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User: mungewell

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  1. One 'down side' to ever tighter regulations is the increase of complexity (and cost) of cars, so much that it prevents DIY'ers working on modern cars and supports the service industry of auto-repair - further increasing cost to the end user.

    Pollution levels can be bad in some areas (such as cities like Paris), but any regulation affects all areas. Rural areas would be a lot more tolerant NOx emissions. Also the metric of 'g/km' doesn't really work when you are stationary/crawling along in traffic.

  2. A/V sync command line on Ask Slashdot: Synchronizing Sound With Video, Using Open Source? · · Score: 5, Informative
    I had a recent project which needed to sync Audio from recorder with video from several cameras. I found this project on GitHub which has a command line tool to measure the delta between the high quality audio from recorder and the low quality from the cameras, and then I could just put this offset in my video editor when inserting the clips.

    https://github.com/allisonnico...

  3. Insurance Irony on Hackers Remotely Cut a Corvette's Brakes · · Score: 1

    It seems that some devices like this are provided by the insurance industry to their clients.... and the Charlie Miller write up confirms that there are CAN-BUS commands to lock and unlock the doors. Wonder if these would make an 'interesting" insurance claim?

  4. Re:It is all fun and games... on You Can Now Clone Samsung's Gear VR and Test Your Virtual Reality Apps · · Score: 1
    The Oculus SDK implicitly states that you can use it with non-commercial 3rd party devices (it actually says it the other way around, but it's pretty cool of them either way):

    https://developer.oculus.com/d...
    The Oculus VR Rift SDK may not be used to interface with unapproved commercial virtual reality mobile or non-mobile products or hardware.

    https://developer.oculus.com/d...
    The Oculus Mobile SDK may not be used to interface with unapproved commercial virtual reality mobile or non-mobile products or hardware.

    The other consideration is that the USB ID's used by Oculus' tracker are 'owned' by Oculus, any other company could not legally sell a product using them. However this is not a product, it is a suggestion based around a firmware file ('.hex') for the STM32F3 discovery board (http://www.st.com/web/catalog/tools/FM116/SC959/SS1532/PF254044), which is around $10 from multiple vendors..... now go hack!!

    Obviously with a name like 'mungewell' I am not a lawyer, these are just the opinions of a hacker...

  5. Re: The only fix for vampire draw on Tesla Model S Has Bizarre 'Vampire-Like' Thirst For Electricity At Night · · Score: 1

    OUCH in-deed!! To put this in perspective, I have a off-grid home with solar. We consume around 4.5KW.hr per day. This car (in standby) is consuming as much as my entire household usage.

  6. The Way of the Tosser on Japanese Researchers Build Rock-paper-scissors Robot That Wins 100% of the Time · · Score: 1
  7. Re:Digital? on Lost Star Wars Footage Found On LaserDisc · · Score: 3, Informative

    Wikipedia has a good explanation... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EditDroid

  8. Mis-interpretation of Data on Public Facial Recognition Is Making Gains In Surveillance · · Score: 1

    Whilst it is possible to place a 'snoop' on every street corner, it is costly and impractical. This technology takes away that barrier. What I'm more concerned about is the mis-interpretion of the data.

    For example, for a while I used to regularly drive into a known prostitution area of the local town and exit with a young lady in my car.... it just so happened that I was collecting my girlfriend (now wife) from her University evening class. Place this snippet of mis-information into a database, and it could seriously affect my ability to get a government/classified job - and I might not even be given the reason as to why I am being declined, so as I could challenge it.

  9. Re:Google can fix it with a hammer. on AOSP Maintainer Quits · · Score: 1

    People dont give a shit how a structurally sound a bridge is constructed either, only a tiny tiny % of its users do..

    Yes, but it's those tiny tiny % who either choose to work at Google or support the community around these 'cool' devices. If those people walk away the devices are doomed to failure, regardless of the 'common man'.

  10. Re:Still a flat viewing plane on Triple Monitor Solutions From AMD, Nvidia Face Off · · Score: 2

    The key to good multi-monitor support is render each screen properly, and not just treat them as a super-wide planar monitor. Each screen should be treated as a pane of glass looking into the virtual world behind.

    This forum thread does a good job of explaining how this can work:
    http://www.opengl.org/discussion_boards/showthread.php/147425-Projection-to-a-non-perpendicular-view-plane

    Generally the real benefit is only seen with 1st person views.

  11. Re:Boeing Battery pic on Boeing 787 Dreamliner Grounded In US and EU · · Score: 1, Troll

    So all in all, yes it looks bad, but in actuality the box did its job!

    But the contents of the box is no longer performing it's function... minor as it might be, one presumes that it's not there just for the hell of it. And that's not including the minor inconvience of spewing smoke and scaring the paying customers.

  12. Re:EULAs on Sony Sued Over PSN 'No Suing' Provision · · Score: 1

    You picked a bad analagy there... our 42" DLP TV has never been connected to an aerial/cable feed and we couldn't be happier (programming content is so bad these days I can't understand why anyone would put up with it).

  13. Re:EULAs on Sony Sued Over PSN 'No Suing' Provision · · Score: 0

    Technically the GPLv3 is a EULA, it requires the _user_ of the software to do things. GPLv2 is only in action if you are distributing the software.

  14. Re:Expectation of Privacy on Canada Says Google Wi-Fi Sniffing Collected Personal Data · · Score: 1

    In Canada it is permitted to listening in on _Analogue_ radio signals, providing that the information is not used in action of a crime and is not re-broadcast/told to others.

    However listening _Digital_ transmissions are _NOT_ permitted, so in fact Google did break Canadian law by receiving the said data, even if by mistake. They would be extremely unwise to have done/do anything with data-mining the data.

    Mungewell.
    PS. As people are generally stupid, I have to point out I am not a lawer and could be completely mistaken on my view of reality.

  15. Re:Intelligence test on Apple Lays Out Location Collection Policies · · Score: 1

    Let's just assume it actually works as they say and there isn't some easy way to link the random ID the real phone.

    Don't know about you, but I have a habit of sleeping in my own bed every night, so the fact that each day is allocated a random tag is irrelevant. The last few lat/long logs in the 'previous day' will be the same lat/long logs in the 'next day'. Munge

  16. Re:Loooong term storage on Europeans Bury "Digital DNA" Inside a Mountain · · Score: 1

    Why not a 2D barcode, etched or pin'ed into surface?

    DataMatrix (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datamatrix) can store upto 2335 alpha/3116 digit in a single 144x144 matrix including some pretty robust error checking, they can be 'stacked' in groups of 16. Whilst not easy, these can be decoded by hand and given a 'global standard' it is highly likely that some form of automated decoder would survive whatever disaster you are imagining.

    PS. anything that is a 'visual representation' should not be used as a security token, as it can easily be replicated.

  17. Heavens Above! on What Objects To Focus On For School Astronomy? · · Score: 1

    As well as all the previously mentioned objects (moon/planents/etc.) you could consider man made stuff as well including ISS, satelite 'flashes', radio beacons from satelites.

    There's a real time 'calculator' here:
    http://www.heavens-above.com./

    These would help you students understand orbits.... even just a simple GPS reciver which shows which satellites are above you would be cool.
    Mungewell.

  18. VLC on Affordable and Usable Video Conferencing? · · Score: 1

    I'm suprised no-one else has mentioned it, but VLC has had streaming capabilities for a long time.
    http://www.videolan.org/vlc/streaming.html

    You can also use 'a big fat pipe' and get some really high quality images.
    Mungewell.

  19. Battery Life on A Mobile Phone Mesh That Can Survive Carrier Network Failure · · Score: 2

    Just one comment... battery life. If each user's cell phone had to relay messages on behalf of the 'mesh' it would probably be flat in not much time.

    The HAM radio community already have active emergency planning groups and ideas about setting up disaster communications, the most important aspect is to moderate what makes it onto the airwaves. Watching streaming video of the disaster is probably not needed when a simple broadcast SMS would do.

  20. Re:I have a better security... on WPA Encryption Cracked In 60 Seconds · · Score: 2, Funny

    I have mine set to 'I read your email'.

  21. Re:Document Management Software and OCR on Building a Searchable Literature Archive With Keywords? · · Score: 1

    We are just starting to use Knowledge Tree, and it does have a 'Tag Field' where you can associate searchable keywords with every/any document contained in the system. It also supports the concept of linking documents, so you can manually add specific links between documents.

    If 'you' are just looking to index the text contained in a series of PDFs, why not just use one of the many desktop search engines.
    Mungewell.

  22. Embrase, Extend, Lock-in and Profit on Microsoft Tag, Smartphone-Scannable Barcodes · · Score: 1

    This is not about the technology (the construction of the bar code or the reader software), this is about lock in and a future profit stream for the Microsoft.

    From the FAQ:
    --
    Publisher Use
    Q. What does it cost for publishers or businesses to take advantage of the Microsoft Tag solution?
    During the beta period, commercial use of Microsoft Tag, including generating, using, and receiving consumer analytics data will be provided at no cost.
    --

    The whole point of the 'special' barcode is that it is a 'protected' design and can only be used with permission. There is no such a restriction on Q-Codes or DataMatrix.

    Also with URLS/content stored within the barcode you don't rely on a middleman to provide the dereferencing service (although you can if you so desire - think minimal URL with reference number).

    BTW this format was first used on GameDVDs:
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6570871.stm
    http://www.techshout.com/general/2007/16/microsofts-high-capacity-multicolor-bar-code-licensed-by-isan-to-lend-a-splash-of-color/

    Mungewell.

  23. Webcast on Microsoft to Issue Emergency Patch For File-Sharing Hole · · Score: 1

    We are sorry, due to the popularity of this event, registration is now full. Please search for another event.

    figures.....

  24. Re:I was going to ask... on CDN Forces Reactor Online Against Safety Regulations · · Score: 1

    Unfortunately when it was brought offline and the inspection began, it was found that backup pumps for the cooling system, which Chalk River had believed to be optional from documentation they had, were found to be non-existent. Doesn't it worry you that the absence of these pumps wasn't detected before the plant was brought online in the first place?
    Munge.
  25. Re:Trademark and GPL issues? on MPAA College Toolkit Raises Privacy, Security Concerns · · Score: 1

    2. Since the MPAA is distributing GPL'd software aren't they obligated to provide source code for the kit upon request? The are only obligated to provide source (or patches) to any GPL (and possible other licensed) code which they have modified. They are entitled to have included their own propriatory code in this distribution, they should clarify the licensing restrictions of their own code.

    From the 'user guide' it appears that they have coded in Python. Original scripts may be available in the disk '.iso'

    Mungewell