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User: wbr1

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Comments · 2,115

  1. Re:What whas the problem in the first place? on TrueCrypt Author Claims That Forking Is Impossible · · Score: 3, Informative

    Code review did not find it to be a clean product. They simply found that the Windows binary that was distributed could be produced from the source code. IE there were no extras in that bin. Whether the code itself has crap in it is still at question and is being audited.

  2. 1994-95 on X Window System Turns 30 Years Old · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Was in school, supposedly the first community college on the internet (ISDN to UVa across town) and we had NeXt workstations. I do not remember if they used X11, but that clued me into Unix. Later that year we wanted to get our gopher and mosaic servers on a better box, so I took an amazing 486DX2 and setup Slackware. There I know I saw X (although it was later removed from the server). IIRC I downloaded the entire set of Slackware discs directly to floppy using FTP from Sunsite the first time and NFS the second from UIUC (after searching hours for open NFS exports in the mirror lists). I did it directly to floppy as I did not have enough HDD space for the files and the currently running OS. I think that was Linux kernel 1.2.10. Am I old?

  3. Not evil.... on Google: Indie Musicians Must Join Streaming Service Or Be Removed · · Score: 1, Insightful

    First, as pointed out, it is removed from YouTube, not google search results. This is annoying to the artists, but Youtube belongs to google. They set the terms for you hosting videos there at no cost to you. If the terms are unfair, simply go elsewhere. Perhaps Vimeo. Google is not killing babies or clubbing seals or blackmailing your momma to get you to publish on their streaming service. In fact, I do not know that their streaming service has much share against the likes of iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, Spotify, etc. Many of these companies do not offer good rates either. However, the market will see who wins here, and forcing people over seems like a mistake that will not aid Google's streaming servies in the long run.

  4. Re:Fact Check on Time Warner Sells Telecom Business to Level 3 · · Score: 1

    Editing "The editing process can involve ... work."

    Edited to show what the /. eds avoid.

  5. Re:What happens if on Bitcoin Security Endangered By Powerful Mining Pool · · Score: 1
    You could not use your ownership of the pool to steal coins. The work done validates transactions. You could double spend, or deny transactions, but to my knowledge not forge them. But I am a crypto currency newb so I may be wrong.

    However the cost to even attempt it would be exceedingly prohibitive.

  6. Re:this has nothing to do with salmon on Study: Deforestation Depletes Fish Stocks · · Score: 1

    I am so glad someone got the joke. Congrats on the fake internet points.

  7. Re:this has nothing to do with salmon on Study: Deforestation Depletes Fish Stocks · · Score: 1

    Bears also excrete the used salmon back out.

  8. Re:This worked for the NSA on After Non-Profit Application Furor, IRS Says It's Lost 2 Years Of Lerner's Email · · Score: 0

    Where are my mod points? +1

  9. Re:Not doing it right on AT&T Says Customer Data Accessed To Unlock Smartphones · · Score: 2

    Even though it is not recommended, many, many organizations use the SSN as a unique identifier. See http://consumersunion.org/news...

  10. Re:94% of "nature's true palette"? on Samsung Debuts Thin Galaxy Tab S With Super AMOLED 2560X1600 Display · · Score: 1

    I assume they actually mean 94% of the colours humans can see - unless this thing can spit out X-rays.

    That is part of their new user/ad tracking software.

  11. Re:cyanogenmod? on New Permission System Could Make Android Much Less Secure · · Score: 1

    Good info. I haven't used cyanogenmod for some time, so I was not aware that was baked in. I used to use an app on my rooted devices (regardless of android build) for it, but now I am just picky about what apps I actually install.

  12. Re:cyanogenmod? on New Permission System Could Make Android Much Less Secure · · Score: 4, Informative
    No. Rooting will allow you to remove unwanted apps that are locked on by the manufacture or carrier, as well as give you access to the entire file system.
    Using an alternate rom (ie cyanogenmod) will allow you to use different android versions, with different (or no add on) UI. These are things like touchwiz or HTC Sense. The permisions system for apps remains the same. Also, cyanogenmod and other ROMS may not support all your hardware or be stable (but then again some carrier builds are not that great either).

    There are programs that when rooted will allow you to block access of apps to certain subsystems, giving finer grained control, but it is not automatic, you have to go in and do it yourself, and that is regardless of the ROM/android version.

  13. Adding flaws to flaws on New Permission System Could Make Android Much Less Secure · · Score: 1
    The system was already flawed in that normal users could not lock out permissions from specific apps. In addition, not many pay attention to the permissions used by an app anyway.

    If users aren't paying attention (I do, my flashligh widged and scientific calculator do not need SMS or contact access thank you), then no amount of tweaking by adding or removing complexity will help.

    As much as I hate walled gardens, I guess the hope is that the play store is well curated enough to remove most significant threats.

  14. Re:Liability on Comcast Converting 50,000 Houston Home Routers Into Public WiFi Hotspots · · Score: 5, Funny

    Opting out should never be considered a reasonable mechanism for not being in a subscription group unless you have first opted in.

    Why are you poking me?????

    Because! You are in my new hourly poke subscription! It is free and fun! If you prefer you can opt-out by simply filling out this paperwork.

    Oh... we are sorry to see you go. But rejoice! By opting out of the pok of the hour group you have been automatically subscribed to the 15 minute nipple pinch! (opt out instructions below.)

  15. Re:Liability on Comcast Converting 50,000 Houston Home Routers Into Public WiFi Hotspots · · Score: 1
    If the router is smart enough to run 2 different networks, then the modem side of the router can also conceivably make 2 connections. with the customers IP and the public hotspot IP. Also, even if this is not the case, router logs should indicate the MAC address of the infringing client since it is also serving as the access point.

    The former would also allow comcast to continue running the public hotspot, even in the event of customer nonpayment and soft (sandboxed bootfile) disconnect.

    This is one reason to only use your own router, even if you must use the providers modem. You can control the software/logs/etc. and the only MAC the modem sees is the WiFi router.

  16. Please quit conflating TV's and monitors. on 4K Displays Ready For Prime Time · · Score: 2, Insightful
    The burst of HD purchases, and the resultant gimmicks were largely for home TV use. The display reviewed is spoken of being used as a display device for a computer. More specifically for PC gaming. The two are NOT the same. Please quit comparing them.

    I may have use of a 4k monitor. I doubt I will ever need a 4K tv, even if source material were readily available. My rarely watched 1080p does just fine. Most consumers would likely agree. For TV/Movie viewing 4k IS a gimmick.

  17. Re:The people that invent things must be compensat on Study: Royalty Charges Almost On Par With Component Costs For Smartphones · · Score: 1

    Who is speaking? The smaller guys... artists, indie game crews, new egg.. they are fighting. The only ones espousing a point similar to yours are those who are gigantic, worth billions, and only wish to hold onto and amass more billions. Oh and those that troll using the laws to skim off the top.

  18. Re:The people that invent things must be compensat on Study: Royalty Charges Almost On Par With Component Costs For Smartphones · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Interesting fact. In america , recipes are not subject to copyright or patent. General mills, and other cereal makers, as well as other food companies rely on jealously guarded trade secrets. This does not stop generic copy cat foods (is store brand sodas and generic cereals) from being made. In fact they proliferate. Some are indistinguishable or better than the original. Some are junk.

    This is the market in operation. Stopping patents will not slow or stop innovation, it will spur some as companies need to invent to differentiate from the rest. Then when they are copied, it continues. In this sense, necessity is the mother of new invention. The necessity of being unique and valuable Ina sea of clones.

  19. Re:Classic joke.. on Microsoft Demos Real-Time Translation Over Skype · · Score: 2
    And he has a karma bonus. Must be spamming ads -for- Dice and their advertisers.

    What with the banner ad that comes up every time even though I have ads disabled. The bottom window shade ad box that I have to hide every time, and the beta fiasco, its a wonder more are not on soylent or pipedot.

    We will welcome you with open arms.

  20. Sickening on Botched Executions Put Lethal Injections Under New Scrutiny · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If it is illegal to kill, it should be for the state as well. Anything else is hypocritical. Period. It is not about justice, nor does having capital punishment provide a deterrent that significantly affects violent crime rates.
    I heard on the radio just this morning that due to the supply difficulties, Tennessee is passing/has passed a law to bring back the electric chair. Now that's humane!
    Capital punishment is largely about one thing. One thing that politicians tend to do very well to keep their constituents in line. Fear-mongering. See.. I am tough on those rapin, theiving, murderin (insert carefully chosen group that panders to your audience here).

  21. Re:Along with the 3x speed strafe bug? on It's Time For the Descent Games Return · · Score: 1

    Part of the charm of older games were the glitches that made the difficult to master but took gameplay to a whole different level.

    Like rocket jumping?

  22. Re:I tested it in beta on Valve In-Home Game Streaming Supports Windows, OS X & Linux · · Score: 1

    They may recommend, but I do not own my place and cannot run copper through the walls. Ergo... wifi. The source machine was wired direct to the router though.

  23. I tested it in beta on Valve In-Home Game Streaming Supports Windows, OS X & Linux · · Score: 4, Informative

    I tested from win 7 to win 7. I have my semi-big gaming/office rig, and streamed to a late model P4 with no GPU of note (chipset intel), that I used as a storage box/htpc in my bedroom. I could stream skyrim pretty much full blast well, however I did notice a reduction in quality. It varied, but there was sometimes lag (quite possibly poor wifi and the woeful nature of an old p4 struggling with windows 7) and obvious compression artifacts, but for the most part it was well playable. One side note is that when it launched on my other PC, I could hear the audio from it, so at least at that point in the beta it wasn't muting the source machine audio. If you left big speakers on 11 that could be an issues, but hopefully it is fixed now. I did not test it long as I rebuilt my main rig, and the old one became my bedroom htpc, and had plenty of horsepower to play without streaming. All in all I think a good feature with many use cases.

  24. Re:Substitute "China" or "Soviet Russia" on Why Lavabit Shut Down · · Score: 1
    Secure in your persons and papers got rewritten. It is now 'papers please'

    Didn't you get the memo?

  25. It's Disney on Ask Slashdot: Can Star Wars Episode VII Be Saved? · · Score: 2

    Jokes aside, Disney is one of the worst pushers of extended copyright and draconian content laws. I for one won't be giving them a dime of my money. If I want to see it, I know how I will.