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User: patmandu

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  1. Re: Lotus and Windows on Goodbye, Lotus 1-2-3 · · Score: 2

    The UI issues changed a lot between the DOS and Windows environments. Because there was a need to maintain the keystroke compatibility (partly necessary because of the way that some macro stuff worked) that compatibility became the focus instead of making a great windows UI. Of course with a huge installed base, it wasn't a tough decision to go in that direction.

    Yes, I was there.

    First there was 1-2-3, then R3 (which included an OS2 and IBM mainframe version), and then windows development started from there...but never quite took hold properly. At the same time there were mac, vms, and sun porting/development efforts going.

    The windows transition was a problem for pretty much all Lotus products, nor just 1-2-3. Magellan was great for DOS...but file manager obsoleted it. Manuscript was great in DOS...but Lotus ended up buying AmiPro as a Windows offering rather than rewriting Manuscript. That move was an early form of the 'buy and rebrand' approach that IBM has perpetuated, not the least of which was buying Lotus as a whole. It's far easier to buy a good fledgeling product and rebrand it than it is to develop something from the ground up and make it great. At least that's the prevailing thinking anyway. Remember that Notes was not developed by IBM...or even Lotus...it was created by Iris. Lotus controlled Iris, IBM bought Lotus, Iris was eventually absorbed and the Notes Server was renamed to Domino.

    As far as open sourcing...Agenda has (had?) an amazing data engine for the day, but the UI was horrible, and nobody could figure out a good real-world use for it. That should have been dusted off about 10 years ago and relaunched.

    Now IBM isn't even in Cambridge/Boston any more (aside from sales presence) and all remaining dev has been moved to Littleton. The 55 Cambridge Parkway and 1 Rogers Street buildings are long devoid of a Lotus/IBM presence.

  2. An ad by any other name on Google Forbids Advertising On Glass · · Score: 1

    Public TV/Radio doesn't have ads either. They have sponsorships, which are of course completely different than advertisements because of the spelling. Was there a ban on sponsorships? How about product placements? Endorsements? Recommendations?

  3. Example of benefit to individual inventors? on Ask Nathan Myhrvold What You Will, Live Q&A April 3 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Can you present examples of how IV has helped individual inventors to get revenue from their inventions? Please include specific names, specific inventions, approximate revenue seen by the inventor, and current status of the invention-related product(s) and ownership of the patent(s).

  4. All or none...halfway makes no sense on FAA Pushed To Review Ban On Electronics · · Score: 1

    At the root of this is the flight attendant: The proposal is to allow readers...but not cellphones. Is a Kindle HD a reader? How about an iPad mini...with cell data? What about a Raspberry Pi based homebuilt device? How do they tell? All this would do would be push the problem into the attendant's laps and require them to be expert in what devices are allowed and be able to identify them by sight. It's easier to just say 'it's all gotta be turned off' than it is to sort out what's allowed and what's not. All or nothing, but...the halfway stuff is unenforceable nonsense.

    Personally, I think they should allow it all Thousands of flights happen every day with cellphones powered on and active just by forgetfulness alone. Some smaller percentage of flights also happen every day with deliberate usage of these devices.

  5. Outsourcing...what could possibly go wrong? on Utilities Racing To Secure Electric Grid · · Score: 1

    And I'll give you two guesses where the original coding work was outsourced to...

  6. Does this mean that Schrödinger... on Parcel Sensor Knows When Your Delivery Has Been Dropped · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...can finally know if he should sign for that mail-order cat?

  7. I got nabbed by a robocam in Baltimore too on Baltimore Issued Speed Camera Ticket To Motionless Car · · Score: 1

    About 6 months ago. My first speeding ticket in 35 years of driving. And curiously it was for 38 in a 25. Hmm...might have to dig out that info again...

  8. Congratulations! on Climbing 103 Floors On a 'Bionic' Leg · · Score: 2

    That must have felt good...

  9. Tnetennba is no longer the longest Countdown word on WW2 Carrier Pigeon and Undecoded Message Found In Chimney · · Score: 1

    Obviously it already is a word, and now unseats Tnetennba as Moss' longest countdown word.

  10. Re:Halleluja! on FTC Whacks "Rachel From Card Holder Services" · · Score: 1

    Yep, I got a call from Card Services this morning. I'm glad they made some headway, but...I suspect other players will come in to fill the void.

  11. iOS? on Verizon Offers Free Tethering Because It Has To · · Score: 1

    Not that they need to improve their standing, but Apple could score a LOT of points here by allowing a tethering app into the App Store so iOS users could use this feature also...

  12. Streaming only...and loving it! on Ask Slashdot: Are You Streaming-Only For Home Entertainment? · · Score: 1

    We did have the 'every channel under the sun' package, but typically we were watching stuff through Mythdora anyway, so...we cut back to basic cable. That still wasn't really worth it, so...

    We ditched the TV programming on our cable subscription about a year ago and now only get internet through Time Warner. 2 Roku boxes and a wii...love it.

    As an added bonus (?) apparently the tech hasn't caught up to this sort of situation yet, so we still got about 20 digital channels, and a handful of analog ones even after we were 'shut off' so we still get some cable programming. Not that we watch it more than an hour or so per month.

    Netflix - best thing since sliced bread. Priced right, we do the DVDs along with the streaming, LOTS to watch. I've got nothing against reruns, mostly because you *know* it's going to be good vs. the crap that's being broadcast currently.

    Hulu - eh. it's OK, had it for about 4 months now, but they don't add new content quickly enough, and I've already exhausted most of the stuff I am interested in, so I'll probably cancel it.

    Amazon - well...I was a prime member anyway, so I use it occasionally, but...not worth it otherwise. I've yet to notice them add any content since their initial release.

    Crackle - nice stuff...still getting their act together, but for a commercial-supported free service, they have some really good offerings in their catalog. If they can keep the catalog fresh, they'll do very well.

    Youtube - actually somewhat useful from time to time

    At this point, I'm really thinking we're in the 'too good to last' stage of streaming. I'm waiting for TW to come knocking at the door with a new fee for streaming, or some sort of bandwidth cap/throttling. It's nice while it lasts though.

  13. collegeboard.com affected on Epsilon Data Breach Bigger Than Just Kroger Customers' Data · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Just got this email:

    CollegeBoard.com
    We have been informed by Epsilon, the vendor that sends email to you on our behalf, that your e-mail address may have been exposed by unauthorized entry into their system.

    Epsilon has assured us that the only information that may have been obtained was your first and last name and e-mail address. REST ASSURED THAT THIS VENDOR DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER MORE SENSITIVE INFORMATION SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR CREDIT CARD DATA.

    Please note, it is possible you may receive spam e-mail messages as a result. We want to urge you to be cautious when opening links or attachments from unknown third parties.

    In keeping with standard security practices, the College Board will never ask you to provide or confirm any information, including credit card numbers, unless you are on a secure College Board site.

    Epsilon has reported this incident to, and is working with, the appropriate authorities.

    We regret this has taken place and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. We take your privacy very seriously, and we will continue to work diligently to protect your personal information.

    Sincerely,

    The College Board

  14. Political robocalls too? on FTC Rules Outlawing Robocalls Go Into Effect Next Week · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...or did they make sure to keep that loophole in there for themselves again...

  15. Watermelon makes a great Viagra substitute too! on Watermelon Juice Makes Great Biofuel · · Score: 1

    First peanuts were good for everything, now this. Same idea, only bigger...and green...and red...and much juicer. It's truly the wonder fruit. See here

  16. This opens a whole new angle on NASA Names Space Station Treadmill After Colbert · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe we could get the toilets named RIAA or something?

  17. Direct Deposit can be reversed on Microsoft Asks For a Refund From Laid-Off Workers [updated] · · Score: 1

    ...and if the payment was given to the (ex) employee via direct deposit, MS can very easily retract the deposit, and then issue a second one in the 'correct' amount. Or not. Overdraft after the retraction? Sorry, not our problem. That's part of the fine print of the direct deposit agreement. They can effectively make withdrawals too...

    BTDT. I had a final paycheck retracted after they decided to re-calculate my vacation day balance and needed to subtract a day. Caused all sorts of havoc.

  18. Happened to me *without a typo* on RoadRunner Intercepting Domain Typos · · Score: 1

    Just to add that crowning touch, I got their stupid ad page on a saved bookmark. The url was completely valid, the site was up...just some sort of DNS timeout (how convenient) that invoked their ad page.

    A few clicks later and I opted out (gee, can I?) and got to the site I was originally after.

    Just think of it...RR is essentially putting up click-through ad pages based on what URL I enter, or what links I follow. Golly, just what I was hoping for.

  19. Re:4 bars on the moon on NASA Plans Lunar Mobile Phone Network · · Score: 1

    Two astronauts walk into one of the 4 bars on the moon, and...

  20. I'd like to place a take-out order... on NASA Plans Lunar Mobile Phone Network · · Score: 1

    Those wacky colonists are up to their tricks again!

  21. Heck, I'd chip in... on Darl McBride Leaving SCO? · · Score: 1

    ...let's raise $100mil and get this clown out of there. Isn't it worth that much to have him gone? Then again, he has provided a lot of entertainment over the years... :)

  22. Re:must be better than what they used before on Colorado Decertifies E-voting Machines · · Score: 1

    You mean like No Voting Machine Left Behind?

  23. Remember kids, you can't spell penis without... on Colorado Decertifies E-voting Machines · · Score: 0, Troll

    ...Premier Election Solutions (PES)!

  24. Global warming!! on Microsoft Plans Data Center in Siberia · · Score: 1

    We must stop the evil! We'll have Microsoft pumping out tens of thousands of calories into the Siberian air. Is this some devious form of terraforming? Will Siberia's environment slowly be altered to match that of Redmond in preparation for the colonization? Will Siberia be flooded with the resulting rain?

    Enquiring minds...

  25. Kiss neutral traffic access goodbye... on Comcast May Face Lawsuits Over BitTorrent Filtering · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I think this was a pretty underhanded move by Comcast, and the conspiracy theorists among us can probably find the RIAA behind the move. I don't think it's right.

    Having said that...

    Remember when the Green Card Lottery spam first went out? Everyone was up in arms about it, threats and lawsuits were coming from all sides...sound familiar? And that stopped the spam problem dead in it's tracks, right?

    Same thing here. This is just the first volley. They're testing the waters. In 5 years it'll be commonplace for the ISP to disrupt/block/delay traffic as they see fit.

    I hope I'm wrong. Smells like censorship to me.