can inspect all the software - and you preferably have some trusted experts to set it up. The man is just being sensible.
2. Re:Lack of control? by LordLimecat · 2012-08-22 02:51 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  It does not look from that article that it has been "ruled uncrackable", except by NeoWin. They seem to assume that because AES is "uncrackable", and because Apple claims that they do not store the key, their implementation must therefore be uncrackable / without flaws.
  Anyone who has watched security for any length of time knows that "hypothetically uncrackable" is a lot different than "practically secure". Maybe they leak key details; maybe they dont properly santize RAM before the iPad powers down (and therefore it may be susceptable to a cold boot attack).
  Until some respected crypto expert looks at the thing, any declarations about security on the IOS are worthless marketing tools.
3. Re:Lack of control? by Krneki · 2012-08-22 02:54 · Score: 1
  
  Exactly, we have to thread pads or mobile phones as a computer, and as a computer you don't buy is from the shop and use it straight away. If you have a serious business you wipe it and have the OS installed by a professional who understands security.
  
  --
  Love many, trust a few, do harm to none.
4. Re:Lack of control? by sl4shd0rk · 2012-08-22 02:56 · Score: 2
  
  but I wouldn't trust one to keep state secrets...The man is just being sensible.
  Obviously in the minority, in the US anyway.
  
  --
  Join the Slashcott! Feb 10 thru Feb 17!
5. Re:Lack of control? by falcon5768 · 2012-08-22 05:22 · Score: 1
  
  And maybe you didnt RTFA.
  
  --
  "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."
6. Re:Lack of control? by sjames · 2012-08-22 07:33 · Score: 2
  
  Maybe they hand administrative control over to any clown that says he's you over the phone...
7. Re:Lack of control? by vakuona · 2012-08-22 09:09 · Score: 1
  
  MPs don't generally have any state secrets to keep. Just saying.
not the first story by slashmydots · 2012-08-22 02:25 · Score: 2, Insightful

This is not by any means they first story I've read about people getting an ipad for work and then finding it they can't make it do everything they want because Apple controls everything. It's not even mods or SD cards or custom software, it's that there's no mouse and keyboard or printing support (as far as I know) or apps to do things you need in the one and only app store. I've had several customers tell me that as they're buying a laptop from me. I've had vendors use an ipad to send me a PDF form to fill out and it's all screwed up with finger-checkmarks in the wrong place, wrong dates because the font was too small to read in that section, etc.
If you want to do real work, get a real computer. It's kinda sad that Apple hates on Linux then actually released a product that's less functional, less flexible, and less compatible with other software than Linux. Hey, whatever helps lol.
1. Re:not the first story by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 02:40 · Score: 0
  
  This is not by any means they first story I've read about people getting an ipad for work and then finding it they can't make it do everything they want because Apple controls everything.
  Everybody should define their requirements and compare them to a product's features before making a purchase rather than buying something and then realizing it doesn't do what they wanted it to do. Does Apple restrict an iPad's features and usability by hardware and software designs? Yes. Does that absolve a consumer from not doing their homework before making a purchase? No.
  captcha: retract
2. Re:not the first story by jedrek · 2012-08-22 02:40 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  it's that there's no mouse and keyboard or printing support (as far as I know)
  You... don't know. Here's a list of a couple hundred printers that work with the iPad, here is a roundup of keyboard/case solutions for the iPad from The Verge. I'm not going to search for mouse setups for a multi-touch device for various reasons.
  You know what really bugs me about your post? Since the first time I logged into slashdot, I've been reading about cases of FUD working against Linux and Open Source Software. Now I'm seeing Linux and Android fanboys with their heads up their asses, spreading the same kind of FUD. "Oh, as far as I know, it doesn't work with external keyboards." sure brings me back to the times of, "It seems to me that if it was good, they'd charge money for it."
  It's kinda sad that Apple hates on Linux then actually released a product that's less functional, less flexible, and less compatible with other software than Linux.
  Apple hates on Linux? Linux isn't even on Apple's radar. What they've made is a product that's more functional and flexible than a phone, while being considerably more portable than a laptop. They weren't trying to create a new laptop, they were aiming for a product between laptops and phones. Most people have extremely low demands of their computers. Email, Skype, a browser and a photo editing application. Hell, my girlfriend is technical enough to fix her own router, but I haven't seen her do anything on her laptop that she couldn't do on a tablet in the four months we've been living together.
3. Re:not the first story by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 02:46 · Score: 0
  
  Don't talk about things you don't know about. My iPad works great with my HP printer, my bluetooth keyboard, and a number of other third party peripherals. There's also plenty of HTML5-based apps out there to do anything that apps on the iTunes store don't do.
  The only thing it lacks that Linux alternatives have is you can't get the source code (beyond anything that might be on MacOSForge, http://www.macosforge.org/, like the Darwin kernel and WebKit). Guess what? You can't get the source code used for most Android phone apps, either, beyond the source for Android itself.
4. Re:not the first story by Infernal+Device · 2012-08-22 02:47 · Score: 2
  
  You should probably also mention that we're still in early iterations of tablet design and functionality - just as the laptop today is a supercomputer compared to early laptops, the tablets of the future will resemble nothing we use today (except maybe form factor).
  
  --
  "My God...it's full of trolls!"
5. Re:not the first story by Desler · 2012-08-22 02:54 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  http://www.apple.com/ipad/accessories/
  
  Apple Wireless Keyboard
  The incredibly thin Apple Wireless Keyboard uses Bluetooth technology, which makes it compatible with iPad. And you’re free to type wherever you like — with the keyboard in front of your iPad or on your lap.
  
  AirPrint
  This took 2 seconds to find. It's amazing how low the bar for 'insightful' and 'nformative' mods is these days. Apparently all you have to do is make ignorant anti-Apple statements.
6. Re:not the first story by LordLimecat · 2012-08-22 02:55 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  You... don't know. Here's a list of a couple hundred printers [apple.com] that work with the iPad
  The vast vast majority do NOT, unless you do some crazy hacks to set up an AirPrint service on your laptop to make it act like a print server for IOS. There are literally thousands of printers out there, and most are not AirPrint compatible.
7. Re:not the first story by Stewie241 · 2012-08-22 03:05 · Score: 2
  
  Sure, but the refuted claim was "it's that there's no mouse and keyboard or printing support (as far as I know)". At least two of those three have been rebutted here.
8. Re:not the first story by slashmydots · 2012-08-22 03:07 · Score: 1
  
  What planet are you from? Seriously? Alternatives to Windows are in direct, close competition since there's not a whole lot of them and since Apple is ungodly expensive and Linux is free, LINUX IS ON APPLE'S RADAR! Can the admins just start deleting the accounts of Apple fanboys so we can actually have a discussion here instead of one-sided whining and biased bullshit?
9. Re:not the first story by _xeno_ · 2012-08-22 03:18 · Score: 2
  
  Not to mention that, at least in my experience, the iPad only "works" with printers. The last time I tried to print something off an iPad using AirPrint, I had to reboot the iPad to even get it to see the printer. After which it did print - eventually. I'm not sure why it's so ungodly slow, but it is.
  But, hey, it "worked." After finding out the brain-dead way you turn off an iPad. (Yep, that's intuitive - hold the "lock" button.)
  
  --
  You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
10. Re:not the first story by Xest · 2012-08-22 03:22 · Score: 1
  
  "Hell, my girlfriend is technical enough to fix her own router, but I haven't seen her do anything on her laptop that she couldn't do on a tablet in the four months we've been living together."
  Well, let's just hope that she doesn't have to download a firmware update from her router and upload it to the device through a standard HTML file upload form element on her iPad then.
  Yes, that's right, because of iOS' restrictions, it can't even perform this sort of basic task.
11. Re:not the first story by jedidiah · 2012-08-22 03:23 · Score: 2
  
  What the iPad offers is not "printing support" as it has come to be defined by common practice over the last 30 years of consumer computing.
  Some hack bolted on as an afterthought? Someone could be forgiven for not considering that "printing support".
  
  --
  A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
12. Re:not the first story by History's+Coming+To · 2012-08-22 03:30 · Score: 1
  
  Absolutely spot on. I've seen umpteen businesses using iPads simply because they're the Next Big Thing, not realising that they're far better off with the dowdy, sad, old-fashioned netbooks they had previously been using.
  
  Sure, if you just need to browse the odd website, go with an iPad, but they're designed for consuming, not producing.
  
  --
  Please consider this account deleted, I just can't be bothered with the spam anymore.
13. Re:not the first story by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 03:37 · Score: 0
  
  Yes, tablets are not laptops.
  You little geeks keep saying that like its some sort of divine revelation. Get over it already. People are allowed to *not* want to tinker with computers and wank over pony tentacle porn. Computing is not the be all end all of human knowledge and endeavor. For some it's a tool to do other (and far more interesting and fascinating) things.
  Seriously, I did all that tinkering shit with Linux installs for a few years before I realized what an absolute fucking bore it was. Got a Mac, switched to photography, computer art and writing musical software. Much more interesting. Meet a lot of people that way, too.
14. Re:not the first story by jedrek · 2012-08-22 03:42 · Score: 2
  
  What planet are you from? Seriously? Alternatives to Windows are in direct, close competition since there's not a whole lot of them and since Apple is ungodly expensive and Linux is free
  Can we stop with the FUD again? If Linux is free then Apple is damn cheap since Mountain Lion clocks in at a whopping $20. Windows is extremely expensive, with Win 7 Pro Upgrade coming in at $170.
  If we're talking about hardware then realize that Linux does not compete with Apple as pretty much nobody no major retailer offers ready-to-go desktop products with Linux installed. Now, I have no qualms about calling Apple PC hardware a premium priced product. Please do realize that they have a total of 7 product lines, two of which don't actually exist among any other manufacturers - I'm referring to the MBP Retina and Mac Mini. Their ultrabooks are priced between Asus ($900) and Sony ($1800) for the $1100 MBA I bought last year. That's not 'ungodly expensive', it's middle of the road and it came with a Unix installed.
  You know what, prove me wrong. Show me the market where Apple is working against Linux on the desktop. The marketing strategies they've used to go after it, to combat it.
15. Re:not the first story by Quiet_Desperation · 2012-08-22 03:45 · Score: 1
  
  (as far as I know)
  [mythbuster]Well, now, *there's* your problem.[/mythbuster]
  Does it occur to you people that the very existence of separate laptop and tablet markets means there's different use cases?
  I can put together a gaming rig in my sleep, and have designed computing systems that have gone into space, and yet I have my little iPad for relaxing at home after work and I just want to watch a video or get some news. Why is that such an offensive and horrible thing to some folks?
  Walls? It's loaded with ripped DVDs and torrented stuff.
16. Re:not the first story by jedrek · 2012-08-22 03:49 · Score: 1
  
  You... don't know. Here's a list of a couple hundred printers [apple.com] that work with the iPad
  The vast vast majority do NOT, unless you do some crazy hacks to set up an AirPrint service on your laptop to make it act like a print server for IOS. There are literally thousands of printers out there, and most are not AirPrint compatible.
  Oh man, this is like an echo chamber from 10-15 years ago. The vast majority of printers were not supported by Linux for years and years, now most of them are due to CUPS. You know, that system created by Apple. Anyway, I had to google printer support for iPads (although I had heard they have it) because in 2012... I don't print documents. I've had to print 2 sheets of paper since summer 2011, I just emailed them to the print shop and had them printed out for me.
17. Re:not the first story by Geeky · 2012-08-22 03:50 · Score: 1
  
  From what I've seen AirPrint will only work if the router supports something Apple call "bonjour". It seems that very few do.
  I only know this based on trying to get a wifi HP printer working with a Macbook for a friend and failing miserably.
  
  --
  Sigs are so 1990s. No way would I be seen dead with one.
18. Re:not the first story by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 04:18 · Score: 0
  
  This is similar to rooting to get tethering working.
  Also, learn the importance of never calling setup unhackable and encryption unbreakable, especially given physical access, insider leakers and reverse engineers.
  There is a difference between "not supported" and not possible.
19. Re:not the first story by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 04:33 · Score: 0
  
  So... wait. You own an iPad, but you never actually learned how to turn it off?!
20. Re:not the first story by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 04:36 · Score: 0
  
  That's an interesting recollection of the genesis of CUPS.
21. Re:not the first story by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 04:37 · Score: 0
  
  There's an app for that: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/icab-mobile-web-browser/id308111628?mt=8 There. Now you can download and upload files to your heart's content. Flash away!
22. Re:not the first story by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 04:40 · Score: 0
  
  Once again, ipads [...] don't work with Windows software
  Wait, wait, wait, wait wait.
  This is a bad thing?!
23. Re:not the first story by jellomizer · 2012-08-22 04:40 · Score: 2
  
  I never saw too much business adoption of netbooks. But I saw a lot of people going from normal notebook to the iPad. Not always because it is cool. But more to the fact that they are smaller and lighter and run longer without a battery. The biggest use I have seen for them is for email, and keeping notes, most have an external keyboard attached to the case.
  Netbooks were a little bulkier, They needed to be wall charged, not USB charged with the PC next to them, or the USB port modern cars seem to have now. And their PC OS is slow and bulky compared to the more optimized portable OS.
  The people who do well with an iPad are the same people who never really needed a full PC to begin with.
  
  --
  If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
24. Re:not the first story by jellomizer · 2012-08-22 04:42 · Score: 1
  
  There is printing support... However I havn't seen a printer that a business uses that supports it though.
  
  --
  If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
25. Re:not the first story by jellomizer · 2012-08-22 04:45 · Score: 1
  
  "Why is that such an offensive and horrible thing to some folks?"
  Because They didn't invent it, and it isn't RMS Gold Stamp Certified Not Evil!
  
  --
  If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
26. Re:not the first story by jareth-0205 · 2012-08-22 04:52 · Score: 1
  
  AirPrint
  This took 2 seconds to find. It's amazing how low the bar for 'insightful' and 'nformative' mods is these days. Apparently all you have to do is make ignorant anti-Apple statements.
  Which is ofcourse fine if you are buying a printer *after* you have bought your iPad. If you already own one then you are almost certainly screwed.
27. Re:not the first story by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 04:55 · Score: 0
  
  Pay attention guys, we're seeing Apple history-rewriting methods first-handed! In a few months, all Apple users will call you a stupid liar if you tell them Apple BOUGHT Cups, instead of creating it. This is the beginning of the same process that happened to the smartphone, touchscreen, WebKit/KHTML, GUI, mobile applications, usable mobile browsers...
28. Re:not the first story by Mike+Buddha · 2012-08-22 04:55 · Score: 1
  
  More FUD.
  
  --
  by Mike Buddha -- Someday the mountain might get him, but the law never will.
29. Re:not the first story by StuartHankins · 2012-08-22 04:59 · Score: 1
  
  I use Printopia for Mac, which allows me to print to any printer I have shared on my Mac, including network printers. It's a $20 app I think. Dunno if there is a Windows utility that does the same.
30. Re:not the first story by Noughmad · 2012-08-22 05:04 · Score: 1
  
  From your link, the Apple Wireless keyboard costs $69. In Europe that apparently translates to around €75. For that money, you get something you can't carry around, has no other uses except for Apple devices, and will kill your wrists and/or fingers.
  
  --
  PlusFive Slashdot reader for Android. Can post comments.
31. Re:not the first story by _xeno_ · 2012-08-22 05:11 · Score: 1
  
  I know it's hard to do, but try and think of a common scenario where someone who does not own an iPad may be asked to help figure out why it can't print to the printer it's next to. Hint: it involves other people, possibly related.
  I also happen to be working on an iPad app for my job, so there's that too, but so far all I've ever done involves the iPad simulator and not the actual device. And Squiggle-Q doesn't work to reboot the actual hardware. (But don't worry about the app - you'll never see it, because there's no reason for it to even exist, let alone be an iOS app, let alone be an iPad-only iOS app.)
  
  --
  You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
32. Re:not the first story by filthpickle · 2012-08-22 05:38 · Score: 1
  
  I have an iPad and I really enjoy it for what I use it for....but if I hadn't already known how to turn it off because it probably worked like the iphone did I am not sure I would have immediately gone for the lock button either. Here's another handy one....double click the home button, touch and hold an app, the red dash that appears on the icon will kill that app.
  
  you'll never see it, because there's no reason for it to even exist, let alone be an iOS app, let alone be an iPad-only iOS app
  Hehe, the company I work for did the exact same thing and were all excited about it (and it never went anywhere because nobody used it). I am working with a client of ours now who also doing this exact thing. At least we will make some money on it this time.
33. Re:not the first story by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 05:58 · Score: 0
  
  the market where Apple is working against Linux on the desktop
  Scientific computing - aka the reason Apple bothers to get certified as UNIX. Look at this advertisement and tell me it's not intentionally competing against people who would otherwise be attracted to Linux.
34. Re:not the first story by toriver · 2012-08-22 06:02 · Score: 1
  
  You mean rooting to bypass the limitations you had agreed to when you signed up with the cellular service provider?
  Tethering works fine on any un-rooted iOs device where the service provider includes it in your contract.
35. Re:not the first story by toriver · 2012-08-22 06:08 · Score: 1
  
  Bonjour is Apple's implementation of the principles of zeroconf. Other implementations exist too.
  But I guess you will want to wait for a public standard before you commit to anything.
36. Re:not the first story by toriver · 2012-08-22 06:10 · Score: 1
  
  Eh, it's a fucking Bluetooth keyboard. It works with everything that uses Bluetooth keyboards. What the fuck made you think it only works with Apple devices? FUDster.
37. Re:not the first story by Geeky · 2012-08-22 06:41 · Score: 1
  
  All I can say is that I tried to talk someone through it, googled extensively and found lots of forum posts where people were having the same problem, tried all of the suggestions and eventually gave up.
  I'm sure if my friend had an airport router it would have worked, and I found, I think, one netgear product that claimed to support bonjour. Although it does appear to be an Apple implementation of a standard(ish) protocol, I just couldn't get it to work. Any tips to get it running on a generic 3G wifi router gratefully received - my Windows laptop had no trouble at all, so it's not the printer.
  I'm certainly not anti Apple - I have an iPad myself, run Windows and Linux on my PC and have an Android phone - I like to cover all the bases!
  
  --
  Sigs are so 1990s. No way would I be seen dead with one.
38. Re:not the first story by Noughmad · 2012-08-22 07:19 · Score: 1
  
  I don't know, I've never seen it used with anything except Macs. That said, Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Wireless-Keyboard-MC184LL-VERSION/dp/B005DLDO4U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345662872&sr=8-2&keywords=apple+keyboard) says this
  
  System Requirements
  * Bluetooth-enabled Mac computer with Mac OS X v10.6.8 or later and existing keyboard and mouse for initial setup.
  * iPad (some function keys designed for use on the Mac will not work on iPad)
  
  --
  PlusFive Slashdot reader for Android. Can post comments.
39. Re:not the first story by vakuona · 2012-08-22 09:14 · Score: 1
  
  I don't see why, in this day and age, with computing power to cheap and ubiquitous, a router can't update itself, or at least have the functionality to allow a user to update it without involving another computer (except to send a command to tell it to update itself).
40. Re:not the first story by vakuona · 2012-08-22 09:18 · Score: 1
  
  I have a wireless printer that came without AirPrint support (bought it before AirPrint was released). One firmware update later, and it now is compatible. And it's no expensive high-end printer either. Matter of fact, I don't like it very much, but it sure works with AirPrint.
  Anyway, what really peeves me is that you need any driver to connect to a printer.
41. Re:not the first story by exomondo · 2012-08-22 13:55 · Score: 1
  
  now most of them are due to CUPS. You know, that system created by Apple.
  Ooohhh...like YouTube created by Google, Skype created by Microsoft and MySpace created by News Ltd...or is it now created by Justin Timberlake?
42. Re:not the first story by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 14:02 · Score: 0
  
  Most people have extremely low demands of their computers. Email, Skype, a browser and a photo editing application.
  Bullshit, that's just what most people have in common, though a lot of people do indeed make the mistake of creating a false equivalency there.
  
  Hell, my girlfriend is technical enough to fix her own router, but I haven't seen her do anything on her laptop that she couldn't do on a tablet in the four months we've been living together.
  Well that's highly ambiguous, fixing a broken down car by putting petrol in it is far removed from replacing the exhaust manifold.
43. Re:not the first story by toriver · 2012-08-23 06:44 · Score: 1
  
  Strange; my former boss used it with his HP laptop, and I use mine with my PS3. Apple probably want to focus on their own products though.
44. Re:not the first story by Xest · 2012-08-23 07:31 · Score: 1
  
  Sure, but that doesn't excuse Apple's flagship devices missing support for basic HTML form elements in the browser they ship with.
45. Re:not the first story by Noughmad · 2012-08-23 19:12 · Score: 1
  
  Good to know, thanks. So it's probably like all those peripherals that came with "requires Windows 95 or newer" but also worked on Linux.
  
  --
  PlusFive Slashdot reader for Android. Can post comments.
Ridiculous idea in the first place by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 02:29 · Score: 0

Sorry, but to give an MP an ipad seems like a ridiculous idea in the first place. Surely, an MP, who almost certainly has access to classified information at one occasion or another, ought to have a laptop with some full-disk encrypted, hardened Linux or Unix on it, an OS that has been audited and approved by experts?
Or were these ipads just a private "gift" from Apple, a standard lobbyist bribe and never intended for official use?
1. Re:Ridiculous idea in the first place by falcon5768 · 2012-08-22 02:40 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  iOS 3+ is full disk encrypted. http://www.neowin.net/news/ios-encryption-is-impossible-to-crack-by-nsas-standards
  
  --
  "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."
2. Re:Ridiculous idea in the first place by Joce640k · 2012-08-22 02:45 · Score: 0
  
  Not at all. No meaningful data can be stored in an iPad so it seems ideal for the sort of people who handle state secrets and keep leaving laptops in taxis.
  
  --
  No sig today...
3. Re:Ridiculous idea in the first place by Desler · 2012-08-22 02:55 · Score: 1
  
  It's trivially easy to use full disk encryption with an iPad and for your iTunes backups. Welcome to 2 years ago.
4. Re:Ridiculous idea in the first place by _xeno_ · 2012-08-22 03:09 · Score: 1
  
  It is? What's the magic incantation to turn that on?
  I ask because of tools like iExplorer, which let you access the entire iOS device's file system and download files unencrypted.
  Which means that if it's on by default, it's trivial to bypass. I've used the tool I linked before to try and debug a broken iPad - you just plug it in, and it can pull files off the device, just like that. It's also not the only solution.
  And that's not mentioning things like iCloud backup, which is turned on by default last I checked. And, sure, Apple says it's encrypted (except your email and notes - those aren't). I'll let someone else download the source to the iCloud server software and see if they're telling the truth...
  
  --
  You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
5. Re:Ridiculous idea in the first place by iluvcapra · 2012-08-22 04:04 · Score: 2
  
  These apps don't work unless the iDevice is unlocked when you plug it in, or you have the backup password.
  
  --
  Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
6. Re:Ridiculous idea in the first place by aaaaaaargh! · 2012-08-22 04:13 · Score: 1
  
  You've missed the bit about security auditing that the OP mentioned. I hope you remember the Apple file vault debacle, which allowed users to recover the file vault password by a simple one-line grep statement that you could copy & paste in terminal? It took Apple several years to close this hole.
  It would be pretty naive to believe that iOS can be considered good enough for confidential information. But I guess the other poster has a point that it's pretty hard to use an iPad for anything useful anyway...
7. Re:Ridiculous idea in the first place by DeeEff · 2012-08-22 05:14 · Score: 1
  
  "backup password."
  There should never be a backup password to a secure system. You lost the password? Too bad, not even you can get your data.
8. Re:Ridiculous idea in the first place by jeremyp · 2012-08-22 05:17 · Score: 1
  
  You've missed the bit about security auditing that the OP mentioned. I hope you remember the Apple file vault debacle, which allowed users to recover the file vault password by a simple one-line grep statement that you could copy & paste in terminal? It took Apple several years to close this hole.
  It would be pretty naive to believe that iOS can be considered good enough for confidential information. But I guess the other poster has a point that it's pretty hard to use an iPad for anything useful anyway...
  Things have moved on...
  http://www.technologyreview.com/news/428477/the-iphone-has-passed-a-key-security-threshold/
  
  --
  All I want is a secure system where it's easy to do anything I want. Is that too much to ask ~~ Randall Munroe
9. Re:Ridiculous idea in the first place by falcon5768 · 2012-08-22 05:25 · Score: 1
  
  It isnt the backup password to the device, its a password to the BACKUPS if you perform them. If you are in a environment that restricts connecting your iPad for backups which is the case in any well run Enterprise, then there are no backups.
  
  --
  "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."
10. Re:Ridiculous idea in the first place by falcon5768 · 2012-08-22 05:28 · Score: 1
  
  iExplore only works if you can unlock the iPad which if it is a business iPad would have a forced password on it requiring you to swipe and type in the 4+ character passcode or password depending on the policy you set. The swiping to unlock actually un-encrypts your data.
  
  --
  "Slashdot, where telling the truth is overrated but lying is insightful."
sounds like he might've had a sentient tablet by Trepidity · 2012-08-22 02:38 · Score: 5, Funny

From the Google-translated story, a quotation:
"Admin has access to everything. Tablet I am"
Sounds ominous indeed.

--
10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
1. Re:sounds like he might've had a sentient tablet by in10d · 2012-08-22 02:57 · Score: 1
  
  Blame Google Translate... Actually he said "I am turning in the tablet".
Really? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 02:39 · Score: 0

He just was unable to download illegal torrents
Q: How many Poles does it take to return an iPad? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 02:42 · Score: 0, Funny

A: Sod off, bigot.
Apple is the biggest prize by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 02:43 · Score: 0

Wait till Apple are hacked,
its the grand prize of Anon and they love a good SPOF
full access to politicians, celebs, friends, mail, files (iCloud), images, exact GPS location at anytime, read/write access on a billion devices is just too good an opportunity to let up.
tick tock
Ah yes, Poland by Xtense · 2012-08-22 02:43 · Score: 5, Interesting

The land I was born in, the land that I grew up in, the land that I live in and the land that I love... ...with some of the worst (or best, depending on your definition of the word) politicians I've ever seen. You have to understand - they don't use those iPads for anything other than browsing porn ( http://www.komputerswiat.pl/media/2012/187/2456339/porno-tablety-sejm-1.jpg ) or funnyjunk-like equivalents. They're wasting money - and they're wasting our money, because the iPads were state-funded. We're letting them do that - and there is nothing we can do to change that.
This isn't just some generic "politics == stupid" sentiment - this is a matter of analyzing at least the major decisions of the last 100 years and coming to the conclusion that the decisionmakers are idiots. It would be at least comforting to know that the voters are aware of it, but no dice - politics in Poland are either a taboo subject or restricted entirely to the Internet - and we all know how debating on the Internet works. I can honestly tell you that no camp currently registered for voting into the Sejm (the Senate 2.0) is worth voting for. The two major parties, PO (centrist/right) and PiS (right/national) are so deep in shitslinging between them that they lost focus on running the country, which breeds tons of discontent and lots of potential for corruption, both internal and external - they were both caught in the act, too. The alternative parties aren't much better: SLD (left/social) are basically repurposed commies from the last system and notorious for their mob connections, Ruch Palikota (liberal) is led by a huge idiot who changes his views like a goddamn flag, and UPR (left social/right economy) is helmed by a guy who is first to rip off "working" solutions from other countries with no regard for both current possibilities or needs of Poland.
This situation is perfect for PR however, since voting usually is not between "the best candidates" but "the least evil", so it just takes the right amount of spin to completely ruin a party's chances.
But it starts to show. Voter participation is dropping with each term - which in the short term is very bad since it leads to fringe voting, but in the long run demonstrates that we're starting to get tired of this shit.
It crossed my mind to post this anonymously to be honest, since Polish politics are a matter of very heated (and very vulgar) debate on the Polish-speaking Internet, but, ah well.

--
"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams [...]."
1. Re:Ah yes, Poland by isorox · 2012-08-22 02:59 · Score: 1
  
  The land I was born in, the land that I grew up in, the land that I live in and the land that I love... ...with some of the worst (or best, depending on your definition of the word) politicians I've ever seen. You have to understand - they don't use those iPads for anything other than browsing porn ( http://www.komputerswiat.pl/media/2012/187/2456339/porno-tablety-sejm-1.jpg ) or funnyjunk-like equivalents.
  
  That's Facebook isn't it?
  On the whole I agree with your sentiments about politics. Ultimately everything we read is PR, there's hardly any news any more, and even the excellent journalists I work with are limited to 30 second sound bites outside closed offices. You get occasional great reports - mostly in papers, but sometimes on the bbc.
  You get great live coverage on tv too, skys coverage of te fall of tripoli was a masterpiece.
  But the bulk of news is generated by pr companies, and until the public realise that and actively fight against it, politics is doomed.
2. Re:Ah yes, Poland by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 03:00 · Score: 0
  
  I could have said the same for my country (France).
  I guess it's time to sharpen the guillotines since nothing less than revolution will make them understand.
3. Re:Ah yes, Poland by fustakrakich · 2012-08-22 03:29 · Score: 2
  
  Your post indicates how much alike we all are, no matter where we are from. Corruption, like pollution, does not respect political or cultural boundaries.
  
  --
  “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
4. Re:Ah yes, Poland by Hatta · 2012-08-22 05:19 · Score: 2
  
  This isn't just some generic "politics == stupid" sentiment - this is a matter of analyzing at least the major decisions of the last 100 years and coming to the conclusion that the decisionmakers are idiots.
  Sounds just like America.
  
  It would be at least comforting to know that the voters are aware of it, but no dice - politics in Poland are either a taboo subject or restricted entirely to the Internet - and we all know how debating on the Internet works
  Same here. They've made political discourse so unpleasant, you can't talk politics with family or friends if you want them to remain on good terms.
  
  I can honestly tell you that no camp currently registered for voting into the Sejm (the Senate 2.0) is worth voting for.
  
  Again, just like America.
  
  The two major parties, PO (centrist/right) and PiS (right/national) are so deep in shitslinging between them that they lost focus on running the country, which breeds tons of discontent and lots of potential for corruption, both internal and external - they were both caught in the act, too.
  
  Damnit, quit copying America!
  
  The alternative parties aren't much better: SLD (left/social) are basically repurposed commies from the last system and notorious for their mob connections, Ruch Palikota (liberal) is led by a huge idiot who changes his views like a goddamn flag, and UPR (left social/right economy) is helmed by a guy who is first to rip off "working" solutions from other countries with no regard for both current possibilities or needs of Poland.
  At least you actually have alternative parties. I bet they are on the ballot across the country too. Here we have exactly one third party candidate that's on the ballot in all 50 states, a "libertarian" candidate whose major accomplishment is privatizing the prison system when he was governor.
  But hey, at least you guys have a parliamentary system where voting for the guy you want will at least get you proportional representation in parliament. With our winner take all system, if you're not in the majority you have no voice at all.
  
  This situation is perfect for PR however, since voting usually is not between "the best candidates" but "the least evil", so it just takes the right amount of spin to completely ruin a party's chances.
  Which is exactly what has happened to US politics. The biggest dog and pony show on earth, and not one shred of legitimate debate.
  
  But it starts to show. Voter participation is dropping with each term - which in the short term is very bad since it leads to fringe voting, but in the long run demonstrates that we're starting to get tired of this shit.
  Same here. Few people vote because there are no choices worth voting for. But the media spins this as apathy about political outcomes, not frustration at lack of choice. We're going to have to get down to single digit voter turnout before people start realizing the people no longer support this system
  
  --
  Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
5. Re:Ah yes, Poland by phantomfive · 2012-08-22 05:34 · Score: 1
  
  this is a matter of analyzing at least the major decisions of the last 100 years and coming to the conclusion that the decisionmakers are idiots.
  Not to be rude, but weren't most of the major Polish decisions of the last 100 years made by Russians or Germans?
  
  --
  "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
6. Re:Ah yes, Poland by oakgrove · 2012-08-22 05:36 · Score: 1
  
  At least you actually have alternative parties. I bet they are on the ballot across the country too. Here we have exactly one third party candidate that's on the ballot in all 50 states.
  In my opinion, this is one of the greatest failings of the political system in the United States. If we had a system whereby third party candidates could get a seat even if they didn't "win" it all then people would actually get some exposure to alternative non-Republicrat party line debate on the issues. Things would have a chance to "click" which is very difficult on a campaign trail as the main preoccupation is getting votes not deep reflection on solving difficult problems. What happens now is the 2 major parties suck all the oxygen out of the room and the other guys end up just preaching to their respective choirs. That will be very hard to change but I think the real catalyst is people are so caught up in the Democrat/Republican us vs. them trope that they don't even see a problem.
  
  --
  The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
7. Re:Ah yes, Poland by Hatta · 2012-08-22 05:40 · Score: 1
  
  In the opinions of any Democratic or Republican candidate it's one of the greatest strengths. This is why the most important vote you can cast is for a third party. Any third party.
  
  --
  Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
8. Re:Ah yes, Poland by yidele · 2012-08-22 06:17 · Score: 1
  
  Nie zaqpominajmy ze jest to posel pogrobowcow komuny. Pan Jonski boi sie ze jego dane mozna upublicznic. Usmialbym sie gdyby nie to ze on dopier po utracie poprzedniego Ipad'a zdal sobie sprawe z tego ze prywatne mail'e nie sa prywatne. Ach, polska mlodziez!
9. Re:Ah yes, Poland by Xtense · 2012-08-22 06:42 · Score: 1
  
  Ah, this is one of them war questions. No matter what I say right now, in Poland I'd have a mininum of 20 daughter posts within seconds, 16 of which were calling me various names, with differing levels of vulgarity. Truth to be told, I wrote that number mostly under the influence of emotions, but I'll try to entertain your question as best as possible.
  This all depends on whom do you treat as a "governing entity" in wartime Poland. We've got a choice between the invading forces, the Government-In-Exile, or the various leftwing/rightwing Resistance movements who had localized, but enforced "power". For obvious reasons i will not discuss the invaders. I will instead focus on the GIO. Operating from abroad, they had limited capability of actually governing anything, nevertheless their word was the final word - it was just very hard to get them to say anything at all due to communication issues, so the AK was mostly locally governed.
  WW2 Poland was hell. No movie so far tells the whole story. We can talk all we want about the concentration camps, forced labour, or forced expulsion - these issues are so hard, so convoluted, but also so fresh in the minds of the older generation, that there is really no way to try to say anything without convoluting those issues even more - some will call you insensitive and some will tell you you're lying. The smart thing to do is just not discuss those and wait for the eventual untangling of this mess.
  Following are my own opinions supported mostly by history books and interviews with the veterans themselves. This is not a complete picture. This is most probably not entirely true. This is very much biased.
  The AK had free reign, but couldn't control all of its assets properly. Logistical problems, differing political backgrounds for some companies and the whole damn reality of it all were the main problems. There was a need for restructuring everything, appointing officers and establishing contact, which pre-Internet was very hard to do - and it was doable, but the AK decided that saving lives was more important and focused on a fighting retreat, which inevitably caused those left behind the lines to lose contact with Base. This is the first major decision i do not agree with - it was much better to, while leading a fighting retreat, leave localized representatives of the AK for making sure there was any method of organizing a guerilla movement. Alas, it was not so. Those left behind the lines, with help from the local populace, formed the local Polish Resistant Movements and had localized power over different regions. Their policies were drastically different from each other, some would be even considered barbaric by todays standards. The AK issued an official statement that such barbaric practices are considered treason and the perpetrators were subject to penalty of death by shooting. The statements were sometimes, unfortunately, not received or outright ignored and a small amount of self-governed cells of the PRM, while focusing on fighting off the invaders, were also realizing their own xenophobic and racist policies.
  In essence, Poland as a singular-governed entity, ceased to exist in any other form than people living on it's territory called themselves Polish.
  About this part becomes incredibly hazy due to differing and conflicting accounts - the best we have are from the biggest cities, like Warsaw, thanks to the very active Polish Underground, who saved lots of documents and photos. We have confirmed that there was a central and effective organization within Warsaw, with lots and lots of sabotaging activity done. There was a central governing entity called the Polish Underground State, which, even though very limited in scope, provided food, safe passage and quarters to undesirables. Mentioning Warsaw without mentioning the Warsaw Uprising just won't do: although opinions are divided whether it was an important patriotic drive or senseless loss of life, the truth is the Uprising was organized under information that we would have outside support
  
  --
  "We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams [...]."
10. Re:Ah yes, Poland by yidele · 2012-08-22 06:51 · Score: 1
  
  Jonski - ostatnia ofiara powstania warszawskiego. http://lodz.gazeta.pl/lodz/1,35153,11649831,Dariusz_Jonski_ostatnia_ofiara_Powstania_Warszawskiego.html
11. Re:Ah yes, Poland by phantomfive · 2012-08-22 07:38 · Score: 1
  
  That is fascinating. I had no idea about the Polish view on all these subjects. Quite entertaining, thankyou.
  
  However, it was more than just a war question, I was surprised that it seemed you would credit Polish politicians for decisions made under the Soviets, as well.
  
  --
  "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
12. Re:Ah yes, Poland by Xtense · 2012-08-22 08:09 · Score: 1
  
  Ah, sorry, it is most often forgotten that we were dependant on the Soviets up until 1989, but I rarely press the issue - the most important "bits" are very recent and have been reported better than I could summarize.
  While it is true that we were very dependant on Soviet help for rebuilding and reconstruction after the war, the truth is our local representatives had a lot more power than initially credited, in turn leading me to believe that we could play for a lot more than we finally received. For at least 30 years we were definitely too weak to, lets say, "start any shit", but after that it was a question of a highly divided state - the ruling Party, supported by the Army, Police and Intelligence forces, and "the rest". And, for a time... it was good. It really was - we were riding high on borrowed money (which we still haven't paid), building things like crazy, jumpstarting our industry and, although having highly censored materials, especially concerning history (which explains why it is so hard to get a straight WW2 story here), educating ourselves (My parents recall a time when they could basically choose from several different offers of work as teachers.) - all things we severely needed after the war. But how does this relate to me calling the ruling class idiots? The hardest perhaps to accept is that the ruling class were, essentially, Polish, with very few "imports" from outside the country. They were, without fear of overstating, "pampered" by the Soviets and, well, preferred their luxuries than press independence. This is a particularly hard topic since it is nearly impossible to tell the extent of both the corruption and how much at risk we'd be if we flipped Stalin the bird sooner. Personally, i think we could, but probably with more bloodshed, so in the end it worked better to wait while the USSR rotted from the inside. When the supply troubles started, with food becoming harder to obtain, the Solidarity movement could enter the scene.
  This is where things start getting a bit funny.
  The highlight was of course enacting Martial Law, with lethal shots fired on the protesters. But... Poland as a whole seems unsure whether Martial Law was needed. Some praise gen. Jaruzelski for instating it, believing that it saved us a Soviet intervention, while others call him a war criminal who needs a bullet to the head. This is, historically, a very recent issue and documents are still being gathered relating to this whole mess. From time to time you see various revisionist attempts here to paint the whole matter in a different light. It is still very fluid, with multiple seemingly "legitimate" sources of information, so I would rather wait for one version before critically reevaluating it. The general himself states that he has "no regrets" about enacting it.
  
  --
  "We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams [...]."
13. Re:Ah yes, Poland by phantomfive · 2012-08-22 08:53 · Score: 1
  
  Thx
  
  --
  "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
14. Re:Ah yes, Poland by rastoboy29 · 2012-08-22 10:09 · Score: 1
  
  Clearly, you need to run for office. Here's how you start--start talking to your neighbors. All of them. I'm being serious.
  
  --
  expandfairuse.org
15. Re:Ah yes, Poland by Xtense · 2012-08-22 15:19 · Score: 1
  
  You know, I expected this kind of comment sooner or later, though mostly as sarcasm, but since you're being serious, I will answer truthfully. There is a fundamental problem with this suggestion:
  I don't want to.
  Power corrupts, always, and even if I remain "on course" with my proceedings, that is strengthening the country, I am sure that i would not remain unaffected, at best playing this situation to my own strength, Vetinari style, or, at worst, seeing no problem with being corrupt. Also, I would need to grime my way up through the existing connections, letting it all up on my suit, in essence making me no better than the corrupt structure already in place. There is no place left for an "influential leader type" - both the major parties and Palikot tried that earlier, trying to use existing outrage to put themselves higher, with, at best, mixed results. Conspiracy theorists over here even speculate that those in power themselves create events that divide the country into POfags and PiSlamists. You can trust me when I say there is really no way for a grassroots movement to gain traction without help from the Big Guys - and if you use it, you've already lost - they'll mold you however they want.
  Besides, if I tried talking to my neighbours right now, thanks to making politics a very divisive and essentially uncool topic, they'd rather think that i ate some Cowbane than me being serious. :)
  
  --
  "We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams [...]."
16. Re:Ah yes, Poland by rastoboy29 · 2012-08-23 13:01 · Score: 1
  
  Well, first off, you don't actually *tell* them you want to talk about politics. ;-) Second, what you are saying is the truth everywhere, more or less. Doesn't mean you shouldn't try. You don't have to "fix the entire system" to do some good. Merely doing some good is good!
  
  --
  expandfairuse.org
Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by Moskit · 2012-08-22 02:53 · Score: 4, Informative

Guy lost his gov-issued iPad.
Local IT admin said he can recover all his data and burn on CD, so MP doesn't need to worry it's lost. Data including his _private_ emails that was on iPad.
This is what set him off to return the iPad. Not Apple control.
Original iPad wasn't found he bought a replacement one from private money and returned it. Good guy!
As a form of protest he posted "Admins have access to everything!" on his Facebook before returning device. 300 of government officials (out of 460) use such iPads for work.
1. Re:Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 02:56 · Score: 0
  
  Does anyone see the irony of him posting that message to facebook?
2. Re:Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by M.+Baranczak · 2012-08-22 03:48 · Score: 1
  
  Does anyone see the irony of him posting that message to facebook?
  Not really. He intended the message to be public. For things like that, Facefuck is actually a legitimate choice.
3. Re:Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by aristotle-dude · 2012-08-22 03:55 · Score: 1
  
  Guy lost his gov-issued iPad.
  Local IT admin said he can recover all his data and burn on CD, so MP doesn't need to worry it's lost. Data including his _private_ emails that was on iPad.
  This is what set him off to return the iPad. Not Apple control.
  Original iPad wasn't found he bought a replacement one from private money and returned it. Good guy!
  As a form of protest he posted "Admins have access to everything!" on his Facebook before returning device. 300 of government officials (out of 460) use such iPads for work.
  Private emails on the device? Do they not use Exchange for government email? Why can't he use an IMAP service like iCloud or a myriad of other providers for his email? Why not setup a free iCloud account so that he could have remotely wiped his iPad after he lost it? Why didn't he have a strong passcode on the iPad?
  
  --
  Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
4. Re:Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by M.+Baranczak · 2012-08-22 04:04 · Score: 1
  
  Exactly. Thanks for the summary. I'd tell people to read the damn article, but most of them can't read Polish, and the translation is gibberish.
  The issue here is that the admins were keeping backups of the data, and the owner of the data wasn't aware of it. (We don't really know whose fault that is; maybe the guy just didn't read the memo from IT.) Are they encrypting the data so that only the owner can decode it? Is the backup process opt-in or opt-out? The article doesn't say.
5. Re:Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by StankAsPoe · 2012-08-22 04:26 · Score: 1
  
  I think this is the most important part about the whole thing. Original article doesn't mention MP going on about anything related to control as we would understand it. It is a spin put on by the FWiOO. Fact that he is suppose to be baffled by IT's access to his emails just proves how tech savvy he is.
6. Re:Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by zerosomething · 2012-08-22 04:36 · Score: 1
  
  OOH so I guess I misread the badly translated article? I didn't get that he lost the iPad. humm
  
  --
  It all starts at 0
7. Re:Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by CAIMLAS · 2012-08-22 05:48 · Score: 1
  
  What a surprise: administrators can read your email.
  This is not a surprise. So can managers. They can do a lot more than that, too, like send email from you. We're trained to not do this, of course - just as users are trained to not use work resources for personal use to avoid the possibility of a personal privacy breech. This is not a very big request, and it's violation has obvious consequences brought on by your own actions.
  People have two basic choices: use work things which can be monitored, or use personal things which can not be (by work) - and deal with the consequences of having your data lost and devices hacked, and us not caring.
  
  --
  ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
8. Re:Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by sl149q · 2012-08-22 06:20 · Score: 1
  
  I read (the badly translated) article and this all doesn't make sense.
  If the MP LOST his iPad then HOW did the IT Admin recover his emails?
  Presumably because the emails where on an email server somewhere. And since this is a government email account probably that was on a government server not something Apple had any control over.
  So to summarize:
  - he was given an iPad
  - he setup email on iPad, probably imap
  - he uses iPad for a while
  - he looses iPad
  - admin "recovers" email from server
  - he complains that iPad is insecure
  If this is the sequence of events I fail to see how it would be any different from any Windows or Linux or Mac or Android based smartphone, tablet, netbook, laptop or desktop. If you are using an email client to access a network mail service then the admins for that service have access to your mail.
  I'm left to conclude that either this guy doesn't know what he is talking about.
  OR he knows what he is talking about (e.g. he is worried because he cannot use open source software) and this story or the translation just really lost that aspect.
  Lack of control could be an issue. Either you like the walled garden or you don't. If you don't, just don't buy an iPad. Nobody is forcing you to buy an iPad.
9. Re:Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by Kwpolska · 2012-08-22 07:32 · Score: 1
  
  mail was already ready for him, @sejm.pl, the only mail he should use with that iPad. also, no word about FLOSS in the Polish version of the article either. Those jerks from the OSS Foundation (FWiOO) wanted to get one more user for Linux. I don't think that guy would be happy with GNOME3 or Unity. And don't forget that this country is 80% pirated Windows, 18% legal Windows, 1.99% OS X and 0.01% Linux, and that's with some generous rounding.
10. Re:Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 07:35 · Score: 0
  
  bonus info: submitter is the vice-president of FWiOO.
11. Re:Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 10:45 · Score: 0
  
  The MP is an uneducated idiot same one who when asked about the date of Warsaw Uprising(which is pretty elementary and important fact) on polish radio, replied 1988 (instead of 1944).
  He was just scared that admins have access to emails and have backups.... Next time you will see him ranting on Facebook that receipients have emails still in their inboxes after he deleted these from his Sent folder.
12. Re:Local IT control, _not_ Apple. by akozakie · 2012-08-22 11:21 · Score: 1
  
  Not a fan of this particular politician, but...
  "Fact that he is suppose to be baffled by IT's access to his emails just proves how tech savvy he is."
  Why exactly? I can tell you I'd be pissed if I found out that our company's IT had access to my private e-mails. They're on a different server and I use TLS, so that would mean remote access, backups in background, etc. If that was part of the rules, I'd be fine with that - a bit irked, maybe, but rules are rules, no reason to be angry if you were informed in advance. And I'm just a guy in a medium-sized company.
  BTW - having access to emails is not the same as having access to the system where you open them, decrypt, save, etc.
  It seems that in this case nobody told the politicians that everything is backed up without their knowledge. That is serious. They shouldn't use the tablets for strictly classified information, but they do plenty of, well, sensitive communications. These backups are fine if they know about them, a serious problem if they don't. Now this can be done well. Encryption, procedures, etc. But how do you do blind backups if the user - who's supposed to be the only one able to access the backup - doesn't even know they exist? If the IT has the keys...
  Or, less officially: imagine you learn just now that your porn and browser history was being backed up and accessible since you got your computer (laptop, tablet, whatever). Nice, huh?
Um.. What "Lack of control"??? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 02:53 · Score: 0

What "Lack of control"???
Plenty of MDMs support iOS - For network policies, app policies, email, password policies [length, complexity, duration between changes, etc], etc. iOS also supports whole device encryption.
Too many stupid people, not 'nuf saber-tooth tigers to EAT them all.
Politician doesn't understand technology by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 02:56 · Score: 0

No news here - just another clueless politician.
Control? by DocZayus · 2012-08-22 03:13 · Score: 0

I read this as the MP can't control his own usage of the iPad. Depending on it too much.

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-- http://www.doczayus.com/
Poland? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 03:25 · Score: 0

A polish guy wins a brand new sports car in a contest. Hedrives around all the time waving at the rednecks. One day therednecks stop him, they draw a circle in the dirt and say "If you stepout of that circle, we will kick your ass." They pick up hammers andstart busting up his new car. They look back and the is smiling. Theyhit the car some more, and he is laughing. They walk over to him andask "Why are you laughing, we just busted up your car."He says "I know, but I stepped out of the circle 9 times."
Frankly any country where this kind of joke about its people is VERY common is not the kind of country where Apple needs to worry about politicians complaining about their products.
Think different.
Think BETTER.
Think Apple!
Sloppy IT Security Practices? by zerosomething · 2012-08-22 04:34 · Score: 1

I read this as the IT department just dumped a bunch of unmanaged iPads on these guys! Security on iOS devices can be very very good if you actually set it up. Alternately maybe the IT department did set it up securely and he's just miffed he has to use an alpha numeric passphrase and can't use his gmail email account for his "secure communications"?

--
It all starts at 0
In otherwords too hard to pirate by thetoadwarrior · 2012-08-22 05:26 · Score: 1

Polish people don't pay for software and movies. He wants something that's more friendly towards sharing with your vast community of friends online.
Privacy? What for?! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-22 07:18 · Score: 0

Oh, hi. I live in Poland. Did not vote for that party, some call them "post-communists" (some = right wing)
Anyways, he says that he has "confidential" party correspondence in his computer. Does he think THIS is protected? Of course not! I do not believe that a random MP protected his (personal) PC better than an iPad issued by the parliament.
This iPad was supposed to be used to do stuff related to the parliament. In other words, mail at Dariusz.Jonski@sejm.pl (guess who manages this server?) and read bill projects (instead of reading printed material; the files were mailed to them when the iPads were bought, it was said that they are developing a special architecture). He wasn't supposed to do private stuff, store private data, read mail at superdariusz@gmail.com (culture reference that is 100% guaranteed not to be understood or your mo-- oh wait, you didn't pay anything for reading this comment!) or his party mail (if any) or anything like that.
Also, 3700 PLN? Overpaid! Apple (online) sells iPad 2's for 1700 (2200 with 3G), and they won't get a New iPad for one MP (I'm 2000% sure that some will complain about that), and it's 3500 maximum. Love our Premium Resellers! (one of them even sold the Apple TV for about 300% of its US value at release. $99 -> PLN999 ~= $300)
PS. congrats for broken nacute.
On an unrelated note: this MP will be with the party manager in the city I am currently in tomorrow. I missed a meeting with the party I like in my hometown, though. Or will miss, as it might happen tomorrow, I forgot the date and the site won't load.
Re:Privacy? What for?! by Kwpolska · 2012-08-22 07:20 · Score: 1

Also, it got posted as an AC. Wrote that a bit too long and had a break in it. Crap.
When will Apple start selling computers? by Brannon · 2012-08-22 09:01 · Score: 1

I've always wondered by they exclusively sell iPods, tablets, and phones; they should come up with some sort of personal computer. Not one that uses iOS, mind you, but something built on top of UNIX. Maybe it would also have a nice GUI (they could copy the icon-based desktop UI from Windows & Linux), but it would need to have terminal access with full command-line power.
Also it should have an available development environment with the ability to run your own code natively. These computers would need keyboards and mice (does Apple even know what a mouse is?).
Remember... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-23 15:23 · Score: 0

You can lead a horse to water, but you must remember what a wet horse smells like!
So he didn't like it and the Polish Government infrastructure either wasn't explained in small enough words for a politician or wasn't sufficiently laden with security. There are apps for that, anyway.
Not impressed.