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User: jojoba_oil

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  1. Re:Unwritten Addendum: on Google's Android Ambitions Go Beyond Mobile · · Score: 1

    That works pretty well for Chrome/Chromium, doesn't it? If you don't run the official Google build (Chrome), then you don't get a number of the features (and tracking) that's in the closed bits of the source...

  2. Re:Terraria on Notch Announces Minecraft 'Adventure Update' · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Personally I've lost interested to Minecraft long time ago. It was fun back then, but meh now.

    I knew when I decided not to buy it that it would get boring fast. I've watched a few people play it and all I ever see them do is start fresh, start a "home base", get to the point that they can hide in base during the night and explore during the day, and then close it to play a different game.

    And Notch really has no incentive to finish the game anymore. Anyone who was going to buy the game has already bought into the "free updates forever" alpha... Give it a few months and nobody will remember who he is; a "1-hit wonder" of video games.

  3. Re:They just want to sell the mouse over info on Netflix's New Web Interface Gets Thumbs Down From Users · · Score: 2

    It should also be mentioned that there are a lot of terrible movies that producers know are bad. If they can obscure the user ratings by forcing a mouse-over first, they may get people who click without waiting for the user ratings to show up. User experience doesn't matter, it just matters that they're force-fed junk while their pockets get drained.

  4. Re:Selective Reading on Tom's Hardware Dissects Ubuntu 11.4's Interface and Performance · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'll take the latter, as my impression of Unity was pretty much the worst possible; absolutely nothing works as a regular user would expect. It's like they went out of their way to make things as cryptic and unfamiliar as possible. It's nearly unusable.

    I think that's what happens when you aim to mimic the Mac's UI conventions: ensure absolutely nothing works as a reasonable user would expect. Unity was an awful mess in 10.10's Netbook edition, and I haven't bothered trying 11.04.

    Who ever thought it was a good idea to move the menu bar outside of the window which it controls and relates to? With Unity's approach, there will be one menu up top (maybe) and one menu inside the window (maybe) depending on how much work was put into the software to make it compatible with Unity's API. What problem is solved by this new mac-style menu bar?

    It also seems like hiding the menu bar altogether is a growing trend (eg Firefox 4, Unity's menu); because I want computer unsavvy people to have to look harder to find the functionality they want. Sure, I can understand hiding some UI element if the space is absolutely necessary for something else; but in the case of Unity (from videos I've seen on 11.04), it seems like the menu bar is hidden just to hide it. It reminds me of Windows's Aero theme, where they make window borders translucent and gigantic just because they can. Does it help user experience? Does it solve a problem?

    </rant>

  5. Re:so DUI checkpoints are 100% on Apple Bans DUI Checkpoint Apps · · Score: 1

    I think you would make quite a bit more enemies. Sure, you'd be mowing their lawn, but who really wants a straight-line streak of shorter grass?

  6. Re:Network lag on Cloud-Based, Ray-Traced Games On Intel Tablets · · Score: 1

    Having first-hand experience with OnLive (got a code for Trine on OnLive with a Humble Bundle), I'd say that it's not that bad. It complains if you're over wireless, but any wired broadband connection should be fine. It's been quite a bit smoother than a VMware PC-over-IP setup I used last year, and the server running that junk was on the local network.

    If you want to try it yourself, download the client and go to the "Arena" section to watch other people playing games. Now imagine that was you; it'd almost be easy to forget that the game isn't rendered locally.

  7. Re:In my opinion on What Does IQ Really Measure? · · Score: 1

    And what's your point? Are you trying to discredit GP by saying that it's a broad argument brushed across a number of different topics and thus useless? Or are you agreeing with GP and stating that the same fault can be found in other measures of intelligence such as college degrees?

  8. Re:No concerns about RFI? on Asus Motherboard Box Doubles As PC Case · · Score: 2

    On another note, the new /. posting method doesn't work with IE6. I know, I know.... IE6.... That's the company standard and I know I'm not alone here.

    Which is one of the reasons Google decided to have Chrome install itself to the user profile; it doesn't require administrator access or installation privileges.

  9. Re:Another option on Facebook Opens Up Home Addresses and Phone Numbers · · Score: 1

    Don't forget to mention that as much time as you spend on the main privacy page disallowing everything, there is still the little button hidden on the "apps privacy" page (which you navigate to by a small link at the bottom of the main privacy selection page) that says "Click to edit the data that apps your friends use are allowed to see." So if you disable everything on the main page, app developers still have a way of mining all your information, because it's all on by default.

  10. Re:Nothing new on Gmail Creator Says Chrome OS Is As Good As Dead · · Score: 1

    They will not converge ever. It's a simple fact that design for a touch-based system (Android) and design for a keyboard-and-mouse-based system (ChromeOS) are completely different. Have you tried using your iDevice (jailbroken and with Veency installed) from your computer? It's an awful experience. Have you tried using an Android emulator to run your apps on your desktop? It's probably just as awful. Have you tried using a touch-screen laptop/netbook? I've never seen one good thing said about that setup.

    Now imagine the confusion with trying to mix an operating system built completely for touch suddenly taking over your desktop. All the buttons on the screen become huge and unwieldly, you have to scroll by literally dragging the page, menus and menu bars become extinct... Does that really sound like a Good Thing?

  11. Re:Piracy on Single-Player Game Model 'Finished,' Says EA Exec · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If a game is designed to be played single player, then it shouldn't have multiplayer tacked on; I agree with you there. (PopCap casual games are a perfect example of that. They make all their money selling simple, single-player games and are very profitable.) But if the game is ever going to have a multiplayer aspect to it, the developers need to first balance the multiplayer aspect and build the single player after multiplayer is finished. Not only does this ensure that multiplayer modes are enjoyable (because it's evenly balanced) but also provides a way to drop a beta test without giving away the single player aspect. (One of the more well-known developers that seems to work this way is Blizzard. Warcraft 3 and Starcraft 2 betas were multiplayer only, campaigns came out with full-game and were still an enjoyable single-player experience. Even after campaign is played through, multiplayer is still fun.)

    The problem is that so many games are designed and developed in single-player and then a multiplayer addition is hacked on at the end. This often results in strange bugs for multiplayer and countless exploits, not to mention character/weapon/whatever imbalance and overall just shitty experience in the game online as a whole.

  12. Re:Just another Remote Weapon System (RWS). on A Peek At South Korea's Autonomous Robot Gun Turrets · · Score: 3

    The original url looks about the same size as the tinyurl: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Kongsberg+RWS. Oh wait, am I reducing your ability to track people who click your link? I'm sorry.

    Or are you just trying to hide the fact that the final landing is http://www.google.com/search?q=Kongsberg+RWS (again, not long enough to warrant a shortener)?

  13. Re:Be Patient on Where Do I Go Now That Oracle Owns OpenOffice.org? · · Score: 3, Interesting

    You can also give http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Lotus_Symphony a shot as the current version is based upon open office. Interestingly enough software development is done IBM China Development Laboratory, located in Beijing, so there is very likely to be a huge surge in the number of users in the not to distant future.

    I wouldn't be so sure about that one. I'm thinking that IBM based development of Symphony in China as a measure of cost reduction, not because they are targeting a Chinese audience. Further, even if their target is a Chinese user-base I don't think Symphony will take off there; things like linux-based Ylmf OS (which is developed by a Chinese company for a Chinese user-base) have trouble gaining traction. China already has Kingsoft WPS Office which is free for personal use. (The English version is a 30-day free trial.) The only Chinese I know that don't use Kingsoft WPS Office are the ones doing graduate study in the US. They're using bootlegged copies of Microsoft Office instead.

  14. Re:Suck it up Zuck. on Google Asks Users To Complain Against Facebook · · Score: 1

    I just wish they would get their pissing match done with and play nice. Seriously. This isn't doing ANYONE any good.

    That is exactly the same sentiment of users over a similar dispute going on in China.

  15. Re:Link to Actual Report and My Many Gripes on Search Engine Optimization Poisoning Way Up In '10 · · Score: 1

    When the doctype is overridden to one listed as experimental, I would expect the validator to show fewer errors; however, the source of that site clearly labels itself to be using the XHTML 1.0 Transitional doctype. That, as the GP makes reference to, has 522 errors and 7 warnings.

  16. Re:Hopefully... on Firesheep Author Reflects On Wild Week · · Score: 1

    So someone who starts sniffing the network after you have connected cannot listen in, but someone who has been there from the beginning can.

    Perhaps it should be noted that the major method for breaking WPA encryption is to send a spoofed "disconnect" packet to the client. Under the assumption that the user set auto-connect, this would cause the client to reauthenticate from the beginning...

    Anyone who is savvy enough to sniff a user's WPA traffic will undoubtedly also be able to cause a false disconnect and crack the shared key when the client reconnects. The only real deterrence is to turn off auto-(re)connect and manually select wifi networks at each boot.

  17. Re:Samsung? on How Technology Gets the News Out of North Korea · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm hesitant to post this; but here goes...

    Despite the history of Korea being kicked around by the rest of Asia, there are many unofficial ties between DPRKorea and Japan. Whole communities of rich Juche supporters live in Japan. Even the official news outlet (Korea Central News Agency) runs under a jp domain...

    As for my hesitancy: Outside of the obtuse one-liners, the standard Western person (and most news media) seems to be completely uninterested in that region, yet still feels that they should analyze and report on the situation.

  18. Re:Should have seen this coming... on Google Wave Creator Quits, Joins Facebook · · Score: 1

    Wow, you found out that a top Google programmer is being hired by another company for money. Oh, and he agreed to switch companies because he is being paid big bucks. Yep, you sure deserve the Insightful mod.

    Nice of you to point out the obviousness of another's comment, but I'm sure there's more to it than just the money. If Wave was his brainchild, how do you think he felt when Google announced that they were killing it? The time-frame seems to indicate that Lars Rasmussen began looking to hop employers about the time that Wave was discontinued. And it makes sense: If he has to start on a new project anyway, why not one over at Facebook?

    On a side note, why is Rasmussen included in the spell-check dictionary of Chrome? Outside of this post, I'm probably never going to mention that name again...

  19. Who taught grammar? on Australia's Privacy Boss Slams Gov't Data-Retention Scheme · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    "in which it would asked telcos and internet to"

    Try that again? I'm not even sure I know what's being attempted. The rest of TFS is similarly bad. I think it has something to do with privacy in Australia.

    Then again, privacy hasn't been popular among governments anywhere in the world lately, so I could be mistaken.

  20. Re:The real question on Real Reason Why the White iPhone 4 Is Delayed · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Only Apple-lovers will know the significance to white vs. non-white. The rest will just assume that the iPhone being white was meant to match the ugly white ear-buds that came with it.

    I think a more visible sign of wealth is walking into an office full of suits when one is wearing jeans and a sweater, without anyone thinking it out of place... Which leads right into the idea behind bling: people without wealth are more concerned about their outward appearance than people with wealth. So cheap, shiny things like bluetooth ear-pieces, chrome wheel spinners, and big necklaces became a sort of caricature of the desperation to appear wealthy.

  21. Re:Mods, +1 parent on China's Official Newspaper Pans iPad — Too Locked Down · · Score: 1

    I wouldn't agree that they had any one interpretation in mind when they named it RenRen. I see it as a name similar to the Nintendo Wii: the Is next to one another are supposed to visually resemble people, while the spoken name suggests a sort of community.

    Rather than trying to fit it into the mold of the English words "everybody" or "everyone"--which can easily be mistaken as "every single person" when it lacks context--I thought a more literal translation would semi-preserve the possible interpretations. Note that I did try to retain the generalized idea of "everybody" by using "people" as opposed to the more literal "Person-Person-Net".

  22. Re:DVD DVD 5 dollar! on China's Official Newspaper Pans iPad — Too Locked Down · · Score: 1

    BTW, what the hell is up with the fake Rolex watches being sold by just about every street corner merchant. When they spot a westerner, they holler if I want to buy? Funnier still, the merchant across the street sees and hears my reaction of saying "no". Yet, he tries to sell me the same shit. WTF? What? Like you thought I was going to say "yes" seconds later? Persistent bastards, I'll give em that!

    It's because you responded at all. When you even respond with a simple "No", they have gotten more from you than they have from someone like me. Granted, it's a negative response but it means they've already gained ground. Since you don't want shop A's wares, you might be interested in the selection offered at shop B. Or maybe they think you didn't like the price, so their neighbor is going to take advantage and offer you a "good price" for slightly cheaper.

    And sometimes persistence works. I was wandering around the Silk Street market in Beijing and a shop girl grabbed my hand, telling me I wanted to buy a pen. I didn't, but I was wasting time so I decided to talk to her. Ultimately, I bought one of the nicest pens in the shop at a dirt cheap price and used that to get the girl's number to boot. The shop keeper warned that the girl's husband would get upset if I called, but that didn't stop her from keeping contact with me... Long story short, selling and buying is a game with a lot to be gained for both participants, and the Chinese know this better than anyone.

  23. Re:DVD DVD 5 dollar! on China's Official Newspaper Pans iPad — Too Locked Down · · Score: 1

    Sounds like China to me. When I went there, I was curious to see if one could find NON-pirated DVDs for purchase. Never saw one. All DVDs and CDs in the city I was were pirated.

    They were all really cheap too. I think it was 10 CDs for $5 and 3 DVDs for $8 if I recall correctly.

    You're using the wrong currency. The standard price of DVDs is simply 7 RMB per disc included in the package, and that's for complete strangers without bargaining. The most recent DVD purchase I made was a 16-disc set for 30 RMB, and the quality was fine. If you wanted legitimate DVDs, did you bother asking? They're really not that hard to find, even in some of the less-touristy cities...

    That said, what this has to do with TFS is beyond me. The closest I can figure is that your comment talks about China. So you went to China for a vacation and came back with the same stereotypes you went there with, who cares?

  24. Mods, +1 parent on China's Official Newspaper Pans iPad — Too Locked Down · · Score: 5, Informative

    After sifting through the anal discharge that people call comments to this story, here's one that is actually worthwhile. I really wish people wouldn't post these stories, because the typical /.er--while knowing a good bit about technology--is ignorant in topics of Asian politics/culture and just spews trash they think is somehow relevant and/or funny. Because of this, I'm grateful for the refreshing comment that shows a deeper understanding. If only I had a few more mod points...

    In addition to what Tweenk said, when something the Chinese gov't dislikes becomes popular, China generates their own homegrown option very rapidly. Since they block social networking sites and blogs, they offer things like RenRen Wang ("People-People-Net"; formerly known as XiaoNei, or "Within Campus"), YouKu ("Exceptionally Cool", video posting site), QQ zones (Tencent QQ being the most popular instant messaging platform in China, and zones host blogs and pictures), and Sina Blogs.

    To reiterate: these are all built inside the country specifically so that China can control them. Access to the popular global networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are blocked. (Which, by the way, Western media seems blind to that and continually cites Chinese twitterers as the voice of the common Chinese person. This clearly isn't true, as the common Chinese citizen either doesn't know or doesn't care about the Great Firewall. The ones we see on twitter are the ones who are willing to risk everything to bypass the Firewall and are somewhat radical)

  25. Re:Sigh. We can emulate it. on Unspoofable Device Identity Using Flash Memory · · Score: 1

    System requirements for the technology that you mention include soldering, and a lot of end users don't have the coordination to solder a TSOP or especially a BGA correctly.

    When you say a lot of end users don't, you're implicitly admitting that not all end users don't. So by your own logic there are users who have the coordination to solder correctly. Remind me how this maintains the "unspoofable" part of this "technology" that you seem to be struggling so hard to justify.

    As I said in a comment that you haven't responded to, I don't understand what you're trying to argue.