Slashdot Mirror


User: The+New+Andy

The+New+Andy's activity in the archive.

Stories
0
Comments
94
First seen
Last seen
Profile
(view on slashdot.org)

Comments · 94

  1. Best Quote on Tales From the Slashdot Help Desk: Reverse-Engineering Rob Malda (Video) · · Score: 1

    A cat is no trade for integrity.

    Truer words have never been spoken.

  2. Re:Good luck with that on GNU Hands Out Trisquel At a Microsoft Store · · Score: 1

    Ubuntu is a tough enough sale and that's with some proprietary stuff added on. Don't even want to know if Trisquel can play DVDs out of the box or not.

    Well since Windows 8 can't play DVDs out of the box, I'm guessing they are going to be even on that one. But I think putting Windows 8 "out of the box" up against nearly any Linux distribution is going to look bad for Windows 8. Can Windows 8 read pdfs out of the box? Word documents? Excel spreadsheets?

  3. What does it look like when it fails? on Rise of the Ping Pong Robots · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I wish the videos showed what happened when it stuffed up. This is impressive, but seeing how far you can push it before it fails would let me know the upper bound of its impressiveness :-).

  4. Re:Pointer typedefs on Programming Mistakes To Avoid · · Score: 2
    The obvious reason you might want a typedef like that is for a mostly-opaque data-structure, where you have several different implementations, some of which require a level of indirection, some of which don't. (The "mostly" in "mostly-opaque" is there to mean that calling code never accesses the type directly, but the type is complete, so the compiler can put it on the stack).

    In short - pointer typedefs are good for the times when you really want to say "this is data of some type, maybe a pointer, maybe a struct, maybe an int".

    (oh, and to add to your complaints about that code - _FOO is also a reserved identifier...)

  5. Re:This is impractical on Senate Votes To Turn Down Volume On TV Commercials · · Score: 1
    It actually is non-trivial to do it correctly.

    Have a look at the Fletcher-Munson curves and think what happens to sound when you apply a uniform gain/attenuation to it. If sounds at all frequencies move by the same amount, then adjusting the volume will change the character of what you are hearing. Try turning down the volume on your music and see how you lose the bass and treble, and all that remains is the stuff in the vocal region.

  6. Re:No, it is practical on Senate Votes To Turn Down Volume On TV Commercials · · Score: 1
    RMS doesn't tell you how loud something will be perceived though. A sine wave at 1kHz with the same RMS as one at 15kHz will be perceived to be a lot louder.

    If this is really the full text of the bill, then it is way too vague. It uses terms like loudness without defining them. If most of the population can't hear above 12kHz because they listened to their iPods too loud when they were younger, then does the definition of "loudness" change? If it doesn't, then expect a lot of treble in the programs and bass in the ads ("When listened to by people without damaged hearing, they are equal loudness").

  7. Re:Hmmm... on VP8 Codec Coming To FFmpeg · · Score: 4, Insightful
    ... or alternatively, it means that Google has found that it owns patents to bits inside H.264. So then as soon as someone sues Google (or "any entity") for stuff in VP8 they lose the right to use the bits of H.264 which are covered by patents that Google acquired when they purchased on2.

    I wouldn't be surprised if the ace up Google's sleeve is a patent on something which is key in both H.264 and VP8.

  8. Re:I Am Shocked! on UMG To Price New CDs Under $10 · · Score: 1
    There are still very good reasons to avoid buying mp3s:

    1) Postprocessing (e.g. a graphic eq) might raise the volume of bits the encoder assumed were quiet enough to skimp on bits for.

    2) For mobile devices, you might want to optimise for battery life. For my player, this means FLAC, for others it might be a different format... I don't want to be re-encoding an mp3 as something else lossy (or even just dropping its bitrate)

    3) Getting gapless playback support isn't quite mature enough yet in my opinion (lots of players don't get it right).

  9. Re:Why put tabs in code anyway? on Visual Studio 2010 Forces Tab Indenting · · Score: 1
    No, you should use tabs all the way up to the indentation level you are at, and then use spaces if needed for vertical alignment, and then write what you want.

    If you use tabs for aligning stuff, then it breaks when you change the size of a tab.

  10. Re:Amazon link on CIA Manual Thought Lost In 1973 Available On Amazon · · Score: 1

    ... or I could have deduced that they took it from boingboing by just reading the very next two words after the link, where they credit the story as "via BoingBoing"

  11. Amazon link on CIA Manual Thought Lost In 1973 Available On Amazon · · Score: 1
    Amazon link (from the article, which shows that the Huffington Post guys took it from boingboing... so if there is a referrer code in there, then it isn't mine).

    I much prefer a link to the book on amazon than a write up about how it exists there. Given that the book is "In Stock" for $15, I'm guessing this isn't the one remaining copy for sale :)

  12. Re:Quick! on FBI Cracks "Largest Phishing Case Ever" · · Score: 3, Funny

    What's his email? I'll send him a link so he can reactivate his account and get going again.

  13. Re:Lirpa Loof on IE 8.1 Supports Firefox Plugins, Rendering Engine · · Score: 1
    I think it depends where you are. Around here, "the 31st of March" would be fairly common (except for the fact that it is the 1st of April).

    When it comes to writing stuff the way you say it - dollar signs are something everyone can agree are wrong :)

  14. My experience on Timetable App Developer Gets Nastygram From Transit Sydney · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I recently had a dialog with them about this stuff. Here is how it went: Me:

    I would like to put a program on my laptop that will hold the cityrail timetable information, so I can check when trains are coming without needing the internet. I understand that the timetables are protected by copyright law, and that without your written permission I can't do this. So, could you grant me permission to create and distribute copies of the timetable? I don't have any intentions to do this for commercial reasons, but I would want to distribute the work I've done under a licence that allows others to do so if they choose. Thanks for your time.

    Them:

    I refer to your email requesting to use the CityRail timetable. Copyright of all CityRail timetables is owned by RailCorp. Any use of these timetables in a manner which breaches such copyright by a third party can only occur through the grant of a suitable licence by RailCorp. RailCorp is not currently entering into licensing arrangements for its timetables for the purpose specified in your enquiry. I trust this information is of assistance. Yours sincerely

    Me:

    I was surprised to receive the answer I did about timetables. What exactly are you trying to achieve by preventing people from using your timetables? Is there any reason why you don't want to make it easier for people to know when trains are due? The information I would like is just the information already on your website, made available for free to anyone. I just want to put it in a more useful format. Thanks for your time.

    Them:

    I refer to your further email requesting permission to reproduce CityRail timetables. To address your question, CityRail is not preventing the public from accessing its timetables. The fact that timetables are readily available at stations, and published on the CityRail website, should more than answer your query. While I appreciate the motives behind your request, I can only reiterate our organisation's previous position, namely, that we are unable to accede to your request for reasons of copyright. I am sorry that I am unable to answer you in more favourable terms. Yours sincerely

    Me:

    Thanks for getting back to me, it is much appreciated. Sorry to keep bothering you, however you seem to have misinterpreted my previous message. My first message asked for permission to use the timetables. To this, you said no. My second message asked why you said no. To this, you restated your original response. So for my third message, I'm restating the question from before: Why can't/won't you allow timetable information to be copied and used? Thanks for your time.

    Them:

    I refer to your further enquiry regarding the use of CityRail timetables on internet sites other than the www.cityrail.info and 131 500 infoline site. Please accept my apology on behalf of RailCorp if our previous responses have not dealt with this issue with sufficient clarity. Copyright of all CityRail timetables is owned by RailCorp. Any use of these timetables in a manner which breaches such copyright by a third party can only occur through the grant of a suitable licence by RailCorp. RailCorp is not currently entering into licensing arrangements for its timetables for the purpose specified in your enquiry. As explained in a previous response, this is because RailCorp wishes to ensure the information provided to customers is the most up-to-date and includes warning of trackwork. This is not currently possible even on our CityRail site until further internet and web management projects are completed. CityRail also runs several special timetables over Christmas/NYE, Easter etc. and for special events which, by our experience, are rarely updated in a timely fashion on unlicensed third party app

  15. Re:Microsoft already replied on Security Hole In Windows 7 UAC · · Score: 1
    UAC should prevent it from disabling UAC?

    I don't see how UAC was supposed to prevent you from downloading said malware, nor should it prevent you from running it - what it should be doing is preventing it from doing anything you didn't authorize it to do.

  16. Re:Microsoft already replied on Security Hole In Windows 7 UAC · · Score: 2, Insightful
    From Microsoft's reply:

    * The only way this could be changed without the userâ(TM)s knowledge is by malicious code already running on the box.

    * In order for malicious code to have gotten on to the box, something else has already been breached (or the user has explicitly consented)

    What exactly is UAC then trying to protect people against? If protecting against malicious code isn't in the requirements, then it seems pretty useless.

  17. Watermarks on How Do You Monitor Documents? · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Watermark stuff where it is useful so you can see where copies of stuff have come from. Don't bother trying to track things you can't actually track (file viewing, opening, printing, etc).

    The watermark doesn't even have to be high tech, it can just be a guid inserted at some point in the document, with a company policy that says when you can remove it (never?), when you should change it (when it crosses a boundary, like a departmental boundary) and how records should be kept (e.g. a central database of which event caused the creation of a new guid).

  18. Re:But how .. on In UK, 12M Taxpayers Lost With USB Stick · · Score: 3, Informative

    Or possibly just that the story about a guy who found a usb stick and deleted everything on it didn't make it to the news.

  19. Only a trial on Peru To Be First To Put Windows On OLPC Laptop · · Score: 3, Informative

    Open Source On The Air has an interview with Pia Waugh which talks about this. The vast majority of the laptops will be Linux, there is a small trial of Windows (and as you'd expect, it doesn't run so well).

  20. Re:ignorance on Computer Beats Pro At US Go Congress · · Score: 1

    I believe that is what the "in the domain of board games" bit meant.

  21. Go smaller or get a refund on Why Buy a PC Preloaded With Linux? · · Score: 1
    I recently purchased a computer, and I just went with a smallish company that lets you spec the computer how you want (www.secret.com.au if you are interested). One of the questions is about what operating system you want. By splitting it up this way and having a cost associated with each item, I can see that I saved anywhere between AU$120 (XP home) and AU$250 (Vista Ultimate).

    If you do get a computer with windows bundled, then just return the windows part for a full refund. You are entitled to it. It will make it easier for you if you can get the price itemized (or else they'll claim that windows cost them $1). But you are well within your rights to get a refund.

  22. Re:consider... on What to Seek in an Older Subnotebook? · · Score: 4, Informative
    The nokia n810 would be a much better option than an iPod touch.

    1) You don't have to hack it to do what you want.

    2) It has a significantly better resolution (800x480)

    3) It has a hardware keyboard (which is fiddly, but at least you don't have to use up screen estate). If you want a better keyboard, you can get USB host mode drivers and plug a USB keyboard into it (or use a bluetooth keyboard).

    4) It has removable storage.

  23. Re:"Ready for my mom's desktop." on Getting Past "Ready For the Desktop" · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The UIs are extremely poorly designed on Linux and worse still they're often inconsistent with half a dozen ways to do the same operation.
    I seem to remember one of the hints in the Microsoft Accessibility Guidelines was that the more ways to do a single operation, the more accessible it is. I don't use windows, so I can't check now, but I'm pretty sure I can think of 4 ways to move a file, 5 ways to change screen resolution and 4 ways to shut down the computer. I don't think this is a bad thing.
  24. Re:Destructive mindset on Inside The Twisted Mind of Bruce Schneier · · Score: 1

    Er, you can trivially convert a public key crypto system to a symmetric system (just make the shared key the combination of the private and public key).

  25. Re:You're damn right, most people don't get it! on Inside The Twisted Mind of Bruce Schneier · · Score: 1
    You now have another problem though: Student has exam they don't want to do, so they call the school from a payphone and fake a bomb threat. Weee, no exam.

    Given that most school bomb threats are fake, and there are lots of people who would like to fake them, the problem is a bit trickier than just avoiding getting students blown up.