I was watching "Men that Made America" this weekend. It was covering JP Morgan and how he forced George Westinghouse to give up his rights to A/C by threatening him with patent litigation after Westinghouse (and Tesla) won the Niagara Falls power generation project. Westinghouse was 100% in the right...but, he knew he didn't have the financial resources to beat JP Morgan in court. He turned the rights over to JP Morgan. That is how GE became synonymous with A/C power production.
Even if this is prior art or an invalid patent, who has the resources to challenge Apple? And, it's possible that while portions may be thrown out, would enough be thrown out to invalidate the patent?
Yes...firmly agree that software patents should be abolished.
And, the more our own citizens continue taking the bait, the more they will feed us. I suggest you actually READ the article rather than just reading the opportunistic headline.
Of course, a country with an extradition treaty (which works both ways, btw) with another country will extradite someone wanted by the other country...but, in most cases, it is not automatic. For example, if someone faces the death penalty here, a country opposing the DP will likely refuse the extradition without assurances that the DP will not be invoked. And, similarly, we won't extradite someone if they face potential double jeopardy in a Kangaroo court.
The advise the Russians gave is legal advice to someone WANTED (but, not POI) by the US who is traveling to a country with an extradition treaty with the US....not just any 'old Russian citizen. We, the USA, gave and continue to give similar advice when traveling abroad. We aren't grabbing their citizens off the streets. It's old news...just reiterated again and grabbed by people who seem to have filled their hearts with hate for their own country and Russia bilking the Snowden/NSA story. Nothing new here...been going on since the Cold War started - I know as I served during a portion of it and remember the lectures.
Drexel University and others of the Apple Consortium did this in 1984 with then amazing Drexel DU computer... which was the code name for the Apple Macintosh 128K. Yes, I was, initially, irked at having to spend $2000 on a new computer when I just spent nearly that on my IBM PC. That dismay changed shortly after landed a job developing applications for it on an Apple Lisa and cross-compiling. Nervana came when a real native compiler and, other languages were introduced.
Couldn't use them (Mac 128K) for text books - kinda hard to lug around - but, many course materials were made available to students as apps that they could run off the newly announced 3.5" floppy holding a whopping 400K of data. That being said, they made Macs available in classes and some classrooms as needed.
And, as someone who purchases a lot of books (many electronically), I question how well this work....kinda hard to highlight, scribble notes and dog ear pages for quick and easy reference. We'll see....full sized tablets might been a better form factor....but, I am also an old geezer now and need a larger display to see the text.
For what it's worth...I didn't make any money developing for Macs until recently. Made my living developing Windows and mobile apps over 30 years. Wouldn't call myself an Apple Fanboy...even if I do prefer Apple products over PC and Android....just a software engineer making a living and I do what's necessary.
Actually, there are stationary bikes for "spinning" in pools. They use paddles on the wheels for resistance while giving the added benefit of being in a heated pool.
While nothing is better than the benefits of actual exercise, a pill such as this would make a big difference, as you noted, with people with mobility problems.
I, personally, have Type 2 diabetes and love to cycle (not "spin"). I also have achilles tendonitis in BOTH ankles that flares up all the time resulting in excruciating pain. It would be nice to get some of the benefits of exercise on those days when it's just difficult to walk. If it could help get my A1C down, that alone would be exciting. Another benefit of lower A1C???? Better circulation and less inflammation - benefits all around. Bring it on!!!
I suspect you don't know very many police officers and are basing you comments off of what you've seen on TV sitcoms. Correct?
Having worked closely with multiple departments over the course of almost a decade, I can tell you that the number who fill their faces with donuts is actually pretty few. Today, most are extremely fit as the image they need to present is imposing and strong. Donut boy is more likely to encounter a problem than an officer who looks like he will kick your ass should you try something or look at him crosseyed. Plus, the rigors of the job demand they stay in top shape. Why do they seem to congregate at coffee shops? Most likely it's open and, late at night, would often scenes of criminal activity which their presence deters as well as an active meeting place for people. And...there's coffee.
And, in many police departments, the typical officer is a college graduate or, at least, has an associates in criminal justice (and, likely working toward a full degree) and not a knuckle dragger as so many imply. In some cities and towns, they may have their share of bumpkins....but, most are professionals where city/town/state provides a decent salary and resources so they can do their job effectively.
Yes, some police officers do abuse their powers. But, that number is actually quite few. You are more likely to encounter an errant office worker than an abusive police officer. If you have encountered an abusive cop, I would suspect you probably were in the wrong in the first place, no?
I can tell you that the collection of license plates over an extended period of time is nothing new (in the early 2K's, departments in the midwest would drive up and down parking lots and putting in you license plates to see what pops up). And, as tools become available to correlate where those plates are seen with criminal activity and when, criminal activity in those areas will drop. The analytics now available to officers based on incident reports is amazing. So, if you wonder why a cop is someplace you'd not expect...it's probably because analysts tell them that is where and when they will find bad guys.
Yes, I am defending the average cop....somebody has to set the record straight. And...no...I am not a cop.
Or, does everybody else think the guy in the picture is scared to death of the terminator like spacecraft floating around the cabin?
Also...why has it (apparently) taken us almost 65 years to make our own working versions of the propulsion systems used by the alien spacecraft that crashed in Roswell and stored in Area 51? Huh?
Actually, this is pretty cool. Now, the bigger question is whether these devices will be able to maneuver in open space or will they require a magnetic field (Earth, stellar, etc) to function? What is the, theoretically, maximum "thrust" and velocity these craft will be capable of achieving?
Whether you want to call them web apps, thin clients, or terminal based apps - the premise is the same...the name just changes over time.
Web apps will succeed where users can tolerate the inherent limitations of the basic network-based thin-client app paradigm and are content accepting a limited or common native hardware feature set.
Native apps will succeed where people want the highest possible performance and instant access to the latest native platform features and are willing to sacrifice cross platform capability.
Yes, there are hybrid tools that try to bridge the gap...some are better than others. Still, you lose something in the translation when you try to be a jack of all trades and master of none.
To get the best of both worlds would imply that innovation has to stop until manufacturers all implement feature X into the common hardware feature set and the hooks in the "browser" to access them. And, you will need a persistent storage model that will allow web apps to have the same sort of performance that native apps possess. Only where the native app and web app are storing data on a server will that metric ever be even remotely close to a native, persistent store (unless we have FTL wireless networking).
I recommend advocating web-based apps and/or native apps when they are appropriate to the requirements from both a business and user perspective. Unless you can do that, you are little more than a fanboy for whatever paradigm you have locked yourself into.
Best part of it all? You can make money regardless of which way you to choose to go...Web, Native or Hybrid. That's what it's all about, right?
LavaBit shuts down "citing" pressure they have received from gov't agencies. No evidence is provided to indicate that reason behind the shutdown...just they guy's word.
Given how everybody is rallying against the gov't at this time - could this actually just be an action of protest rather than a true, official, take-down? Everybody will just assume that the gov't forced the take down "just because". Who would be the wiser? Right? Makes their point, right?
Now, we have Silent Circle shutting down because they "see the writing on the wall". What writing, is that, exactly? Certainly, if they (or LavaBit) have a take down notice but can't share it to confirm the take down...we really don't have proof of their motivations do we? So, trusting souls that we are, we have to assume their motivations are real and not hype for political or protest purposes.
It could very well be true given the revelations being made public. But, with no proof... it's really little more than a rumor by a conspiracy theorist... or, that's how it will and should be viewed...with a grain of salt.
Just that commercial on TV... It must be true...I read it on the internet.
You are, of course, assuming that those who want the keys can't just hack (or walk their way in) into your server, retrieve your keys and access password. Big assumption.
I wonder if we will see a resurgence in the use of PGP. What would the resources need to be to compromise the web of trust?
The data could be piggybacked onto other "legit" transmissions using steganographic techniques. And, if you are so inclined to encrypt your transmissions, it makes it all that much easier to hide the bits. If they bits are removed at the first gateway or cell tower, the receiver would never know the packet had been tampered with in the first place.
Or, and for those of the real conspiracy theorist mentality, they could also monitor the emissions from you screen such as modulating the screens brightness (or the backlight leds) to send the data. Of course, that would mean they are actually watching you, bugging your home, etc, in which case, you be hosed.
Driving is NOT a right covered by the Constitution - it's a PRIVILEGE allowed by individual states (exception - federal licenses and vehicles) - how quickly people forget or just assume something they consider commonplace to be some sort of a "right".
If you wish to operate a motor vehicle, you are subject to rules and laws of the state where you are operating a vehicle as well as those where the vehicle is registered.
Amazing how people seem to think that any of this is new and the outrage this is causing.
This, and other technology being recently being "outed" has been around since the early-mid 2000's. How do I know? I wrote a lot of it while working for a provider of software for public safety and law enforcement. It isn't secret - you can go to their website and read the features the software provides. Or, you can read any of the LE magazines out there to learn what the various public safety software providers are, in fact, providing to police departments across the country.
Facial recognition was still in its early evolution when we looked at it back in, I believe, 2005-2007. When I left in 2009, we still had not integrated facial recognition into our desktop software (and, we we a leading provider) - let alone mobile software - it just wasn't ready. Other vendors did provide OCR to work with cameras that could read a license plate into software that would then look up the license plate in NCIC and the local DMV. Some states allowed more judicious use when querying the DMV. But, access to NCIC and the criminal justice information systems required probable cause to conduct a search. Each query was logged and, if questioned, the person making the request better have had a valid reason to have conducted the search. A case in point - it is well known that Phila. Traffic and Parking Authority uses OCR scanning to looking up scofflaws by scanning the plates of parked vehicles. Are they hitting the DMV or just a parking violation database managed by the city? That, I am not sure.
However, whenever someone is/was arrested and booked, their images, prints, tattoo information, etc, was placed into our database - instantly searchable by keyword for the generation of a line up. Most photos weren't suitable for facial recognition back then. Traffic analysis is not new either. Our case management system would allow associations to be derived based on information reported in an incident report or booking report. By following the trail, other potential suspects could be quickly discovered. I can see how this capability could be used with phone call meta-data. Was it done? Maybe. But, if it did, it required a warrant.
As for facial recognition - it's possible that today's software is ready to process DMV photos. Some states were requiring that images pass certain checks (via software) before being allowed to be submitted into the system But, I am not sure they can, legally, request those images for retention on their local systems. If it's legal now (at least in PA), I would be highly surprised.
Perhaps, someone currently working in the field, could clarify the current state regarding access to NCIC, DMV and similar systems?
Sorry...need to repost...browser had logged me out...grrrr. ---
The fact is, development of mobile apps as an individual and getting rich has come and gone. The marketplace is filled with so many versions of apps that do the same thing.
That being said, enterprise mobile development is hot. Some think that most companies don't really need an app - maybe, they don't. But, most want to offer additional value to their customers or to develop enterprise apps for use within their company to manage the company's business processes.
When the.dotCom bubble burst...many found themselves out of work...briefly. So, the big website isn't really happening. But, most companies still wanted a presence. And, so those developers still make a decent living. The internet hasn't dried up. And, the promise of mobile is just beginning.
And, the skills one learns...assuming it isn't just HTML or HTML5 will be transferable. Grab a little JavaScript, learn Android or iOS programming. And, learn about hybrid solutions that leverage all of the above. Lots of jobs out there for those skill sets. No worries for those who are on top of their game and keep their skills fresh and take opportunities to learn.
MacPaint and MacWrite were, I believe, the two programs that enabled the original Macintosh 128K to be accepted. It was easy to use and, while not as powerful as some DOS apps, we're fully interoperable wirh one another. I am among the first to receive the Macs at Drexel in 1984. Our curriculum was based around these two apps. And, you know what? It worked. Eventually we received other - the departments developed their own software as well.
I developed on the Lisa. But, the, languages and tools such as Microsoft Basic, Turbo Pascal for the Mac, Lightspeed Pascal ( the Lightspeed C) and MacForth became available. These tools were low in cost and enabled many apps to be written. And, due to the slowness of the CPU and limited resources of those early machines, learned the value of choosing or developing an algorithm that offered performance even on those old machines.
Today, many developers don't appreciate the art of developing those early systems - the libraries they use today are often rehashes of the optimized code written in the days of yore. Yes, today's students should appreciate those early contributions as they see what worked and what failed and why.
If the account was set up for use by a business for business purposs but you administer the account, they can ask you for the login info. So, if you worked for xxx and had you set up an account linking to your email account or used the account to represent xxx, you can alsi be asked for the login info. You personal account is off-limits.
In the interests of public safety, Apple really had to approve this app.
GPS Navigation tools frequently have outdated maps which can lead us astray. And, there is always a horror story of someone getting lost in the desert beause they followed their GPS. Google, if I recall correctly, was sued by a woman when their maps told her to take a pedestrian route that didn't have sidewalks and she was hit by a car.
At the very least, Apple can now deflect such litigeous action to Google. And, by approving it, it shows they "care".
Well, I DO NOT have a text plan on my phone. I have an unlimited data plan and send email and tweets and stuff. But, I do not have an unlimited text plan on my phone and I DO get charged for each one received except when sent by the carrier.
Unless my carrier includes texting for free or is compelled by the courts to not charge for the receipt of each SMS, I will continue to view unsolicited SMS messages as an intrusion and theft. And, I don't want them being able to call me cell phone either - but, seems I can't stop that even by being on the National and State level DNC lists.
A possible alternative would be to permit the customer to enable or disable the receipt of political email and SMS spam by the carrier as an opt-in provided that those messages are clearly marked and the senders registered via short code. This would take the liability off the carrier. Maybe, they could provide an SMS gateway dedicated to political spam. Similarly, they would not charge for legitimate political SMS and allow 3rd party SMS filters on the phone (that can be installed by the user).
I would be one of the first to install such a solution - I HATE spammers and unsolicited text messages.
Couldn't happen to a "nicer" guy. He was so angry about the $0.14 per pizza he would have to spend to give his employees healthcare coverage that he will now be paying out the equivalent on healthcare costs for an entire state and with nothing to show for it.
Today's digital hearing aids are actually very sophisticated devices. People with hearing loss don't need all frequencies (and noise) amplified. Typically, their loss is toward specifics frequencies. The new hearing aids are programable and can enhance the specific frequencies to compensate for the user's hearing losses.
These devices are pretty small and unobtrusive. And, I would have to wonder how many would actually CHECK for one on a kid (unlike a cell phone). These killers aren't the brightest bulbs on the circuit. Granted, eventually, that will change once they become more prevalent and people become aware of them. Or, you use a bracelet type device that, if tampered with, sets of an alarm as well as activate the beacon.
Thing is, if the alert is triggered, every minute counts as the search circle widens every minute. So, if the victim trigges the device, every second counts.
I used to work for the company (Zoombak) Securus acquired. During testing of our device (originally, designed for medium/large dogs), I had my son (who has ADHD) wear our device while on a Scout trip to the middle of a large National park. The device communicated via SMS over T-Mobile's network. It worked well and I knew his location throughout the entire trip.
When the economy turned, people began using the devices not for tracking their pets, but other people (usually, spouses, girlfriends, etc) without their knowledge. (We used to laugh at some of the names users gave their devices). Some used the device to stalk and kill their intended victims. That's the down-side to their use.
The primary difference I see in their new device is the one feature we wanted to see added to ours - that is a button to send an alert. They also improved the ability to obtain a location even when a GPS signal could not be obtained. Given the recent events where kids have been abducted and killed - the moment that somebody realized there was a problem, their location could be ascertained. Hypothetically, if the girls had these devices, they might still be alive today.
If you have been to a large amusement part and lost sight of your child, being able to pull out your smartphone and find your kid is a blessing.
It's good to see they are getting some good press on this.
Slashdot Mirror
I was watching "Men that Made America" this weekend. It was covering JP Morgan and how he forced George Westinghouse to give up his rights to A/C by threatening him with patent litigation after Westinghouse (and Tesla) won the Niagara Falls power generation project. Westinghouse was 100% in the right...but, he knew he didn't have the financial resources to beat JP Morgan in court. He turned the rights over to JP Morgan. That is how GE became synonymous with A/C power production.
Even if this is prior art or an invalid patent, who has the resources to challenge Apple? And, it's possible that while portions may be thrown out, would enough be thrown out to invalidate the patent?
Yes...firmly agree that software patents should be abolished.
And, the more our own citizens continue taking the bait, the more they will feed us. I suggest you actually READ the article rather than just reading the opportunistic headline.
Of course, a country with an extradition treaty (which works both ways, btw) with another country will extradite someone wanted by the other country...but, in most cases, it is not automatic. For example, if someone faces the death penalty here, a country opposing the DP will likely refuse the extradition without assurances that the DP will not be invoked. And, similarly, we won't extradite someone if they face potential double jeopardy in a Kangaroo court.
The advise the Russians gave is legal advice to someone WANTED (but, not POI) by the US who is traveling to a country with an extradition treaty with the US....not just any 'old Russian citizen. We, the USA, gave and continue to give similar advice when traveling abroad. We aren't grabbing their citizens off the streets. It's old news...just reiterated again and grabbed by people who seem to have filled their hearts with hate for their own country and Russia bilking the Snowden/NSA story. Nothing new here...been going on since the Cold War started - I know as I served during a portion of it and remember the lectures.
When everything goes South in my life, it might all because some geek has a woody for my girlfriend or wife? Ducky.
No...not a misprint.
Drexel University and others of the Apple Consortium did this in 1984 with then amazing Drexel DU computer ... which was the code name for the Apple Macintosh 128K. Yes, I was, initially, irked at having to spend $2000 on a new computer when I just spent nearly that on my IBM PC. That dismay changed shortly after landed a job developing applications for it on an Apple Lisa and cross-compiling. Nervana came when a real native compiler and, other languages were introduced.
Couldn't use them (Mac 128K) for text books - kinda hard to lug around - but, many course materials were made available to students as apps that they could run off the newly announced 3.5" floppy holding a whopping 400K of data. That being said, they made Macs available in classes and some classrooms as needed.
And, as someone who purchases a lot of books (many electronically), I question how well this work....kinda hard to highlight, scribble notes and dog ear pages for quick and easy reference. We'll see....full sized tablets might been a better form factor....but, I am also an old geezer now and need a larger display to see the text.
For what it's worth...I didn't make any money developing for Macs until recently. Made my living developing Windows and mobile apps over 30 years. Wouldn't call myself an Apple Fanboy...even if I do prefer Apple products over PC and Android....just a software engineer making a living and I do what's necessary.
Actually, there are stationary bikes for "spinning" in pools. They use paddles on the wheels for resistance while giving the added benefit of being in a heated pool.
While nothing is better than the benefits of actual exercise, a pill such as this would make a big difference, as you noted, with people with mobility problems.
I, personally, have Type 2 diabetes and love to cycle (not "spin"). I also have achilles tendonitis in BOTH ankles that flares up all the time resulting in excruciating pain. It would be nice to get some of the benefits of exercise on those days when it's just difficult to walk. If it could help get my A1C down, that alone would be exciting. Another benefit of lower A1C???? Better circulation and less inflammation - benefits all around. Bring it on!!!
I suspect you don't know very many police officers and are basing you comments off of what you've seen on TV sitcoms. Correct?
Having worked closely with multiple departments over the course of almost a decade, I can tell you that the number who fill their faces with donuts is actually pretty few. Today, most are extremely fit as the image they need to present is imposing and strong. Donut boy is more likely to encounter a problem than an officer who looks like he will kick your ass should you try something or look at him crosseyed. Plus, the rigors of the job demand they stay in top shape. Why do they seem to congregate at coffee shops? Most likely it's open and, late at night, would often scenes of criminal activity which their presence deters as well as an active meeting place for people. And...there's coffee.
And, in many police departments, the typical officer is a college graduate or, at least, has an associates in criminal justice (and, likely working toward a full degree) and not a knuckle dragger as so many imply. In some cities and towns, they may have their share of bumpkins....but, most are professionals where city/town/state provides a decent salary and resources so they can do their job effectively.
Yes, some police officers do abuse their powers. But, that number is actually quite few. You are more likely to encounter an errant office worker than an abusive police officer. If you have encountered an abusive cop, I would suspect you probably were in the wrong in the first place, no?
I can tell you that the collection of license plates over an extended period of time is nothing new (in the early 2K's, departments in the midwest would drive up and down parking lots and putting in you license plates to see what pops up). And, as tools become available to correlate where those plates are seen with criminal activity and when, criminal activity in those areas will drop. The analytics now available to officers based on incident reports is amazing. So, if you wonder why a cop is someplace you'd not expect...it's probably because analysts tell them that is where and when they will find bad guys.
Yes, I am defending the average cop....somebody has to set the record straight. And...no...I am not a cop.
Or, does everybody else think the guy in the picture is scared to death of the terminator like spacecraft floating around the cabin?
Also...why has it (apparently) taken us almost 65 years to make our own working versions of the propulsion systems used by the alien spacecraft that crashed in Roswell and stored in Area 51? Huh?
Actually, this is pretty cool. Now, the bigger question is whether these devices will be able to maneuver in open space or will they require a magnetic field (Earth, stellar, etc) to function? What is the, theoretically, maximum "thrust" and velocity these craft will be capable of achieving?
Whether you want to call them web apps, thin clients, or terminal based apps - the premise is the same...the name just changes over time.
Web apps will succeed where users can tolerate the inherent limitations of the basic network-based thin-client app paradigm and are content accepting a limited or common native hardware feature set.
Native apps will succeed where people want the highest possible performance and instant access to the latest native platform features and are willing to sacrifice cross platform capability.
Yes, there are hybrid tools that try to bridge the gap...some are better than others. Still, you lose something in the translation when you try to be a jack of all trades and master of none.
To get the best of both worlds would imply that innovation has to stop until manufacturers all implement feature X into the common hardware feature set and the hooks in the "browser" to access them. And, you will need a persistent storage model that will allow web apps to have the same sort of performance that native apps possess. Only where the native app and web app are storing data on a server will that metric ever be even remotely close to a native, persistent store (unless we have FTL wireless networking).
I recommend advocating web-based apps and/or native apps when they are appropriate to the requirements from both a business and user perspective. Unless you can do that, you are little more than a fanboy for whatever paradigm you have locked yourself into.
Best part of it all? You can make money regardless of which way you to choose to go...Web, Native or Hybrid. That's what it's all about, right?
Okay, playing devil's advocate here.
LavaBit shuts down "citing" pressure they have received from gov't agencies. No evidence is provided to indicate that reason behind the shutdown...just they guy's word.
Given how everybody is rallying against the gov't at this time - could this actually just be an action of protest rather than a true, official, take-down? Everybody will just assume that the gov't forced the take down "just because". Who would be the wiser? Right? Makes their point, right?
Now, we have Silent Circle shutting down because they "see the writing on the wall". What writing, is that, exactly? Certainly, if they (or LavaBit) have a take down notice but can't share it to confirm the take down...we really don't have proof of their motivations do we? So, trusting souls that we are, we have to assume their motivations are real and not hype for political or protest purposes.
Just say'n.
Thank you. Glad somebody said it.
It could very well be true given the revelations being made public. But, with no proof ... it's really little more than a rumor by a conspiracy theorist ... or, that's how it will and should be viewed...with a grain of salt.
Just that commercial on TV ... It must be true...I read it on the internet.
You are, of course, assuming that those who want the keys can't just hack (or walk their way in) into your server, retrieve your keys and access password. Big assumption.
I wonder if we will see a resurgence in the use of PGP. What would the resources need to be to compromise the web of trust?
The data could be piggybacked onto other "legit" transmissions using steganographic techniques. And, if you are so inclined to encrypt your transmissions, it makes it all that much easier to hide the bits. If they bits are removed at the first gateway or cell tower, the receiver would never know the packet had been tampered with in the first place.
Or, and for those of the real conspiracy theorist mentality, they could also monitor the emissions from you screen such as modulating the screens brightness (or the backlight leds) to send the data. Of course, that would mean they are actually watching you, bugging your home, etc, in which case, you be hosed.
Just say'n.
And, there, my friend, is the ultimate point of research and innovation...it has somebody thinking how to extend her work.
Driving is NOT a right covered by the Constitution - it's a PRIVILEGE allowed by individual states (exception - federal licenses and vehicles) - how quickly people forget or just assume something they consider commonplace to be some sort of a "right".
If you wish to operate a motor vehicle, you are subject to rules and laws of the state where you are operating a vehicle as well as those where the vehicle is registered.
Amazing how people seem to think that any of this is new and the outrage this is causing.
This, and other technology being recently being "outed" has been around since the early-mid 2000's. How do I know? I wrote a lot of it while working for a provider of software for public safety and law enforcement. It isn't secret - you can go to their website and read the features the software provides. Or, you can read any of the LE magazines out there to learn what the various public safety software providers are, in fact, providing to police departments across the country.
Facial recognition was still in its early evolution when we looked at it back in, I believe, 2005-2007. When I left in 2009, we still had not integrated facial recognition into our desktop software (and, we we a leading provider) - let alone mobile software - it just wasn't ready. Other vendors did provide OCR to work with cameras that could read a license plate into software that would then look up the license plate in NCIC and the local DMV. Some states allowed more judicious use when querying the DMV. But, access to NCIC and the criminal justice information systems required probable cause to conduct a search. Each query was logged and, if questioned, the person making the request better have had a valid reason to have conducted the search. A case in point - it is well known that Phila. Traffic and Parking Authority uses OCR scanning to looking up scofflaws by scanning the plates of parked vehicles. Are they hitting the DMV or just a parking violation database managed by the city? That, I am not sure.
However, whenever someone is/was arrested and booked, their images, prints, tattoo information, etc, was placed into our database - instantly searchable by keyword for the generation of a line up. Most photos weren't suitable for facial recognition back then. Traffic analysis is not new either. Our case management system would allow associations to be derived based on information reported in an incident report or booking report. By following the trail, other potential suspects could be quickly discovered. I can see how this capability could be used with phone call meta-data. Was it done? Maybe. But, if it did, it required a warrant.
As for facial recognition - it's possible that today's software is ready to process DMV photos. Some states were requiring that images pass certain checks (via software) before being allowed to be submitted into the system But, I am not sure they can, legally, request those images for retention on their local systems. If it's legal now (at least in PA), I would be highly surprised.
Perhaps, someone currently working in the field, could clarify the current state regarding access to NCIC, DMV and similar systems?
Sorry...need to repost...browser had logged me out...grrrr.
---
The fact is, development of mobile apps as an individual and getting rich has come and gone. The marketplace is filled with so many versions of apps that do the same thing.
That being said, enterprise mobile development is hot. Some think that most companies don't really need an app - maybe, they don't. But, most want to offer additional value to their customers or to develop enterprise apps for use within their company to manage the company's business processes.
When the .dotCom bubble burst...many found themselves out of work...briefly. So, the big website isn't really happening. But, most companies still wanted a presence. And, so those developers still make a decent living. The internet hasn't dried up. And, the promise of mobile is just beginning.
And, the skills one learns...assuming it isn't just HTML or HTML5 will be transferable. Grab a little JavaScript, learn Android or iOS programming. And, learn about hybrid solutions that leverage all of the above. Lots of jobs out there for those skill sets. No worries for those who are on top of their game and keep their skills fresh and take opportunities to learn.
MacPaint and MacWrite were, I believe, the two programs that enabled the original Macintosh 128K to be accepted. It was easy to use and, while not as powerful as some DOS apps, we're fully interoperable wirh one another. I am among the first to receive the Macs at Drexel in 1984. Our curriculum was based around these two apps. And, you know what? It worked. Eventually we received other - the departments developed their own software as well.
I developed on the Lisa. But, the, languages and tools such as Microsoft Basic, Turbo Pascal for the Mac, Lightspeed Pascal ( the Lightspeed C) and MacForth became available. These tools were low in cost and enabled many apps to be written. And, due to the slowness of the CPU and limited resources of those early machines, learned the value of choosing or developing an algorithm that offered performance even on those old machines.
Today, many developers don't appreciate the art of developing those early systems - the libraries they use today are often rehashes of the optimized code written in the days of yore. Yes, today's students should appreciate those early contributions as they see what worked and what failed and why.
If the account was set up for use by a business for business purposs but you administer the account, they can ask you for the login info. So, if you worked for xxx and had you set up an account linking to your email account or used the account to represent xxx, you can alsi be asked for the login info. You personal account is off-limits.
In the interests of public safety, Apple really had to approve this app.
GPS Navigation tools frequently have outdated maps which can lead us astray. And, there is always a horror story of someone getting lost in the desert beause they followed their GPS. Google, if I recall correctly, was sued by a woman when their maps told her to take a pedestrian route that didn't have sidewalks and she was hit by a car.
At the very least, Apple can now deflect such litigeous action to Google. And, by approving it, it shows they "care".
Well, I DO NOT have a text plan on my phone. I have an unlimited data plan and send email and tweets and stuff. But, I do not have an unlimited text plan on my phone and I DO get charged for each one received except when sent by the carrier.
Unless my carrier includes texting for free or is compelled by the courts to not charge for the receipt of each SMS, I will continue to view unsolicited SMS messages as an intrusion and theft. And, I don't want them being able to call me cell phone either - but, seems I can't stop that even by being on the National and State level DNC lists.
A possible alternative would be to permit the customer to enable or disable the receipt of political email and SMS spam by the carrier as an opt-in provided that those messages are clearly marked and the senders registered via short code. This would take the liability off the carrier. Maybe, they could provide an SMS gateway dedicated to political spam. Similarly, they would not charge for legitimate political SMS and allow 3rd party SMS filters on the phone (that can be installed by the user).
I would be one of the first to install such a solution - I HATE spammers and unsolicited text messages.
And, she will remain "innocent".
She can not be tried again for the crime due to double jeopardy - even if she publicly admits killing.
The prosecutor blew this case.
Couldn't happen to a "nicer" guy. He was so angry about the $0.14 per pizza he would have to spend to give his employees healthcare coverage that he will now be paying out the equivalent on healthcare costs for an entire state and with nothing to show for it.
Oops.
Stupid is as stupid does.
Today's digital hearing aids are actually very sophisticated devices. People with hearing loss don't need all frequencies (and noise) amplified. Typically, their loss is toward specifics frequencies. The new hearing aids are programable and can enhance the specific frequencies to compensate for the user's hearing losses.
These devices are pretty small and unobtrusive. And, I would have to wonder how many would actually CHECK for one on a kid (unlike a cell phone). These killers aren't the brightest bulbs on the circuit. Granted, eventually, that will change once they become more prevalent and people become aware of them. Or, you use a bracelet type device that, if tampered with, sets of an alarm as well as activate the beacon.
Thing is, if the alert is triggered, every minute counts as the search circle widens every minute. So, if the victim trigges the device, every second counts.
I used to work for the company (Zoombak) Securus acquired. During testing of our device (originally, designed for medium/large dogs), I had my son (who has ADHD) wear our device while on a Scout trip to the middle of a large National park. The device communicated via SMS over T-Mobile's network. It worked well and I knew his location throughout the entire trip.
When the economy turned, people began using the devices not for tracking their pets, but other people (usually, spouses, girlfriends, etc) without their knowledge. (We used to laugh at some of the names users gave their devices). Some used the device to stalk and kill their intended victims. That's the down-side to their use.
The primary difference I see in their new device is the one feature we wanted to see added to ours - that is a button to send an alert. They also improved the ability to obtain a location even when a GPS signal could not be obtained. Given the recent events where kids have been abducted and killed - the moment that somebody realized there was a problem, their location could be ascertained. Hypothetically, if the girls had these devices, they might still be alive today.
If you have been to a large amusement part and lost sight of your child, being able to pull out your smartphone and find your kid is a blessing.
It's good to see they are getting some good press on this.