User: Futurepower(R)

Moderate parent up.

On: Space Photos Taken From Shed Stun Astronomers

That's not "Flamebait". That's humor, exactly the kind of humor Brits like.

Try Scroogle.org.

On: Hiding From Google

There is another web site providing the same service, the badly named: Scroogle.

Publishers are no longer necessary.

On: Offline Book "Lending" Costs US Publishers Nearly $1 Trillion

The abusers this time are publishers, not book burners. Publishers take most of the money. They give authors only a very small percentage.

Publishers should be eliminated. In the age of digital book preparation and copying, publishers aren't needed. In fact, they are destructive.

Criticize Firefox: -1. Criticize IE, +5.

On: Firefox 3.7 Dropped In Favor of Feature Updates

This makes me laugh: I criticized Firefox management in my parent comment and got an immediate -1 Troll, with lots of hostile and unthinking and irrational comments. Someone even criticized my use of a bold headline.

I criticized Microsoft management and got an immediate +5 Insightful, with no comments at all, at present: Confused by Microsoft P.R.?

The crashing in Firefox doesn't happen with all users. It happens especially frequently when many windows and tabs are open, such as when doing extensive research. Firefox crashes happen more frequently if the computer is often put into hibernation or standby.

For those who like debugging, the Firefox crashes are fascinating, partly because they are sometimes able to crash the Windows OS, also.

There are also Firefox crashes under other circumstances, with one window and one tab, and only one extension, WOT. Those also are able to crash Windows XP SP3.

It's time for Mozilla Foundation to fix the instability in Firefox! It's been there for years. It's time for Microsoft to fix the vulnerabilities in IE! They have been there for years.

Firefox development is poorly managed, apparently.

On: Firefox 3.7 Dropped In Favor of Feature Updates

The difference is whatever they want to make of it. The advantage of not promising anything is that no management is necessary.

It seems to me that Mozilla Foundation is badly managed.

Have you seen $200 million worth of development in Firefox? The Mozilla foundation has been getting more than $68,000,000 each year to make Google the default search engine in Firefox. See this article, for example: Google Deal Produces 91% of Mozilla's Revenue.

In return for that enormous amount of money, Firefox is for many the most unstable program they use. Every new version of Firefox includes "stability improvements", but the instability has gotten considerably worse since version 3.5.2. Firefox is so unstable it regularly crashes the Windows XP OS, although not Linux, apparently.

The instability and resultant memory hogging of Firefox has been reported many times by many people for many years, according to discussions online. For just one small example, see the comments tab for this crash report ID: 67f332db-205a-4944-8f88-1bb7a2091220. (Not a crash from one of our computers.) Typical comments from that comment tab:

"I can't believe how often firefox is crashing recently on multiple computers!!!"
"This is ridiculous! It happens everyday!"
"Mozilla crashes on average 10 a day. Can you help?"
"firefox is crashing on me twice a day. any advice please? thanks Graham"
"This new version of Mozilla sucks. It crashes on my multiple times each day."
"I keep going from tab to tab and after a while Mozilla crashes.."
"please fix this crash problem, thanks"

Want to see your own Firefox crashes? Enter about:crashes into the Firefox address window, and press the Enter key. You can substitute the numbers obtained from your crashes in the link above to get more information.

There is more about Mozilla Developer Center Crash Reporting on their web site. (That web site may be overloaded or not loadable from Slashdot.)

The randomness of failures suggests that Firefox writes to a random location memory that is important in some systems and not others. That's crucial in an unstable, poorly designed OS like Windows XP. Linux merely throws Firefox off the system.

Definitely the way events are handled in Firefox has degraded in the last few versions. Firefox often takes a long time to process a mouse event, for example, even when Firefox has been the only program in use for a long time.

Firefox is popular because of its add-ons, apparently. People don't want to watch abusive, flashing ads that assume that the reader is stupid, so they use AdBlock Plus. When the same extensions exist for Google's browser, it seems likely that Firefox will lose popularity.

Firefox experiences a LOT of crashes and memory hogging, and has for years. Apparently Firefox developers don't know how to debug that kind of failure. Apparently the more than $200 million has not been enough.

Confused by Microsoft P.R.?

On: IE 0-Day Flaw Used In Chinese Attack

You said, "Using IE6 is like using Firefox 1. Are you feeling lucky?"

Note that you were confused by Microsoft public relations that is apparently trying to avoid responsibility. Here is a quote from the article:

"Our investigation has shown that Internet explorer is vulnerable on all of Microsoft's most recent operating system releases, including Windows 7."

Windows 7 uses Internet Explorer 8, the latest version. According to Microsoft, all versions of IE are vulnerable. But Microsoft makes a statement that is apparently meant to confuse:

'Shortly after the report, Microsoft confirmed the new IE vulnerability was "one of the vectors used in targeted and sophisticated attacks against Google and possibly other corporate networks." A company statement said the attacks were carried out against version 6 of the widely used browser and suggested users protect themselves by enabling security features that have been added to successor versions'

At present, 2010-01-15, 03:59 PDT, the Microsoft Security Advisory (979352) tells the truth, but also in a way apparently designed to confuse. This is an exact quote, after the confusing introduction, eliminating other confusing words:

"... Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8 on ... Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2 are affected."

At present, here is the full, confusing paragraph from that Microsoft web page:

"Our investigation so far has shown that Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 4 on Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 is not affected, and that Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 on Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4, and Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8 on supported editions of Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2 are affected."

For the apparent reason Microsoft allows IE to be insecure, see the New York Times article Corrupted PC's Find New Home in the Dumpster. As the article explains, operating system corruption and vulnerability to malware is very profitable for Microsoft and its main customers, who are computer manufacturers.

Thanks for the sanity.

On: Mozilla Starts To Follow a New Drumbeat

Thank you.

Also, of course, if the grandparent poster had bothered to investigate, Firefox experiences a LOT of crashes, and has for years. Apparently Firefox developers don't know how to debug that kind of failure. Apparently the more than $200 million has not been enough.

The randomness of failure reports suggests that Firefox writes to a random location memory that is important in some systems and not others. Definitely the way events are handled has degraded in the last few versions. Firefox often takes a long time to process a mouse event, for example, even when Firefox has been the only program in use for a long time.

Probably was Slashdotted.

On: Mozilla Starts To Follow a New Drumbeat

It works for me now. Probably was overloaded by being Slashdotted.

However, sometimes Mozilla blocks links coming from Slashdot. Copy the link and put it into a new tab.

Mozilla Developer Center crash reporting

On: Mozilla Starts To Follow a New Drumbeat

Want to see your Firefox crashes? Enter about:crashes into the Firefox address window, and press the Enter key.

There is a discussion of Mozilla product crashes at Mozilla Developer Center crash reporting.

Mozilla Foundation is badly managed.

On: Mozilla Starts To Follow a New Drumbeat

Have you seen $200 million worth of development in Firefox? The Mozilla foundation has been getting more than $68,000,000 each year to make Google the default search engine in Firefox. See this article, for example: Google Deal Produces 91% of Mozilla's Revenue.

In return, Firefox is the most unstable program in common use. Every new version includes "stability improvements", but the instability has gotten considerably worse since version 3.5.2. Firefox is so unstable it regularly crashes Windows XP, although not Linux, apparently.

This instability has been reported many times by many people for many years, according to discussions online. For just one small example, see the comments tab for this crash report ID: 67f332db-205a-4944-8f88-1bb7a2091220. (Not a crash from one of our computers.) Typical comments from that comment tab:

"I can't believe how often firefox is crashing recently on multiple computers!!!"
"This is ridiculous! It happens everyday!"
"Mozilla crashes on average 10 a day. Can you help?"
"firefox is crashing on me twice a day. any advice please? thanks Graham"
"This new version of Mozilla sucks. It crashes on my multiple times each day."
"I keep going from tab to tab and after a while Mozilla crashes.."
"please fix this crash problem, thanks"

Firefox is popular because of its add-ons, apparently. People don't want to watch abusive, flashing ads that assume that the reader is stupid, so they use AdBlock Plus. When the same extensions exist for Google's browser, it seems likely that Firefox will lose popularity.

It seems to me that Mozilla Foundation is badly managed.

Now the 1st three are correct.

On: Simplifying Search For a Younger Audience

Interesting. I just did a Google search for president of Europe. The first three answers are correct.

Suggestion: Don't accept abuse.

On: Really Misleading Ads From Broadband Providers

I've read this and some of the comments below, and it amazes me how many people easily and even jokingly accept dishonesty and other abuse from businesses.

I think you are not interested in the subject.

On: Yes, Google Does De-List Pages; But When?

I think you are just not interested in the subject. He's not writing to entertain you. He is writing about very complicated social problems. His thinking is in progress.

Someone must think about the issues. The investigation will certainly continue to be messy. Only when the solutions are found will everything seem clear.

If you think you can do better, please write your ideas here.

Hi, Twitter!

On: Yes, Google Does De-List Pages; But When?

Twitter, thanks for responding. You are exactly the person who should have responded so that I can make another point.

You also are obviously a very intelligent person. But you don't use your intelligence well, or carefully enough.

Bennett Haselton is an example of someone who uses intelligence sensibly, for the good of everyone. Even if he doesn't yet have all the answers, he is helpful in my thinking.

To answer your point: Maybe I vaguely remember the name Bennett Haselton, possibly from his previous article on Slashdot, linked in this story. Otherwise, I didn't remember he existed until I read this Slashdot story and re-read the linked story.

Google has some very tough public relations problems. Fixing those problems will require serious original thinking. Bennett Haselton is beginning that thinking.

I've thought about the issues myself. I wrote to Google CEO Eric Schmidt expressing some opinions about the challenges Google faces. There was no reply.

In case you don't know Twitter: He has several Slashdot accounts, including the one he used in the parent comment. Here is a Slashdot post he wrote, the first one I found in a Google search: Nothing massive here. Below that is a discussion about him. (The "Twitter" in that Slashdot story title is a different Twitter.)

I don't know Twitter, either, except from reading about him on Slashdot.

Twitter, your anger comes from childhood. Stop acting it out toward everyone. That just makes you more conflicted.

Bennett Haselton is a careful thinker.

On: Yes, Google Does De-List Pages; But When?

Perhaps you have a short attention span.

It seems to me that Bennett Haselton is a careful thinker and an excellent writer. It is people like him who help cause the social advances that later benefit everyone else.

My opinion is that Google should hire him. Google has been imperfect in its public relations. Bennett Haselton could help.

OpenGoo is now called Feng Office.

On: What Does Everyone Use For Task/Project Tracking?

OpenGoo is now called Feng Office, and they won't even tell you how much it costs until you have an account with them!

My initial impression: The marketing people at Feng Office will kill the product. Don't get started with a technical product that is connected with people who have no technical knowledge.

Consider the social effect of the public hassles.

On: Widenius Warns Against MySQL Falling Into Oracle's Hands

Story translation: MySQL will be dead soon, like the Pascal programming language.

Wikipedia calls it "Culture".

On: Slashdot Turns 100,000

Wikipedia has a list of Slashdot mannerisms. Wikipedia calls it "Culture", but that's disgusting.

Sloppy editing, but indispensable.

On: Slashdot Turns 100,000

I agree with you about the editors. It is amazing how little Slashdot editors seem to have learned about editing in the last 12 years. Sometimes stories have not even been spell-checked. It is very common that a Slashdot story is misleading in some way.

However, even with the sloppy editing, Slashdot is the best way of learning about computer and other technology events. It's indispensable in my life. Slashdot editors have been very good at choosing stories that are interesting to us.

The comments have often been valuable to me. For example, several years ago Slashdot ran a story I suggested about making international telephone calls. There were 880 comments. One of them mentioned BroadVoice, a company that provides unlimited calling to land lines in 57 countries (then 35 countries). Since we often call land line phones in other countries and talk for hours, that was a very valuable suggestion. (I'm only a customer. I have no other involvement with BroadVoice.)

It seems reasonable to mention also that editing is extremely mentally intensive. It is much more difficult than it appears to those with no editing experience.

We are lucky to have Slashdot. Where else could we go for these stories?

Is it possibly fraud?

On: Mozilla Exec Urges Switch From Google To Bing

Possible fraud? Be VERY careful about such statements from anyone connected with the Mozilla Foundation. The foundation has been getting more than $68,000,000 each year to make Google the default search engine in Firefox. See this article, for example: Google Deal Produces 91% of Mozilla's Revenue.

Google has said it will stop paying that money, eventually. Or maybe Microsoft has offered more. Any statements from anyone at Mozilla about search engines must be considered to be possibly about money.

Eric Schmidt's choice of words showed an amazing lack of social awareness. However, remember that he also has a point. The U.S. government has decided it can force executives to give information, and can also force them to keep silent about giving that information. The U.S. government calling the law the "Patriot Act" was an attempt to intimidate by implying that someone who is against the complete loss of privacy in the U.S. is not a patriot. That's not correct, of course.

Maybe the underlying point of Mr. Schmidt's statement was that the U.S. government has been forcing Google to help conduct surveillance, and he feels uncomfortable about that. However, it was a foolish choice of words.

DNS Benchmark

On: How Does the New Google DNS Perform? (and Why?)

You can run DNS Benchmark to check the speed DNS servers.

Windows XP and Windows Vista, for example.

On: Microsoft To Get Malware Bailout In Germany

Windows XP had MAJOR problems during the first 3 years, before service pack 2. Vista had MAJOR problems; it was so bad most big companies refused to buy it.

Windows is vulnerable because that is profitable.

On: Microsoft To Get Malware Bailout In Germany

"Malware problem is usually because of user stupidity."

Does that mean users of Apple computers are far smarter than users of Windows computers?

Anyhow, maybe when people call the call center number, they will hear, in German, "Dummy! Get Linux. Or, at least Apple."

That's a joke, but it could go in that direction. People at the call center could educate callers that the apparent reason Microsoft products have so many vulnerabilities is that Microsoft top managers don't allow Microsoft programmers to finish their work. Unfinished, vulnerable, buggy, limited software makes more money when a company has a virtual monopoly because then the company can sell "upgrades" and upgrades and upgrades and ....

How to configure DNS in Windows XP

On: Google Launches Public DNS Resolver

Thanks.

I also found this: How to configure TCP/IP to use DNS in Windows XP.

I don't know everything.

On: Google Launches Public DNS Resolver

I don't know everything. I thought the DNS address came from the router and not the ISP, but I wasn't sure. I thought possibly an ISP would have some way of forcing control. Apparently that is not common.