What kind of flamebait is this story? I bought the very same top of the line Macbook pro from the effected years. It's maximum cost fully fleshed out was $2500 for the best of everything Apple offered, yet this story indicates it cost him some $4000 dollars.
As to the cause of the failure, the issue with the video cards created a very specific problem (black screen/flickering, or white screen). The Macbook would still boot (you could hear it do so and even see various services like iChat start via online presence). I should know, as I was also affected by this issue. Apple replaced my motherboard free of charge at 3 years and 10 months without charge, even though I had never purchased an extended warranty, or anything of the sort.
The difference? Mine matched the symptoms of the failure, not a general motherboard failure.
It doesn't get much more personal if the consequences had such real world ramifications. Researchers need to be responsible with research. There will always be a human element that should be considered. As I said, it's easy to make off he cuff decisions without looking at the potential risks or taking responsibility. I think it's irresponsible to do so until they have a vaccine.
And if said virus killed your family? It's easy to make off the cuff statements that 'censorship' is bad, when researchers also have a responsibility to think of the ramifications of their research.
The invention of flight had obvious benefits to the scientific community and the general population. Mutating a virus to be more deadly isn't quite the same. Although research could evolve from it that proves to be beneficial, the immediate result of this research is not. This is also potentially far more deadly than a plane flying into a building. It could have global consequences if misused with the potential to kill far more than 9/11.
Really wish MS would stop with all of the micromanaged 'versions' of Windows. It adds complexity where none is needed. A home user doesn't need those features but it doesn't hurt to include them. A business user probably doesn't need media center features but again it doesn't hurt to include them. I don't know what their 'game' is here as I don't see a profit motive for splitting up all of these offerings. Are they seriously hoping someone will buy two different versions to get everything they need?
Also, what's with the X86/X64 offerings? Any decent OS should allow you to just boot into the proper kernel. Requiring a dedicated install to switch between x86/x64 is just stupid not to put too fine a point on it.
Read the article again. The suit was filed in a US court before Motorola then went to Germany and file a suit for patent infringement with two key FRAND patents in this case (they are asking MS for %2.25 of it's sales price/unit). The judge's position is that Motorola is seeking to use the threat of injunction in Germany to try to force MS to settle for less reasonable terms before the U.S. judge makes his decision. The judge agreed that Motorola was attempting to pre-empt a decision by the U.S. court to their advantage.
The meat of the article is here:
Issuing the order preventing Motorola from enforcing a German injunction caused the least amount of harm, Robart said. If he had allowed Motorola to enforce a German injunction, Microsoft might have needed to remove its Windows products from the German market, or the company could have decided to negotiate a license, but only with the threat of an injunction hanging over its head. Granting Microsoft's request, however, simply requires Motorola to maintain the status quo, he said.
At a hearing on Wednesday, Motorola's lawyer argued that Robart shouldn't interfere in the German case because the actions in the German court will have no impact on any ruling the U.S. judge might make in the future. Should the German court set a licensing rate that the U.S. court later ruled was too high, the U.S. courts could compel Motorola to pay back Microsoft for what it overpaid, said Jess Jenner, a lawyer with Ropes and Gray who represents Motorola.
Robart didn't support that reasoning. "The court is not persuaded by this argument," Robart said.
In addition, Jenner argued that the U.S. could set different rates for different regions of the world.
Motorola has offered Microsoft a worldwide license that would require Microsoft to pay Motorola 2.25 percent of the end-user price of the product. Motorola assumed that that percentage would change and that Microsoft would ask for different rates in different countries, Jenner said. "Parties in a negotiation situation always make an opening offer. Nobody assumes that Microsoft will say 'that's great, where do we send the check,'" he said. Typically, the licensee examines each company's patent holdings in different countries and negotiates different rates in different markets, he said. Motorola has negotiated "dozens" of license agreements like that, he said.
But both Microsoft and the judge noted that Motorola's offer to Microsoft was for a worldwide license. The judge also pointed out that Motorola's offer included both U.S. and international patents. "If Motorola didn't want foreign patents subject to this court it would not have offered them to Microsoft," he said.
Motorola is a global company, and they have vested interests in the U.S.. Given Motorola's apparently willingness to extort companies on F/RAND patents, I don't have much pity for them.
You do realize the entire board that approved this was voted out in the next election cycle? Claiming everyone in the bible belt supports this kind of thing is disingenuous at best.
Exactly what it is. If I had my child in a Tennessee school and the Teacher started using tax payer money to advance creationism, I would be the first to line up to sue the school, and I hope that is exactly what happens. Tax payer money should not be used to fund religious teachings and any state that thinks this is ok deserves to be hit with a lawsuit.
For the reasons that follow, we conclude that the religious nature of ID [intelligent design] would be readily apparent to an objective observer, adult or child. (page 24) A significant aspect of the IDM [intelligent design movement] is that despite Defendants' protestations to the contrary, it describes ID as a religious argument. In that vein, the writings of leading ID proponents reveal that the designer postulated by their argument is the God of Christianity. (page 26) The evidence at trial demonstrates that ID is nothing less than the progeny of creationism. (page 31) The overwhelming evidence at trial established that ID is a religious view, a mere re-labeling of creationism, and not a scientific theory. (page 43) Throughout the trial and in various submissions to the Court, Defendants vigorously argue that the reading of the statement is not ‘teaching’ ID but instead is merely ‘making students aware of it.’ In fact, one consistency among the Dover School Board members' testimony, which was marked by selective memories and outright lies under oath, as will be discussed in more detail below, is that they did not think they needed to be knowledgeable about ID because it was not being taught to the students. We disagree..... an educator reading the disclaimer is engaged in teaching, even if it is colossally bad teaching..... Defendants’ argument is a red herring because the Establishment Clause forbids not just 'teaching' religion, but any governmental action that endorses or has the primary purpose or effect of advancing religion. (footnote 7 on page 46) After a searching review of the record and applicable caselaw, we find that while ID arguments may be true, a proposition on which the Court takes no position, ID is not science. We find that ID fails on three different levels, any one of which is sufficient to preclude a determination that ID is science. They are: (1) ID violates the centuries-old ground rules of science by invoking and permitting supernatural causation; (2) the argument of irreducible complexity, central to ID, employs the same flawed and illogical contrived dualism that doomed creation science in the 1980s; and (3) ID's negative attacks on evolution have been refuted by the scientific community. It is additionally important to note that ID has failed to gain acceptance in the scientific community, it has not generated peer-reviewed publications, nor has it been the subject of testing and research. Expert testimony reveals that since the scientific revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries, science has been limited to the search for natural causes to explain natural phenomena. (page 64) [T]he one textbook [Pandas] to which the Dover ID Policy directs students contains outdated concepts and flawed science, as recognized by even the defense experts in this case. (pages 86–87) ID's backers have sought to avoid the scientific scrutiny which we have now determined that it cannot withstand by advocating that the controversy, but not ID itself, should be taught in science class. This tactic is at best disingenuous, and at worst a canard. The goal of the IDM is not to encourage critical thought, but to foment a revolution which would supplant evolutionary theory with ID. (page 89) Accordingly, we find that the secular purposes claimed by the Board amount to a pretext for the Board's real purpose, which was to promote religion in the publi
Odd. I had a MacBook affected by a bad nvidia card and Apple replaced the motherboard free of charge on hardware long out of warranty (4 years old). This is not a refusal to acknowledge an issue to my mind.
They lead the industry in satisfaction. Reality would tend to differ with your example.
Although this is probably a good practice, it is irrelevant to the story. It shouldn't matter if she keeps her personal and work contacts separate. The heart of the matter is that this is 'her' Facebook page. It is private, and none of her employers business as to what she posts there. If a judge orders her to reveal her password, that's a different matter, but her employer has no legal grounds to order and expect obedience for such regardless of who she friends, what combination she friends them with, or what content she posts.
Another reason not to "friend" everyone you know. Seriously, if you want to keep personal and work separate, keep it separate! No one I work with is on my Facebook.
I have to wonder if this won't present legal challenges to Sony. Although I understand their reasons, since when is it illegal to sell something you've purchased? There are some ties here to licensing, but the ability to sell used titles already exists and as far as I know, hasn't faced any serious legal challenges.
Except for the fact that it's advertised right on the package that in Australia, only 3G speeds will be available. The information is listed on the outside of the box above the model number according to iFixit:
I'm not certain about Android, but iPhone offers the option (Settings -> General -> Passcode Lock) to wipe your phone after 10 attempts. This is the same area where you can disable the 'simple' passcode 4 number pin. I'm assuming this method of hardware brute force cracking the phone allows them to bypass that of course. Sufficient for casual folks trying to hack into your phone at least. I assume Android has similar options.
Certainly. Even an iPhone allows you to set any password of any length that you like. The 4 digit passcode is the default but you don't have to use it. I always set at least an 8 character code.
From TFA:
Dicksinson acknowledges that users who set longer passcodes for devices can in fact make the devices far tougher to crack. “The more complex the password, the longer and harder it’s going to be to access the phone,” he says. “In some cases, it takes so long to brute force that it’s not worth doing it.”
In short, longer passwords tougher to crack by brute force and potentially not worth the time. Seriously this is a non-story other than the fact that there should be a warning on all mobile phones that a 4 digit pin is this decades WEP.
Most trojans don't state "I'm asking for access to your contacts so I can sell your address to Russian spammers". They ask if they can 'access you contacts".
Claiming the malware affecting Android somehow warns people up front as to exactly what it's going to do is disingeneous. It warns what areas it will access, but not what the intent is, and for a non-technical person, that equates to rather pointless information.
The only reason Google is doing this is because this could directly effect them. If they link to copyrighted content, they could be held liable. This has nothing to do with 'standing up for the rights of geeks everyone' or whatever drivel the summary is espousing.
I agree, the fanboi responses to this are sounding dangerous, if not outright delusional.
This is a business decision, and a smart one on Google's part. The fact that it's good for joe user is a side effect. Nothing more.
Excellent, although the software I use may be a component in that. Volume controls are also located on the headset. I'm using a Cisco IP phone which has some software 'enhancement' for sound to mimic certain types of phones, so that may be a factor.
I just reviewed the specs. I didn't realize the latest model I have is indeed using a wireless phone frequency, not bluetooth. My previous Plantronics was bluetooth but this one appears to be radio. That would explain the range;)
900Mhz area, so something to consider if you think it might conflict with other wireless devices.
I own a two story home, and regularly walk upstairs, in the back yard, and the front yard to get mail. The range is impressive, especially for a bluetooth headset. The only weak spot is the battery, which is rechargeable when it's placed on the headset holder, but mine typically last for about 2 years before they don't hold a charge well. This normally doesn't cause issues unless you get paged on a weekend and the phone doesn't have 10-15 minutes to charge up before dialing in. Fortunately the battery is easily replaceable. They are also easy to find. My dog ate my first one and I got a replacement at Office Depot.
Just realized I forgot one tidbit. If you do get an IP Phone, get a decent office quality bluetooth headset. I use a Plantronics CS50-USB. Makes walking around easy while working. Has at least a good 75-100 foot range in my home. Also has a mute button on the headset which is a must-have feature for household noise from family, pets, etc.
I see this type of post every time, and after a decade of telecommuting myself, I can tell you it's pretty much bunk with a few provisos. Unless you are easily distracted buy any sound, then you don't need a work cave to work in. Your first few weeks at home will seem like a holiday. Enjoy them while they last, because while every noise will initially be distracting, movies on TV, tunes on the radio, eventually reality sets in and your deadlines start looming and all of that will become background noise.
If you are concerned initially you can invest in an office and then work your way out of it to a more comfortable setting. if you are typical worker, then you already face typical distractions at work and being at home is no different. Depending on your tolerance level you may need to abstain from things like a TV in the background. Test your limits.
Communication is key. Is is very easy to become isolated at home. Avoid doing everything by email. Odd as it sounds, that becomes more attractive the longer you work from home.
Take breaks. Although it's common to take breaks while in an office, it's much more difficult to do at home oddly enough. You tend to be 'on' for your full 8 hours, even when eating. Stop every so often, get out for lunch. Make yourself do so at least a time or two a week.
Avoid scheduling service calls while working if possible, especially with dogs (of applicable). It tends to throw your day into havoc with dogs barking, door bells ringing, maine people in your home asking questions, all while trying to do 'business'.
Ensure you have a phone with a mute button. You will be surprised how often it becomes necessary when a family member or a pet is making noise while on conference calls
Get the necessary gear for an IP Phone. Your cell bill will thank you.
Ensure you have local admin on your workstation. This isn't always necessary for an office user, it can be very necessary for a home user with a need to tweak a setting without driving into the office to get some desktop person to 'fix' something you could easily do yourself.
Organize everything in your calendar for both home and work. It is unavoidable that you will start scheduling things during your work day. Make absolutely certain you give yourself plenty of warning when there are possible conflicts. Also ensure that your work-mates will know when you are avail or not. IM is ideal for for presence. Make sure you use it. Ensure people honor your availability. It becomes VERY easy for people to assume you are always available since you are at home. Be polite but firm.
Last but not least, enjoy it a little. Work in your PJ's, or even naked often, but be prepared for a video call at a moments notice if so equipped.
Lastly, Avoid touching yourself while on conference or video calls. That's just creepy.
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What kind of flamebait is this story? I bought the very same top of the line Macbook pro from the effected years. It's maximum cost fully fleshed out was $2500 for the best of everything Apple offered, yet this story indicates it cost him some $4000 dollars.
As to the cause of the failure, the issue with the video cards created a very specific problem (black screen/flickering, or white screen). The Macbook would still boot (you could hear it do so and even see various services like iChat start via online presence). I should know, as I was also affected by this issue. Apple replaced my motherboard free of charge at 3 years and 10 months without charge, even though I had never purchased an extended warranty, or anything of the sort.
The difference? Mine matched the symptoms of the failure, not a general motherboard failure.
It doesn't get much more personal if the consequences had such real world ramifications. Researchers need to be responsible with research. There will always be a human element that should be considered. As I said, it's easy to make off he cuff decisions without looking at the potential risks or taking responsibility. I think it's irresponsible to do so until they have a vaccine.
And if said virus killed your family? It's easy to make off the cuff statements that 'censorship' is bad, when researchers also have a responsibility to think of the ramifications of their research.
The invention of flight had obvious benefits to the scientific community and the general population. Mutating a virus to be more deadly isn't quite the same. Although research could evolve from it that proves to be beneficial, the immediate result of this research is not. This is also potentially far more deadly than a plane flying into a building. It could have global consequences if misused with the potential to kill far more than 9/11.
They are not the same.
And if a terrorist group uses that research to kill thousands or millions? Will you still feel its justified?
Really wish MS would stop with all of the micromanaged 'versions' of Windows. It adds complexity where none is needed. A home user doesn't need those features but it doesn't hurt to include them. A business user probably doesn't need media center features but again it doesn't hurt to include them. I don't know what their 'game' is here as I don't see a profit motive for splitting up all of these offerings. Are they seriously hoping someone will buy two different versions to get everything they need?
Also, what's with the X86/X64 offerings? Any decent OS should allow you to just boot into the proper kernel. Requiring a dedicated install to switch between x86/x64 is just stupid not to put too fine a point on it.
Read the article again. The suit was filed in a US court before Motorola then went to Germany and file a suit for patent infringement with two key FRAND patents in this case (they are asking MS for %2.25 of it's sales price/unit). The judge's position is that Motorola is seeking to use the threat of injunction in Germany to try to force MS to settle for less reasonable terms before the U.S. judge makes his decision. The judge agreed that Motorola was attempting to pre-empt a decision by the U.S. court to their advantage.
The meat of the article is here:
Motorola is a global company, and they have vested interests in the U.S.. Given Motorola's apparently willingness to extort companies on F/RAND patents, I don't have much pity for them.
You'd be surprised...
http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-31/news/31008527_1_bible-belt-church-and-state-pennsylvania
You do realize the entire board that approved this was voted out in the next election cycle? Claiming everyone in the bible belt supports this kind of thing is disingenuous at best.
Exactly what it is. If I had my child in a Tennessee school and the Teacher started using tax payer money to advance creationism, I would be the first to line up to sue the school, and I hope that is exactly what happens. Tax payer money should not be used to fund religious teachings and any state that thinks this is ok deserves to be hit with a lawsuit.
Stupidity at it's finest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitzmiller_v._Dover_Area_School_District
Odd. I had a MacBook affected by a bad nvidia card and Apple replaced the motherboard free of charge on hardware long out of warranty (4 years old). This is not a refusal to acknowledge an issue to my mind.
They lead the industry in satisfaction. Reality would tend to differ with your example.
Interesting that should you mention that ;)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-wooledge/microsoft-apple-unite-to-_b_1394821.html
Although this is probably a good practice, it is irrelevant to the story. It shouldn't matter if she keeps her personal and work contacts separate. The heart of the matter is that this is 'her' Facebook page. It is private, and none of her employers business as to what she posts there. If a judge orders her to reveal her password, that's a different matter, but her employer has no legal grounds to order and expect obedience for such regardless of who she friends, what combination she friends them with, or what content she posts.
I have to wonder if this won't present legal challenges to Sony. Although I understand their reasons, since when is it illegal to sell something you've purchased? There are some ties here to licensing, but the ability to sell used titles already exists and as far as I know, hasn't faced any serious legal challenges.
Is there a lawyer in the house?
Except for the fact that it's advertised right on the package that in Australia, only 3G speeds will be available. The information is listed on the outside of the box above the model number according to iFixit:
http://guide-images.ifixit.net/igi/Kdi1XOouIp1VDAoN.medium
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad-3-4G-Teardown/8277/1
I'm not certain about Android, but iPhone offers the option (Settings -> General -> Passcode Lock) to wipe your phone after 10 attempts. This is the same area where you can disable the 'simple' passcode 4 number pin. I'm assuming this method of hardware brute force cracking the phone allows them to bypass that of course. Sufficient for casual folks trying to hack into your phone at least. I assume Android has similar options.
Certainly. Even an iPhone allows you to set any password of any length that you like. The 4 digit passcode is the default but you don't have to use it. I always set at least an 8 character code.
From TFA:
In short, longer passwords tougher to crack by brute force and potentially not worth the time. Seriously this is a non-story other than the fact that there should be a warning on all mobile phones that a 4 digit pin is this decades WEP.
Most trojans don't state "I'm asking for access to your contacts so I can sell your address to Russian spammers". They ask if they can 'access you contacts".
Claiming the malware affecting Android somehow warns people up front as to exactly what it's going to do is disingeneous. It warns what areas it will access, but not what the intent is, and for a non-technical person, that equates to rather pointless information.
That would be a very convenient truth....
The only reason Google is doing this is because this could directly effect them. If they link to copyrighted content, they could be held liable. This has nothing to do with 'standing up for the rights of geeks everyone' or whatever drivel the summary is espousing.
I agree, the fanboi responses to this are sounding dangerous, if not outright delusional.
This is a business decision, and a smart one on Google's part. The fact that it's good for joe user is a side effect. Nothing more.
Excellent, although the software I use may be a component in that. Volume controls are also located on the headset. I'm using a Cisco IP phone which has some software 'enhancement' for sound to mimic certain types of phones, so that may be a factor.
I just reviewed the specs. I didn't realize the latest model I have is indeed using a wireless phone frequency, not bluetooth. My previous Plantronics was bluetooth but this one appears to be radio. That would explain the range ;)
900Mhz area, so something to consider if you think it might conflict with other wireless devices.
It is. The base plugs into the PC via USB. I assume that's where it gets it's range from. The 'headset' wireless part docks into that for charging.
I own a two story home, and regularly walk upstairs, in the back yard, and the front yard to get mail. The range is impressive, especially for a bluetooth headset. The only weak spot is the battery, which is rechargeable when it's placed on the headset holder, but mine typically last for about 2 years before they don't hold a charge well. This normally doesn't cause issues unless you get paged on a weekend and the phone doesn't have 10-15 minutes to charge up before dialing in. Fortunately the battery is easily replaceable. They are also easy to find. My dog ate my first one and I got a replacement at Office Depot.
Just realized I forgot one tidbit. If you do get an IP Phone, get a decent office quality bluetooth headset. I use a Plantronics CS50-USB. Makes walking around easy while working. Has at least a good 75-100 foot range in my home. Also has a mute button on the headset which is a must-have feature for household noise from family, pets, etc.
I see this type of post every time, and after a decade of telecommuting myself, I can tell you it's pretty much bunk with a few provisos. Unless you are easily distracted buy any sound, then you don't need a work cave to work in. Your first few weeks at home will seem like a holiday. Enjoy them while they last, because while every noise will initially be distracting, movies on TV, tunes on the radio, eventually reality sets in and your deadlines start looming and all of that will become background noise.
If you are concerned initially you can invest in an office and then work your way out of it to a more comfortable setting. if you are typical worker, then you already face typical distractions at work and being at home is no different. Depending on your tolerance level you may need to abstain from things like a TV in the background. Test your limits.
Communication is key. Is is very easy to become isolated at home. Avoid doing everything by email. Odd as it sounds, that becomes more attractive the longer you work from home.
Take breaks. Although it's common to take breaks while in an office, it's much more difficult to do at home oddly enough. You tend to be 'on' for your full 8 hours, even when eating. Stop every so often, get out for lunch. Make yourself do so at least a time or two a week.
Avoid scheduling service calls while working if possible, especially with dogs (of applicable). It tends to throw your day into havoc with dogs barking, door bells ringing, maine people in your home asking questions, all while trying to do 'business'.
Ensure you have a phone with a mute button. You will be surprised how often it becomes necessary when a family member or a pet is making noise while on conference calls
Get the necessary gear for an IP Phone. Your cell bill will thank you.
Ensure you have local admin on your workstation. This isn't always necessary for an office user, it can be very necessary for a home user with a need to tweak a setting without driving into the office to get some desktop person to 'fix' something you could easily do yourself.
Organize everything in your calendar for both home and work. It is unavoidable that you will start scheduling things during your work day. Make absolutely certain you give yourself plenty of warning when there are possible conflicts. Also ensure that your work-mates will know when you are avail or not. IM is ideal for for presence. Make sure you use it. Ensure people honor your availability. It becomes VERY easy for people to assume you are always available since you are at home. Be polite but firm.
Last but not least, enjoy it a little. Work in your PJ's, or even naked often, but be prepared for a video call at a moments notice if so equipped.
Lastly, Avoid touching yourself while on conference or video calls. That's just creepy.