Retina scans probably suffer from less changes and would be a better choice.
As for privacy: Retena scans are FAR more privacy friendly than fingerprints or DNA. We don't go around leaving our eye prints all over the place. And it is far more difficult to obtain them clandestinely.
>"would require an individual's written consent for the collection, analysis, retention, and sharing of his or her genetic informationâ"including DNA, genetic test results, and even family disease history."
Unless, of course, it is the government taking the samples on people just ACCUSED of a crime. And that information will never be wiped and will be stored and forwarded to every shady agency that wants it..... in the name of keeping us safe from terrorists. Just like fingerprints.
Doesn't matter. Such legislation would never pass, and even if it did, it is just California and has nothing on the Fed.
Even a modern 17" laptop is too large for my needs. I prefer 12 to 15". Yes, the newer 17" ones are much thinner, and finally have usable battery life and even weigh a lot less. But they are still unwieldy for me; plus the 15" and below are ALSO even that much thinner and lighter. It is nice to have choices, though.
>"Looking at the larger manufacturers, it seems that none of their business grade laptops (e.g. Lenovo's T-Series or similar quality levels) have numeric keypads"
That's because putting a keypad on a "laptop" turns it into a huge luggable... something not even suitable for "lap" use. The trend has been toward smaller, lighter, and more portable devices.
I understand what you want, and I love having a REAL numeric keypad. But I also just use a desktop with a full keyboard when I plan to be number crunching, or you can add an external keypad to a reasonably sized and portable laptop.
I also love having a real mouse. Touchpads cut my productivity by at least half. Trackpoints are 100% useless. So even on a "laptop", I am going to use a real mouse; and that takes space.... not much different than an external keypad.
Good info. Looks like I wasn't "signed in" either. But I still suspect my account is linked back to them for tracking, regardless. It is all a bit scary at times.
I have never seen any such button or setting anywhere in the browser or browser menus for any of my HTC devices, including now (I just looked). I also looked for such an option in the stock browser on the Xoom (ICS) and can't find anything like it there, either. Although that does have an "incognito" mode, and that mode's description says nothing about being signed out of Google's account.
As for Chrome running on an Android device, I think it would be surprising if it didn't automatically pick up the current identity automatically and behind the scenes.
If you are using the Android browser on a Google Experience device, you are signed into your "account", whether you want to or not. This means that Google knows who you are and that improves their tracking through Adsense. Then combine that with any Gmail use, for which they have 100% control and access, and your contacts that are linked to that account, etc...
I have seen several reports about tracking with Google browser. And it has face validity (that is how Google does it's thing- for good or bad). Unfortunately, I don't have any such links nor remember any specifics; a result of constant information overload. Hopefully someone else has the info they can share.
Mobile Firefox DOES support most of the desktop add-ons. Apparently not in the beta version yet. I think it just is too new for many to have been tested against it yet, and it might also be because this beta doesn't use the standard Firefox UI... just not sure.
If it doesn't support AdBlock, then you are right, there is not much reason to use it over something like Dophin, which apparently will never have such support.
Yes it is the best feature ever. And the ONLY browser that supports it is Android Firefox. No surprise that there is no support for it in the stock browser. But mysteriously- no support in Dolphin, Chrome, or Opera Android browsers.
Unfortunately, it appears there is no listed AdBlock Plus addon for this new Firefox beta (yet). It could be that it just hasn't passed compatibility yet.
>"What makes this version so special that it warrants a/. front page story?"
Because it is the first Firefox for Android that uses the Android user interface, instead of a totally foreign one. It is a pretty big milestone.
If they can improve the speed to match (or at least approach) the native Android browser AND support Adblock, I will absolutely use it for 100% of my mobile phone and tablet browsing, like I already do for all my desktops.
Ug- unlike the non-beta, this one has no Adblock Plus support (yet). That is the major reason for Android Firefoxt (well, that, and no Google-overlord spying as with the stock and Chrome Android browsers). Hopefully this will come soon.
Also looks like no tablet support for it yet.
Also still looks like you have to install an Addon to get it to switch to non-mobile presentation mode. That is annoying and should be built-in.
>"PDF should be used for printing only. Anything else is a misuse of the format [useit.com]."
That is just one of the most ridiculous things I have read in a long time. I read PDF's on the screen all the time. No, you don't want to share documents with people in PDF format if they need to EDIT the files. But if you want them to be able to READ a document that is formatted and looks exactly how you intend, it is a perfect format for that... even if you have no intent on printing it and just want to read it on a screen.
The link you shared is complaining about trying to use PDF files on websites INSTEAD of proper html presentation of information ON WEB SITES. And for that, I agree. It has nothing to do with other uses.
>"Try convincing a Fortune 1000 company to go PDF for all their presentations. Not going to work, and it's not just because of transitions. PowerPoint is easy. Easier than anything else."
1) I never said that everyone in a Fortune anything company should use PDF for all their presentations.
2) How is it more "easy" than showing or creating a PDF? In Open/LibreOffice, it is one click to create a PDF. Then it can be displayed an anything.
3) The complaint was that he could not create a presentation that would look EXACTLY the same on another machine running MS-Windows with MS-Office. My suggestion to use a PDF is a perfectly reasonable way to deal with the [potential] problem. I have done it many times and it works just fine.
As for packaging: I would hardly call something like Fedora the "distro du jour", unless you measure days in many years. Most distros use RPM or DEB. It really is not that difficult, and all the major distros all have a nice GUI package manager.
And as for why YOU should switch to Linux? I don't know. It isn't my job to convince you, nor do I care. Linux meets my needs fine. It gives me the power, efficiency, reliability, scalability, flexibility, control, and freedom I desire.... all while being free from cost, free from malware, standards based, and open source.
We use wall mounted racks that swing out (hinged) so the back is accessible. They are available in just about any size you like. I highly recommend this if you do want to mount on a wall. Having no easy access to the back of a wall mounted rack is really a pain in the ***.
1) MS-Office Presentations: If you saved your presentation in PDF format, then it will display properly on ANY computer system connected to the projector. The only thing you lose are pretty transitions.
2) Games: Businesses don't care. And, believe it or not, most home users don't care. But I see this being addressed soon, at least somewhat.
3) Poor UI choices: You didn't say enough at all. KDE is a good choice, and there are several other good ones too. Just because Unity sucks, doesn't mean "there are no good choices".
4) Packaging: It would be nice if the Linux community could settle on one packaging system. But, in general, I don't consider this to be a huge problem in Linux.
5) Config: 90% of the configuration is the same or very similar on all distros, but you are right that the last 10% can be a pain in the ass. To me, this is the most valid point you made out of the 5 you listed.
To me, the biggest problems with Linux are compatibility with MS-Windows-only file formats or websites (and there are still far too many out there). And middleware type management stuff.
>"We must draw the line somewhere and define what is private,"
And yet it is perfectly legal for an employer to demand fluid samples from an employee and test for whatever legal or illegal substances they choose. And in some states and fields, it is even REQUIRED.
Same thing with a criminal background check. And others even run credit reports, with the assumption that someone with bad credit is a bad person or someone that is going to steal from the company. And others require physicals to gather health status information.
No probable or even remote cause needed in any of the above cases. So, yeah, demanding a social network password is certainly crossing the line, but there are plenty of other lines that are have already been crossed.
>"Adding features is not necessarily a good thing."
YOU are insightful. It *can* be a good thing, but it can also be a BAD thing. It all depends.
Quite frankly, there are some things that LibreOffice team is going after that somewhat scare me. It might not be such a bad thing to have a more conservative OpenOffice around. Our organization greatly depends on OpenOffice now, and although we can and will appreciate new features, we are more concerned about usability, stability, performance, bug fixes, and compatibility.
Despite the flame/troll nature of the original article, OO/LO are still 99.9% exactly the same. It is quite possible that the Oracle disaster terribly hurt OpenOffice development and that it will take some time to recover.
I have followed both projects carefully. On my list of things we need, neither project has made that much progress.
Slashdot Mirror
Sorry, that is not going to happen. Physics won't let it. You might be able to get a partial *iris* scan from a distance, but not a retinal scan.
Retina scans probably suffer from less changes and would be a better choice.
As for privacy: Retena scans are FAR more privacy friendly than fingerprints or DNA. We don't go around leaving our eye prints all over the place. And it is far more difficult to obtain them clandestinely.
And yet iris and retena scans are FAR more privacy friendly than fingerprints or DNA.
We don't go around leaving our eye prints all over the place. And it is far more difficult to obtain them clandestinely.
"Download Axis Desktop Now!"
click
"Yahoo! Axis does not run on your Operating System. Have an iPhone or iPad? Check out the Yahoo! Axis apps!"
Fail (not as if I really wanted it, anyway)
>"would require an individual's written consent for the collection, analysis, retention, and sharing of his or her genetic informationâ"including DNA, genetic test results, and even family disease history."
Unless, of course, it is the government taking the samples on people just ACCUSED of a crime. And that information will never be wiped and will be stored and forwarded to every shady agency that wants it..... in the name of keeping us safe from terrorists. Just like fingerprints.
Doesn't matter. Such legislation would never pass, and even if it did, it is just California and has nothing on the Fed.
Even a modern 17" laptop is too large for my needs. I prefer 12 to 15". Yes, the newer 17" ones are much thinner, and finally have usable battery life and even weigh a lot less. But they are still unwieldy for me; plus the 15" and below are ALSO even that much thinner and lighter. It is nice to have choices, though.
More important is if Linux runs on it well :)
Oh, I have tried it many times and still hate trackpoints :) I know some people who love it, but I find them extremely frustrating.
>"Looking at the larger manufacturers, it seems that none of their business grade laptops (e.g. Lenovo's T-Series or similar quality levels) have numeric keypads"
That's because putting a keypad on a "laptop" turns it into a huge luggable... something not even suitable for "lap" use. The trend has been toward smaller, lighter, and more portable devices.
I understand what you want, and I love having a REAL numeric keypad. But I also just use a desktop with a full keyboard when I plan to be number crunching, or you can add an external keypad to a reasonably sized and portable laptop.
I also love having a real mouse. Touchpads cut my productivity by at least half. Trackpoints are 100% useless. So even on a "laptop", I am going to use a real mouse; and that takes space.... not much different than an external keypad.
Good info. Looks like I wasn't "signed in" either. But I still suspect my account is linked back to them for tracking, regardless. It is all a bit scary at times.
I have never seen any such button or setting anywhere in the browser or browser menus for any of my HTC devices, including now (I just looked). I also looked for such an option in the stock browser on the Xoom (ICS) and can't find anything like it there, either. Although that does have an "incognito" mode, and that mode's description says nothing about being signed out of Google's account.
As for Chrome running on an Android device, I think it would be surprising if it didn't automatically pick up the current identity automatically and behind the scenes.
If you are using the Android browser on a Google Experience device, you are signed into your "account", whether you want to or not. This means that Google knows who you are and that improves their tracking through Adsense. Then combine that with any Gmail use, for which they have 100% control and access, and your contacts that are linked to that account, etc...
404 File Not Found
The requested URL (articles/view/extensions-opera-mobile-labs/) was not found.
Still, this is interesting if Opera has such an addon. I specifically looked for one last year and found nothing. Meanwhile (April 2012):
http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=1372622
"Are you trying to install an extension? These are currently not supported by Opera Mobile."
"Opera Mobile's URL Filter file doesn't support ad blocking."
I have seen several reports about tracking with Google browser. And it has face validity (that is how Google does it's thing- for good or bad). Unfortunately, I don't have any such links nor remember any specifics; a result of constant information overload. Hopefully someone else has the info they can share.
Mobile Firefox DOES support most of the desktop add-ons. Apparently not in the beta version yet. I think it just is too new for many to have been tested against it yet, and it might also be because this beta doesn't use the standard Firefox UI... just not sure.
If it doesn't support AdBlock, then you are right, there is not much reason to use it over something like Dophin, which apparently will never have such support.
Yes it is the best feature ever. And the ONLY browser that supports it is Android Firefox. No surprise that there is no support for it in the stock browser. But mysteriously- no support in Dolphin, Chrome, or Opera Android browsers.
Unfortunately, it appears there is no listed AdBlock Plus addon for this new Firefox beta (yet). It could be that it just hasn't passed compatibility yet.
>"The native Android browser is slow and crashy so if they haven't even hit that milestone they''re pretty incompetent."
Not sure what devices you are using, but on my HTC phones and my Xoom tablet, the native Android browser is fast and has never crashed.
>"What makes this version so special that it warrants a /. front page story?"
Because it is the first Firefox for Android that uses the Android user interface, instead of a totally foreign one. It is a pretty big milestone.
If they can improve the speed to match (or at least approach) the native Android browser AND support Adblock, I will absolutely use it for 100% of my mobile phone and tablet browsing, like I already do for all my desktops.
Ug- unlike the non-beta, this one has no Adblock Plus support (yet). That is the major reason for Android Firefoxt (well, that, and no Google-overlord spying as with the stock and Chrome Android browsers). Hopefully this will come soon.
Also looks like no tablet support for it yet.
Also still looks like you have to install an Addon to get it to switch to non-mobile presentation mode. That is annoying and should be built-in.
>"PDF should be used for printing only. Anything else is a misuse of the format [useit.com]."
That is just one of the most ridiculous things I have read in a long time. I read PDF's on the screen all the time. No, you don't want to share documents with people in PDF format if they need to EDIT the files. But if you want them to be able to READ a document that is formatted and looks exactly how you intend, it is a perfect format for that... even if you have no intent on printing it and just want to read it on a screen.
The link you shared is complaining about trying to use PDF files on websites INSTEAD of proper html presentation of information ON WEB SITES. And for that, I agree. It has nothing to do with other uses.
>"Try convincing a Fortune 1000 company to go PDF for all their presentations. Not going to work, and it's not just because of transitions. PowerPoint is easy. Easier than anything else."
1) I never said that everyone in a Fortune anything company should use PDF for all their presentations.
2) How is it more "easy" than showing or creating a PDF? In Open/LibreOffice, it is one click to create a PDF. Then it can be displayed an anything.
3) The complaint was that he could not create a presentation that would look EXACTLY the same on another machine running MS-Windows with MS-Office. My suggestion to use a PDF is a perfectly reasonable way to deal with the [potential] problem. I have done it many times and it works just fine.
As for packaging: I would hardly call something like Fedora the "distro du jour", unless you measure days in many years. Most distros use RPM or DEB. It really is not that difficult, and all the major distros all have a nice GUI package manager.
And as for why YOU should switch to Linux? I don't know. It isn't my job to convince you, nor do I care. Linux meets my needs fine. It gives me the power, efficiency, reliability, scalability, flexibility, control, and freedom I desire.... all while being free from cost, free from malware, standards based, and open source.
We use wall mounted racks that swing out (hinged) so the back is accessible. They are available in just about any size you like. I highly recommend this if you do want to mount on a wall. Having no easy access to the back of a wall mounted rack is really a pain in the ***.
1) MS-Office Presentations: If you saved your presentation in PDF format, then it will display properly on ANY computer system connected to the projector. The only thing you lose are pretty transitions.
2) Games: Businesses don't care. And, believe it or not, most home users don't care. But I see this being addressed soon, at least somewhat.
3) Poor UI choices: You didn't say enough at all. KDE is a good choice, and there are several other good ones too. Just because Unity sucks, doesn't mean "there are no good choices".
4) Packaging: It would be nice if the Linux community could settle on one packaging system. But, in general, I don't consider this to be a huge problem in Linux.
5) Config: 90% of the configuration is the same or very similar on all distros, but you are right that the last 10% can be a pain in the ass. To me, this is the most valid point you made out of the 5 you listed.
To me, the biggest problems with Linux are compatibility with MS-Windows-only file formats or websites (and there are still far too many out there). And middleware type management stuff.
>"We must draw the line somewhere and define what is private,"
And yet it is perfectly legal for an employer to demand fluid samples from an employee and test for whatever legal or illegal substances they choose. And in some states and fields, it is
even REQUIRED.
Same thing with a criminal background check. And others even run credit reports, with the assumption that someone with bad credit is a bad person or someone that is going to steal from the company. And others require physicals to gather health status information.
No probable or even remote cause needed in any of the above cases. So, yeah, demanding a social network password is certainly crossing the line, but there are plenty of other lines that are have already been crossed.
>"Adding features is not necessarily a good thing."
YOU are insightful. It *can* be a good thing, but it can also be a BAD thing. It all depends.
Quite frankly, there are some things that LibreOffice team is going after that somewhat scare me. It might not be such a bad thing to have a more conservative OpenOffice around. Our organization greatly depends on OpenOffice now, and although we can and will appreciate new features, we are more concerned about usability, stability, performance, bug fixes, and compatibility.
Despite the flame/troll nature of the original article, OO/LO are still 99.9% exactly the same. It is quite possible that the Oracle disaster terribly hurt OpenOffice development and that it will take some time to recover.
I have followed both projects carefully. On my list of things we need, neither project has made that much progress.
>"offer more than a car stereo want to lock you into their interface and services"
>"The answer in one word: iCar."
Yeah right. Because Apple is a paragon of openness and anti-lockin combined with low prices and choice! No thanks.
How about at least AndroidCar? Or maybe LinuxCar. Perhaps then at least other manufacturers can be involved.