For those who don't have their nose in their phone 24/7, a quick glance around you on the freeway will show you what we already know.
Many of the drivers buzzing along at 80+mph are only half paying attention to the road. The rest of their time is devoted to doing whatever on their smartphone. This isn't limited to vehicular traffic, the same holds true for walkers, joggers and even folks on bicycles.
Personally, if someone drives off a cliff and removes themselves from the gene pool due to this sort of stupidity, I would have little issue with the matter. However, the problem is these snowflakes are putting EVERYONE at risk with their behavior and it's painfully obvious that asking nicely and Public Service Announcements are doing little to curb it.
In the past, when I've tried to nicely point out to the driver who is weaving all over the roadway because they're playing with their phone instead of paying attention to the road, it's nearly started fights. They KNOW they're in the wrong, yet go full stupid when someone calls attention to it. Have actually had folks stop the car in the middle of the road and jump out wanting to fight. Or they go full road rage mode, hit the gas, jump in front of you and slam on the brakes.
All for trying to get them to simply put the phone down and drive the fucking car:|
Hell, we recently had an incident here where the driver of a large non-commercial truck was all over the place because they were playing on the damn phone. Others saw this, recorded it, called 911 to report it and nothing was done. The truck later veered into an oncoming lane and hit a bus head on. Killed quite a few folks if I recall.
The days of asking folks nicely are over.
Self-drive cars will be one option, but even at their current pace it will be a decade or more before they are ready for the average driver. Much longer before we see a majority of them on the roadways.
Near Field, RFID or a simple low power xmitter built into the car designed to set a bit in the phone when powered up could be used to disable all but emergency functions of a phone while in motion. This would greatly annoy passengers*, but since we're done asking nicely, it is what it is. Since the carrot isn't working, we have to resort to the stick instead.
*We managed it in the days before cell phones. You'll live. I promise.
We could severely increase the penalties if caught while driving distracted with one. Give it the same rules as a DUI / DWI since the outcome, more often than not, is the same. Crank the penalties up. $200 is laughable. $2000 per infraction stings a bit more. Confiscate the phone, the vehicle and revocation of the drivers license is much more eye-opening.
Sound harsh ?
Remember, this stupid behavior is putting everyone else at risk so I would rather see folks lose their possessions than someone else lose their life. If you're still willing to play with your phone while driving with these types of penalties in play, then you certainly don't deserve to have a license to drive to begin with.
So, this being Slashdot and all, I'm guaranteed to get flamed to death for even suggesting the above, but the fix for a problem doesn't begin until you can admit you have one to begin with. Everyone that is guilty of said behavior is in flat out denial that it's a problem at all.
That being said, ( again, since this is Slashdot ) what realistic technology options could be implemented today to solve the problem ?
The exit / entry point for data is going to be that specific router in your home, regardless of what logical separation of traffic is going on.
As a result, if $shady_user is doing something stupid while connected to that device, all eyes are going to be on the owner or location of said device.
We all know LE doesn't grasp the concept of " an IP address isn't an individual ", nor does it stop them from kicking down doors authorized via a warrant. ( Warrants always specify a specific address / location. If it doesn't, it isn't valid. )
They only know where the hardware resides, thus that's usually where they're headed with guns, battering rams, attitude and itchy trigger fingers.
Technical explanations to the contrary while at gunpoint and / or in handcuffs are lost on folks whose expertise is limited to which end of the gun should be pointed at bad guy.
it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the majority of Americans have zero choices in the broadband market as it exists today. ( We're pretty tired of paying $$$$ for mediocre service due, in total, to the monopoly status granted by existing laws )
If you want a decent internet connection, you'll have exactly one possible choice to go with and it's very much their way or the highway. ( Note I said the majority of us. Some of you lucky bastards have Google Fiber or what's left of Fios as competition in your area. The truly unlucky ones will have a piss poor DSL connection over an aging copper plant the Telco doesn't even want to maintain anymore. )
Basically, since our politicians are bought and paid for by the various industries ( in this case, the Cable and Telco lobbies ) our only recourse is to try and get enough new folks in place to make some common sense changes before the Lobby Vampires get too cozy.
It's not that we fall for the narcissistic types, rather the humble among us typically do not seek positions of power. ( They wouldn't be very humble if they did now would they ? )
Our elections are akin to being asked to hammer in a nail, but only given a choice between a screwdriver, a corkscrew or a hacksaw to get it done:| They're certainly all tools, but none one of them are really suitable for the task at hand. ( Don't you dare ask for the proper tool. )
Then, when we're forced to finally make a choice, it's always the same bullshit from both sides of the fence for years. " You chose to go with X ! See how poorly it's doing ? It was obviously a poor choice. You should have chosen Y or Z ! "
The best tools for the job are out there, we're simply not given the option to select one based on how our system is setup.
If they broaden that scope a bit, they might note that STEM degrees are in decline overall. ( Unless you're in India )
Due, in no small part, to the current business practice of bringing in H1-B labor for pennies on the dollar. The reasoning being to cut wage costs for everyone who isn't at the executive pay scale. All the while playing the victim card of " We can't find qualified candidates locally " ( Translates to: We don't want to pay domestic market wages for this position )
In this work environment, it wouldn't matter if folks were given access to the most amazing math classes the world has to offer. The folks capable of taking those classes are all too aware of what awaits them in that career field, post education. Debt, with little chance of getting a decent paying job if they have to compete with the H1-B folks.
The smart ones simply choose not to play the game and find another career choice.
It isn't just limited to those with a college degree.
In addition, the price increase of a degree has far, Far, FAR outpaced wages and will eventually reach a point that you'll have to consider if getting a degree ( and the enormous amount of debt that will come with it ) will be worth it or not in the future job markets.
If you -ever- plan on running for office, I suggest you avoid the internet completely.
The next candidate to replace Trump is going to have their search and web history under the spotlight for everyone to see. Go ahead and tell me it won't be weaponized to " dissuade " certain folks from running for office.
The average non-Slashdot type will not know how to do much with their computer other than use it. Barely.
When it ceases to do what they want, in their eyes, the computer is broke.
Not, maybe a driver needs to be installed. Or the OS needs to be reloaded, or specific pieces of hardware need to be replaced.
The damn thing is broken. Period. Fix it.
They go to Best Buy armed with that information and tell the associate " My computer is broken " and are kindly steered towards the new computer section.
Additionally, if the computer has some years on it, the " failure " is merely the final straw for folks to upgrade to a new one.
Make sure to keep the perspective of your average user in mind before passing judgement on the whole thing.
Besides, MS forcing updates has to stop. If this lawsuit didn't happen, another one will eventually when a forced patch borks everything up.
One well placed undercover officer or paid nobody can turn a peaceful demonstration into a violent one in a hurry.
Even IF you're following all the rules, if someone in charge decides they're tired of your cute little protest, they'll put the undercover in play to " justify " the use of force to remove you.
You can't GET the higher speed internet tiers unless you also subscribe to either cable or voice.
You can get the basic tier, but nothing useful unless you're grandfathered in.
I kicked around upgrading to 100mb service and decided against it after doing the math on how much I would have to spend monthly on cable and hardware fees.
Yes it's Comcast / Xfinity. No there isn't an alternative.
I have a Rift and, while it seems to work just fine, VR is almost there but not quite.
The first issue is the resolution. It's not the high resolution, crisp displays we're used to with current gen monitors.
The Vive is glasses friendly, sort of. You'll need narrow frames if you want to comfortably wear them.
Some folks don't care for the weight, but it doesn't bother me much. Is similar to a set of heavy headphones like the Astro A50's.
The cable connection is a pita and I find myself unwinding from it quite a lot. They're supposed to be working on a wireless solution.
Some folks can't handle the immersion without becoming motion sick. Test it out before you commit first.
Make sure your play area is large and clear of obstructions. The VR does a good job of making you forget you're in a small room until you whack the wall, ceiling fan or door while swinging about.
What's holding VR back atm is GPU capability. You want the same resolution as that shiny monitor you have, but current gen GPU just can't push dual 4k ( one for each eye ) at 90 fps. It struggles to keep up as it is, depending on how many polys the system is trying to throw around on screen at any given time.
Once the GPU hardware is sufficient, THEN VR will absolutely rock.
At least the GPU folks have new reasons to innovate again:)
There are other methods to verify if the meter is performing as expected.
A third party device that allows you to monitor your own electrical usage is available and dead simple to install. Ammeters clamp around your mains and track / log how much power you're using in real time. Will store said information locally as well as allow for export into something like Excel for long term analysis.
They can tell you how much power you're using as well as what the current and projected costs will be.
If the monitor and your meter are off by X margin, it would be a good time to get someone to check it out.
One such device ( and the one I've utilized for over a decade now ) is call T.E.D. ( The Energy Detective ) Google it.
No offense man, but there are actually applications that folks use that have no Linux variant or replacement that performs on equal footing with its Windows counterpart. Some of us actually require a bit more than a few Xterms and a compiler or two:D
I know everyone loves to say: " Switch to Linux " as the end all, be all answer to the problem but, for some of us, you simply can't. So we improvise.
Examples of some software I use that require Windows:
Zbrush The entire Adobe CC Suite of products Rhinocerous 3D and Brazil Renderer KeyShot Corel Painter 3DS Max My DSLR Camera Control Software The vast majority of Steams Libraries
My solution to Microsoft and their bullshit is rather simple: For the Windows 10 unit, I keep the workstation off the internet. When I have to reauthenticate with Adobe's servers, my ACL's allow connections ONLY to Adobe Servers. Nothing else.
I see no ads. I see no updates. All of my software works as expected all the time since the aforementioned updates aren't allowed Microsoft sees no telemetry.
I still run Win 7 on a physically separate system for my Steam and VR stuff. I run Mint in a VM when I want to roam the net.
If folks have to resort to pulling content from frowned upon channels, Big Media has only themselves to blame.
While Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and the like are cheap enough, the quality and lack of shows available to stream across them reflects their price. I cannot tell you how many times I've searched for a show I was interested in watching on Netflix, only to find out that it isn't available in the streaming catalog. I can't tell you how many times I've found a series I would like to watch, only to find out it's Season 3 and the first two seasons aren't there anymore:|
When the MPAA / RIAA pull their heads out of their ass and realize the following:
1) Make the content available across all platforms, not this exclusive bullshit we have now 2) Make it reasonably priced, WITHOUT ADS ( don't f*ck this up, you'll sink the whole damn ship ) 3) Get rid of the GD geo-blocks. We don't need YOU telling us what YOU think WE should watch.
You'll likely find the number of folks who resort to the Yarr-Matey versions will drop significantly and instead of bitching about the " Pirate Problem ", you can instead focus on your real issue.
That being the creation of quality content that folks actually want to watch.
How Wiretaps Are Supposed To Work If Everyone Follows the Laws
Many folks know this already, but the laws don't really apply to people operating at that level. They're supposed to. We're assured they do, but they don't. They do what they want, then make up some bullshit story to justify their actions later on if they get caught and end up with a wrist slap at worst. It's RARE to see people at that level going to jail or even being held accountable for their actions.
I sincerely hope Wikileaks releases the most god-awful embarrassing revelations about what the Intelligence Community is doing under the guise of " National Security ". While most on/. already suspect the three letter agencies have their fingers in just about everything, it's nice to see it show up in the spotlight from time to time as a reminder that the World isn't nearly as nice a place as it seems to be.
Now, turn off your hatred for all things Trump for a moment and entertain the possibility that there might be some truth behind Trump's wiretapping claims. The ability to spy on everyone means our future leadership can be hand-picked because any possible opposition can be singled out and utterly destroyed simply by putting their entire life under a microscope and " leaking " information that would be useful to destroy their reputation. If the Hillary camp is to be believed, releasing damaging information at the right time is quite effective isn't it ?
If that doesn't work, mis-information is equally devastating in this day and age. We don't need proof, just make some shit up and, if it's juicy enough, the media jumps all over it like a Republican on a Tax Cut ( or to be fair, like a Democrat on a Tax Increase ). Retractions later on are irrelevant if the time window is narrow enough. ( Like an election ) The damage is already done.
Taking that a step further: Would you like the Trump ( or any ) administration to have the ability to hand-pick their successor by utilizing tools / agencies designed to Spy on foreign powers ? Tools that are unavailable to any potential opposition which puts them at a tremendous disadvantage. Better yet, would you like the CIA, NSA, $TLA to pick your leadership FOR you ?
If the United States had any control over those missiles at all, they would have redirected them towards a US ally then use it as a pretense / excuse for a military strike. I guarantee the plans are already in place, targets have been pre-selected and the whole thing is ready to go at a moments notice.
A legitimate excuse is all that is needed to get things started.
Since China refuses to reign in their local idiot, it's only a matter of time before a cruise missile does.
how this is any different than any other Certification Test or Entrance Test.
I just roll my eyes when I come across these types of questions because their pointless. In my opinion, the cert tests should be 100% simulations where you're given a scenario ( just like in reality ) and you get to put your knowledge on display by solving the problem. Alas, this is not usually the case.
Instead, the tests ask some of the most arcane and useless questions that no one really needs to commit to memory because it's irrelevant or outdated information.
Questions like:
In what year was the 802.11g standard adopted ?
a) Who cares, it's a standard b) Who cares, I can look it up if need be c) Who cares, we're a couple of generations beyond it now d) Who cares, did you all run out of useful questions to ask ?
I'm certainly not a programmer, but I do some minor scripting to help semi-automate my job functions and make my life easier. I usually have to refer back to the library of books sitting on my shelf ( or previous code I've written ) to recall what the syntax for certain things are, or how Shell X does things vs Shell Y or Z. I fail to see what the point of reference material is if everyone is expected to memorize the entire thing on demand.
1) The cost of the hardware required to run it is still pretty steep. This is something you really can't just skimp on if you want decent frame rates. Expect to build a system worthy of the " gaming rig " title if you want a decent experience.
2) Due to the first problem, there aren't as many folks buying VR titles. As a result, the developers are hesitant to pour money and resources into the creation of the titles as they will have a difficult time recouping the costs. This really becomes a problem with multiplayer titles as you will quickly note the lack of players to compete against.
I own an HTC Vive unit paired with a higher end gaming rig and while it does the job as advertised, it isn't without some minor issues.
Resolution is one of them and is the first thing you'll notice if you're used to looking at the ultra-crisp flat panel displays we're used to. You will get used to it, but it is an issue. The GPU hardware just isn't there to drive dual 4k displays at 90 frames per second. It'll get there, but we're not there yet.
The unit isn't glasses friendly. You can wear them, but they need to be a narrow frame to fit within the headset. I have a specific pair I wear when using the unit.
The unit can be a bit heavy for some folks and uncomfortable after a time. Those who are prone to motion sickness had best leave this tech alone. The wiring tends to get in the way and I find myself unwrapping from the wiring from time to time.
You need a wide open space to play in. I can't tell you how many times I've whacked the door, ceiling fan or other items in my play room flailing about in VR space. It does an OUTSTANDING job of making you forget you're actually standing in a small room but you'll remind yourself in a hurry when you whack the wall. ( Keeping the boundary warnings on does help )
Overall though, the VR play experience just puts everything else to shame. To the point where I'm looking forward to good VR titles far more than I am a non-VR game. I think the best path going forward for developers would be to develop for both platforms allowing the use of VR hardware if available. The typical first person perspective titles would be great candidates for this. Eg: Skyrim, Fallout4, any of the First Person Shooters out there, etc.
Some of the titles I particularly enjoy:
QuiVR ( pre-release, dedicated developer patches / updates nearly daily. Outstanding title. ) Eagle Flight ( UBISoft's foray into VR. I have more hours played in this than any other title and what I bought the Vive for. Unique flying sim ) Space Pirate Trainer AudioShield Thumper Serious Sam VR ( still in development ) TheBlu ( good for demo use for your family / friends. Lots of " Oh Wow " moments, no motion sickness )
Other than the weather* and maybe traffic reports, quit reading / watching what passes for the news these days.
It ceased being ' news ' a long time ago and evolved into sensationalism designed to grab as many viewers as it can.
Even the Weather portion you have to take with a grain of salt. Especially if there is a hurricane or similar event going on. The media tend to cause more hysteria than anything.
In my opinion, being misinformed is worse than being non-informed. The latter doesn't tend to whip folks into a frenzy like the former can.
Quit watching / reading their bullshit and the problem will quickly fix itself.
Sometimes you have to hold their feet to the fire before they will take action.
Better to know of a vulnerability and force MS to fix it as a priority rather than letting it stay a secret known to only a few and have MS fix it whenever they get around to it.
The older companies have been there and done that already. Previous incidents have honed policies about such behavior in the workplace to a fine edge.
As a result, your older companies make sure you understand they will not tolerate it. At all. Annual reviews and signed acknowledgements of said training with the threat of termination of employment for any violations pretty much keep folks civil.
It's just a matter of the new ones getting a taste of what happens when you don't have clear policies on the issue.
Watch for a zero tolerance policy to be born rather quickly ( as it should ) now that there is a spotlight on it. Will be a non-issue shortly as they will likely fire the guy in question if the allegations turn out to be true.
Slashdot Mirror
"People want cheaper and cheaper products so wages will go down or stagnate to allow that. "
Perhaps you have it backwards.
Cheap products are popular due to stagnant wages and / or a suppressed economy.
Given the choice, and the ability to afford it, most would choose the more expensive / reliable product vs the cheap one they have to settle for.
For those who don't have their nose in their phone 24/7, a quick glance around you on the freeway will show you what we already know.
Many of the drivers buzzing along at 80+mph are only half paying attention to the road. The rest of their time is devoted to doing whatever on their smartphone.
This isn't limited to vehicular traffic, the same holds true for walkers, joggers and even folks on bicycles.
Personally, if someone drives off a cliff and removes themselves from the gene pool due to this sort of stupidity, I would have little issue with the matter.
However, the problem is these snowflakes are putting EVERYONE at risk with their behavior and it's painfully obvious that asking nicely and Public Service Announcements are doing little to curb it.
In the past, when I've tried to nicely point out to the driver who is weaving all over the roadway because they're playing with their phone instead of paying attention to the road, it's nearly started fights. They KNOW they're in the wrong, yet go full stupid when someone calls attention to it. Have actually had folks stop the car in the middle of the road and jump out wanting to fight. Or they go full road rage mode, hit the gas, jump in front of you and slam on the brakes.
All for trying to get them to simply put the phone down and drive the fucking car :|
Hell, we recently had an incident here where the driver of a large non-commercial truck was all over the place because they were playing on the damn phone. Others saw this, recorded it, called 911 to report it and nothing was done. The truck later veered into an oncoming lane and hit a bus head on. Killed quite a few folks if I recall.
The days of asking folks nicely are over.
Self-drive cars will be one option, but even at their current pace it will be a decade or more before they are ready for the average driver. Much longer before we see a majority of them on the roadways.
Near Field, RFID or a simple low power xmitter built into the car designed to set a bit in the phone when powered up could be used to disable all but emergency functions of a phone while in motion. This would greatly annoy passengers*, but since we're done asking nicely, it is what it is. Since the carrot isn't working, we have to resort to the stick instead.
*We managed it in the days before cell phones. You'll live. I promise.
We could severely increase the penalties if caught while driving distracted with one. Give it the same rules as a DUI / DWI since the outcome, more often than not, is the same. Crank the penalties up. $200 is laughable. $2000 per infraction stings a bit more. Confiscate the phone, the vehicle and revocation of the drivers license is much more eye-opening.
Sound harsh ?
Remember, this stupid behavior is putting everyone else at risk so I would rather see folks lose their possessions than someone else lose their life. If you're still willing to play with your phone while driving with these types of penalties in play, then you certainly don't deserve to have a license to drive to begin with.
So, this being Slashdot and all, I'm guaranteed to get flamed to death for even suggesting the above, but the fix for a problem doesn't begin until you can admit you have one to begin with. Everyone that is guilty of said behavior is in flat out denial that it's a problem at all.
That being said, ( again, since this is Slashdot ) what realistic technology options could be implemented today to solve the problem ?
The exit / entry point for data is going to be that specific router in your home, regardless of what logical separation of traffic is going on.
As a result, if $shady_user is doing something stupid while connected to that device, all eyes are going to be on the owner or location of said device.
We all know LE doesn't grasp the concept of " an IP address isn't an individual ", nor does it stop them from kicking down doors authorized via a warrant. ( Warrants always specify a specific address / location. If it doesn't, it isn't valid. )
They only know where the hardware resides, thus that's usually where they're headed with guns, battering rams, attitude and itchy trigger fingers.
Technical explanations to the contrary while at gunpoint and / or in handcuffs are lost on folks whose expertise is limited to which end of the gun should be pointed at bad guy.
No thank you.
it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the majority of Americans have zero choices in the broadband market as it exists today.
( We're pretty tired of paying $$$$ for mediocre service due, in total, to the monopoly status granted by existing laws )
If you want a decent internet connection, you'll have exactly one possible choice to go with and it's very much their way or the highway.
( Note I said the majority of us. Some of you lucky bastards have Google Fiber or what's left of Fios as competition in your area. The truly
unlucky ones will have a piss poor DSL connection over an aging copper plant the Telco doesn't even want to maintain anymore. )
Basically, since our politicians are bought and paid for by the various industries ( in this case, the Cable and Telco lobbies ) our only
recourse is to try and get enough new folks in place to make some common sense changes before the Lobby Vampires get too cozy.
It's not that we fall for the narcissistic types, rather the humble among us typically do not seek positions of power.
( They wouldn't be very humble if they did now would they ? )
Our elections are akin to being asked to hammer in a nail, but only given a choice between a screwdriver, a corkscrew or a hacksaw to get it done :|
They're certainly all tools, but none one of them are really suitable for the task at hand. ( Don't you dare ask for the proper tool. )
Then, when we're forced to finally make a choice, it's always the same bullshit from both sides of the fence for years.
" You chose to go with X ! See how poorly it's doing ? It was obviously a poor choice. You should have chosen Y or Z ! "
The best tools for the job are out there, we're simply not given the option to select one based on how our system is setup.
If they broaden that scope a bit, they might note that STEM degrees are in decline overall. ( Unless you're in India )
Due, in no small part, to the current business practice of bringing in H1-B labor for pennies on the dollar. The reasoning being to cut wage costs for everyone who isn't at the executive pay scale. All the while playing the victim card of " We can't find qualified candidates locally " ( Translates to: We don't want to pay domestic market wages for this position )
In this work environment, it wouldn't matter if folks were given access to the most amazing math classes the world has to offer. The folks capable of taking those classes are all too aware of what awaits them in that career field, post education. Debt, with little chance of getting a decent paying job if they have to compete with the H1-B folks.
The smart ones simply choose not to play the game and find another career choice.
Regardless of gender.
For the most part, wages have been stagnant across the board for pretty much everyone in the middle class and below for quite some time.
http://www.epi.org/publication...
It isn't just limited to those with a college degree.
In addition, the price increase of a degree has far, Far, FAR outpaced wages and will eventually reach a point that you'll have to consider if getting a degree ( and the enormous amount of debt that will come with it ) will be worth it or not in the future job markets.
If you -ever- plan on running for office, I suggest you avoid the internet completely.
The next candidate to replace Trump is going to have their search and web history under the spotlight for everyone to see. Go ahead and tell me it won't be weaponized to " dissuade " certain folks from running for office.
Those skeletons in the closet ? hhahahahaha
Not anymore :D
Did Microsoft sign up all the voluntary insiders in the same manner everyone " volunteered " to upgrade to Windows 10 ?
Or does MS simply figure everyone is an insider by default since so much telemetry is sent back ( unless steps are taken to prevent it ) ?
Just to point out the obvious:
The average non-Slashdot type will not know how to do much with their computer other than use it. Barely.
When it ceases to do what they want, in their eyes, the computer is broke.
Not, maybe a driver needs to be installed. Or the OS needs to be reloaded, or specific pieces of hardware need to be replaced.
The damn thing is broken. Period. Fix it.
They go to Best Buy armed with that information and tell the associate " My computer is broken " and are kindly steered towards the new computer section.
Additionally, if the computer has some years on it, the " failure " is merely the final straw for folks to upgrade to a new one.
Make sure to keep the perspective of your average user in mind before passing judgement on the whole thing.
Besides, MS forcing updates has to stop. If this lawsuit didn't happen, another one will eventually when a forced patch borks everything up.
Pffft
One well placed undercover officer or paid nobody can turn a peaceful demonstration into a violent one in a hurry.
Even IF you're following all the rules, if someone in charge decides they're tired of your cute little protest, they'll put the undercover in play to " justify " the use of force to remove you.
You can't GET the higher speed internet tiers unless you also subscribe to either cable or voice.
You can get the basic tier, but nothing useful unless you're grandfathered in.
I kicked around upgrading to 100mb service and decided against it after doing the math on how much I would have to spend monthly on cable and hardware fees.
Yes it's Comcast / Xfinity. No there isn't an alternative.
Right there with you man.
There is exactly zero chance I will put anything from my bank accounts within reach of a Smartphone. Ever. For any reason.
I will not login to a banking site with one and will never trust the banking apps nor the overall security of the phone to ever even consider it.
Correction: I have a Vive, not a Rift.
I have a Rift and, while it seems to work just fine, VR is almost there but not quite.
The first issue is the resolution. It's not the high resolution, crisp displays we're used to with current gen monitors.
The Vive is glasses friendly, sort of. You'll need narrow frames if you want to comfortably wear them.
Some folks don't care for the weight, but it doesn't bother me much. Is similar to a set of heavy headphones like the Astro A50's.
The cable connection is a pita and I find myself unwinding from it quite a lot. They're supposed to be working on a wireless solution.
Some folks can't handle the immersion without becoming motion sick. Test it out before you commit first.
Make sure your play area is large and clear of obstructions. The VR does a good job of making you forget you're in a small room until you whack the wall, ceiling fan or door while swinging about.
What's holding VR back atm is GPU capability. You want the same resolution as that shiny monitor you have, but current gen GPU just can't push dual 4k ( one for each eye ) at 90 fps. It struggles to keep up as it is, depending on how many polys the system is trying to throw around on screen at any given time.
Once the GPU hardware is sufficient, THEN VR will absolutely rock.
At least the GPU folks have new reasons to innovate again :)
There are other methods to verify if the meter is performing as expected.
A third party device that allows you to monitor your own electrical usage is available and dead simple to install. Ammeters clamp around your mains and track / log how much power you're using in real time. Will store said information locally as well as allow for export into something like Excel for long term analysis.
They can tell you how much power you're using as well as what the current and projected costs will be.
If the monitor and your meter are off by X margin, it would be a good time to get someone to check it out.
One such device ( and the one I've utilized for over a decade now ) is call T.E.D. ( The Energy Detective ) Google it.
No offense man, but there are actually applications that folks use that have no Linux variant or replacement that performs on equal footing with its Windows counterpart. Some of us actually require a bit more than a few Xterms and a compiler or two :D
I know everyone loves to say: " Switch to Linux " as the end all, be all answer to the problem but, for some of us, you simply can't. So we improvise.
Examples of some software I use that require Windows:
Zbrush
The entire Adobe CC Suite of products
Rhinocerous 3D and Brazil Renderer
KeyShot
Corel Painter
3DS Max
My DSLR Camera Control Software
The vast majority of Steams Libraries
My solution to Microsoft and their bullshit is rather simple: For the Windows 10 unit, I keep the workstation off the internet. When I have to reauthenticate with Adobe's servers, my ACL's allow connections ONLY to Adobe Servers. Nothing else.
I see no ads.
I see no updates.
All of my software works as expected all the time since the aforementioned updates aren't allowed
Microsoft sees no telemetry.
I still run Win 7 on a physically separate system for my Steam and VR stuff.
I run Mint in a VM when I want to roam the net.
If folks have to resort to pulling content from frowned upon channels, Big Media has only themselves to blame.
While Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and the like are cheap enough, the quality and lack of shows available to stream across them reflects their price. I cannot tell you how many times I've searched for a show I was interested in watching on Netflix, only to find out that it isn't available in the streaming catalog. I can't tell you how many times I've found a series I would like to watch, only to find out it's Season 3 and the first two seasons aren't there anymore :|
When the MPAA / RIAA pull their heads out of their ass and realize the following:
1) Make the content available across all platforms, not this exclusive bullshit we have now
2) Make it reasonably priced, WITHOUT ADS ( don't f*ck this up, you'll sink the whole damn ship )
3) Get rid of the GD geo-blocks. We don't need YOU telling us what YOU think WE should watch.
You'll likely find the number of folks who resort to the Yarr-Matey versions will drop significantly and instead of bitching about the " Pirate Problem ", you can instead focus on your real issue.
That being the creation of quality content that folks actually want to watch.
Allow me to correct it:
How Wiretaps Are Supposed To Work If Everyone Follows the Laws
Many folks know this already, but the laws don't really apply to people operating at that level. They're supposed to. We're assured they do, but they don't.
They do what they want, then make up some bullshit story to justify their actions later on if they get caught and end up with a wrist slap at worst. It's RARE to see people at that level going to jail or even being held accountable for their actions.
I sincerely hope Wikileaks releases the most god-awful embarrassing revelations about what the Intelligence Community is doing under the guise of " National Security ". While most on /. already suspect the three letter agencies have their fingers in just about everything, it's nice to see it show up in the spotlight from time to time as a reminder that the World isn't nearly as nice a place as it seems to be.
Now, turn off your hatred for all things Trump for a moment and entertain the possibility that there might be some truth behind Trump's wiretapping claims. The ability to spy on everyone means our future leadership can be hand-picked because any possible opposition can be singled out and utterly destroyed simply by putting their entire life under a microscope and " leaking " information that would be useful to destroy their reputation. If the Hillary camp is to be believed, releasing damaging information at the right time is quite effective isn't it ?
If that doesn't work, mis-information is equally devastating in this day and age. We don't need proof, just make some shit up and, if it's juicy enough, the media jumps all over it like a Republican on a Tax Cut ( or to be fair, like a Democrat on a Tax Increase ). Retractions later on are irrelevant if the time window is narrow enough. ( Like an election ) The damage is already done.
Taking that a step further: Would you like the Trump ( or any ) administration to have the ability to hand-pick their successor by utilizing tools / agencies designed to Spy on foreign powers ? Tools that are unavailable to any potential opposition which puts them at a tremendous disadvantage. Better yet, would you like the CIA, NSA, $TLA to pick your leadership FOR you ?
I doubt it.
If the United States had any control over those missiles at all, they would have redirected them towards a US ally then use it as a pretense / excuse for a military strike. I guarantee the plans are already in place, targets have been pre-selected and the whole thing is ready to go at a moments notice.
A legitimate excuse is all that is needed to get things started.
Since China refuses to reign in their local idiot, it's only a matter of time before a cruise missile does.
how this is any different than any other Certification Test or Entrance Test.
I just roll my eyes when I come across these types of questions because their pointless. In my opinion, the cert tests should be 100% simulations where you're given a scenario ( just like in reality ) and you get to put your knowledge on display by solving the problem. Alas, this is not usually the case.
Instead, the tests ask some of the most arcane and useless questions that no one really needs to commit to memory because it's irrelevant or outdated information.
Questions like:
In what year was the 802.11g standard adopted ?
a) Who cares, it's a standard
b) Who cares, I can look it up if need be
c) Who cares, we're a couple of generations beyond it now
d) Who cares, did you all run out of useful questions to ask ?
I'm certainly not a programmer, but I do some minor scripting to help semi-automate my job functions and make my life easier. I usually have to refer back to the library of books sitting on my shelf ( or previous code I've written ) to recall what the syntax for certain things are, or how Shell X does things vs Shell Y or Z. I fail to see what the point of reference material is if everyone is expected to memorize the entire thing on demand.
The problem with VR is twofold:
1) The cost of the hardware required to run it is still pretty steep. This is something you really can't just skimp on if you want decent frame rates. Expect to build a system worthy of the " gaming rig " title if you want a decent experience.
2) Due to the first problem, there aren't as many folks buying VR titles. As a result, the developers are hesitant to pour money and resources into the creation of the titles as they will have a difficult time recouping the costs. This really becomes a problem with multiplayer titles as you will quickly note the lack of players to compete against.
I own an HTC Vive unit paired with a higher end gaming rig and while it does the job as advertised, it isn't without some minor issues.
Resolution is one of them and is the first thing you'll notice if you're used to looking at the ultra-crisp flat panel displays we're used to. You will get used to it, but it is an issue. The GPU hardware just isn't there to drive dual 4k displays at 90 frames per second. It'll get there, but we're not there yet.
The unit isn't glasses friendly. You can wear them, but they need to be a narrow frame to fit within the headset. I have a specific pair I wear when using the unit.
The unit can be a bit heavy for some folks and uncomfortable after a time. Those who are prone to motion sickness had best leave this tech alone. The wiring tends to get in the way and I find myself unwrapping from the wiring from time to time.
You need a wide open space to play in. I can't tell you how many times I've whacked the door, ceiling fan or other items in my play room flailing about in VR space. It does an OUTSTANDING job of making you forget you're actually standing in a small room but you'll remind yourself in a hurry when you whack the wall. ( Keeping the boundary warnings on does help )
Overall though, the VR play experience just puts everything else to shame. To the point where I'm looking forward to good VR titles far more than I am a non-VR game. I think the best path going forward for developers would be to develop for both platforms allowing the use of VR hardware if available. The typical first person perspective titles would be great candidates for this. Eg: Skyrim, Fallout4, any of the First Person Shooters out there, etc.
Some of the titles I particularly enjoy:
QuiVR ( pre-release, dedicated developer patches / updates nearly daily. Outstanding title. )
Eagle Flight ( UBISoft's foray into VR. I have more hours played in this than any other title and what I bought the Vive for. Unique flying sim )
Space Pirate Trainer
AudioShield
Thumper
Serious Sam VR ( still in development )
TheBlu ( good for demo use for your family / friends. Lots of " Oh Wow " moments, no motion sickness )
Other than the weather* and maybe traffic reports, quit reading / watching what passes for the news these days.
It ceased being ' news ' a long time ago and evolved into sensationalism designed to grab as many viewers as it can.
Even the Weather portion you have to take with a grain of salt. Especially if there is a hurricane or similar event going on. The media tend to cause more hysteria than anything.
In my opinion, being misinformed is worse than being non-informed. The latter doesn't tend to whip folks into a frenzy like the former can.
Quit watching / reading their bullshit and the problem will quickly fix itself.
Sometimes you have to hold their feet to the fire before they will take action.
Better to know of a vulnerability and force MS to fix it as a priority rather than letting it stay a secret known to only a few and have MS fix it whenever they get around to it.
The older companies have been there and done that already. Previous incidents have honed policies about such behavior in the workplace to a fine edge.
As a result, your older companies make sure you understand they will not tolerate it. At all. Annual reviews and signed acknowledgements of said training with the threat of termination of employment for any violations pretty much keep folks civil.
It's just a matter of the new ones getting a taste of what happens when you don't have clear policies on the issue.
Watch for a zero tolerance policy to be born rather quickly ( as it should ) now that there is a spotlight on it. Will be a non-issue shortly as they will likely fire the guy in question if the allegations turn out to be true.