Censorship in New Zealand: Wide-spread public brain-wash
internet, posted: 16-JUL-2009 11:11
A lot has been written about the coming age of Internet censorship in New Zealand. What I find disturbing in this debate is that many in the public are agreeing that 'something should be done' against child-porn and focus on the budget or the technical details of the implementation, and thus completely miss the bigger picture.
I responded to an article in The Standard. I have replicated, slightly edited and extended that comment here.
We have to remember that any possibility to fil (read the entire post)...
I responded to an article in The Standard. I have replicated, slightly edited and extended that comment here.
We have to remember that any possibility to fil (read the entire post)...
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Image roll-over effects without code clutter
programming, posted: 27-APR-2009 13:08
To make web-pages appear more dynamic and interactive, it has long been established practice to add mouseover effects to links and link-images: Hover with the mouse over a link and the link will optically change to provide the user additional feedback and indication that this is indeed something to click on. It's a nice touch.
Recently, I had to add such mouseover effects for a client. Since normally I don't work a lot on the front-end of web-pages, I'm really not much of of a JavaScript (read the entire post)...
Recently, I had to add such mouseover effects for a client. Since normally I don't work a lot on the front-end of web-pages, I'm really not much of of a JavaScript (read the entire post)...
How about: Three strikes and YOU are out, Xnet?
broadband, posted: 20-MAR-2009 09:08
A recent article on TorrentFreak refers to investigations by the New Zealand Herald, highlighting the case of an Internet user being disconnected by Xnet, merely based on a single alleged copyright infringement. The Herald article states:
... WorldXChange ... says the company is using a system in some ways more draconian than Section 92a. ... "We took the commercial risk of terminating customers but there is nothing to stop those customers taking a swing at us. But most of my customers are re (read the entire post)...
... WorldXChange ... says the company is using a system in some ways more draconian than Section 92a. ... "We took the commercial risk of terminating customers but there is nothing to stop those customers taking a swing at us. But most of my customers are re (read the entire post)...
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UK government supports open source
open source, posted: 26-FEB-2009 12:09
The BBC is reporting today that the UK government is putting more emphasis on opens source software. The article quotes Tom Watson MP, minister for digital engagement:
...public services should where possible avoid being "locked into proprietary software".
The government says:
Government departments will be required to adopt open source software when "there is no significant overall cost difference between open and non-open source products" because of its "inherent flexibility".
I'm (read the entire post)...
...public services should where possible avoid being "locked into proprietary software".
The government says:
Government departments will be required to adopt open source software when "there is no significant overall cost difference between open and non-open source products" because of its "inherent flexibility".
I'm (read the entire post)...
Blackout to demonstrate against S92A
internet, posted: 17-FEB-2009 05:36
To protest against Section 92A of New Zealand law, which will come into effect on February 28th and which allows Internet users to be disconnected through unproven accusation, this blog and many other sites are changing their color theme to black. Information about the blackout campaign and S92A can be found here and here. Geekzone officially participates as well.
My comment on Section 92A can be found here. (read the entire post)...
My comment on Section 92A can be found here. (read the entire post)...
A Linux distro for Cuba
linux, posted: 12-FEB-2009 10:35
Cuba has presented its own Linux distro, called Nova. Some of the argumentation laid out by the Cuban officials is very good:
...Nova was introduced at a Havana computer conference on "technological sovereignty" and is central to the Cuban government's desire to replace the Microsoft software running most of the island's computers....
Unlike Microsoft, Linux is free and has open access that allows users to modify its code to fit their needs. "Private software can have black holes and mal (read the entire post)...
...Nova was introduced at a Havana computer conference on "technological sovereignty" and is central to the Cuban government's desire to replace the Microsoft software running most of the island's computers....
Unlike Microsoft, Linux is free and has open access that allows users to modify its code to fit their needs. "Private software can have black holes and mal (read the entire post)...
Follow up: How to write a Linux virus
linux, posted: 12-FEB-2009 07:10
Yesterday I published an article about How to write a Linux virus in 5 easy steps. There has been quite an overwhelming response for this. Within just a few hours this article became my most visited blog post ever. Wow! Just goes to show that either the article hit a real nerve, or the other articles on my blog are just really boring. :-)
Anyway, a lot of interesting feedback arrived, some of which tthrough the comments on Reddit, some in the comment section of my article, some by email a (read the entire post)...
Anyway, a lot of interesting feedback arrived, some of which tthrough the comments on Reddit, some in the comment section of my article, some by email a (read the entire post)...
How to write a Linux virus in 5 easy steps
linux, posted: 11-FEB-2009 05:33
Note: I posted a follow up to summarise points and comments I received
as part of the overwhelming feedback to this article. Please read this follow-up
before (!) posting a comment, since some of what you might want to say
may already have been addressed.
For the gist of it...... just scroll down to the compact step-by-step guide. But if you like to get some of the background and related explanations then just read on. The rumor of the bullet-proof Linux architecture There is (read the entire post)...
as part of the overwhelming feedback to this article. Please read this follow-up
before (!) posting a comment, since some of what you might want to say
may already have been addressed.
For the gist of it...... just scroll down to the compact step-by-step guide. But if you like to get some of the background and related explanations then just read on. The rumor of the bullet-proof Linux architecture There is (read the entire post)...
The GPU, your personal desktop super computer
misc, posted: 6-FEB-2009 06:19
There once was a time (70s, 80s and early 90s) when a lot of interesting research was done in the field of computer architectures. Researchers and specialised companies developed MIMD, SIMD, array, vector, pipeline and other exciting and innovative computing architectures in order to win the race to the top, to be able to claim the 'fastest computer in the world' title (usually measured in FLOPS, Floating Point Operations per Second). The money was there to buy those multi-million dollar machine
(read the entire post)...
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Half of Australians think it's OK to pirate Microsoft software
microsoft, posted: 5-FEB-2009 08:49
Nice little article on The Inquirer. Apparently, a survey has found that almost half of Australians think it's perfectly ok to run pirated versions of Microsoft software (I assume the percentage is similar in other countries as well):
[Microsoft] has decided to release Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) software down under to cope with what it feels is a rising tide of pirating in Godzone. The OGA, like Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA), operates through the Windows updates service.
[Microso (read the entire post)...
[Microsoft] has decided to release Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) software down under to cope with what it feels is a rising tide of pirating in Godzone. The OGA, like Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA), operates through the Windows updates service.
[Microso (read the entire post)...
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Windows 7 Starter: The anti-feature edition
microsoft, posted: 5-FEB-2009 06:29
Much has been written about the many SKUs (editions) in which Microsoft Windows 7 will hit the market. There are the usual subjects, such as 'Professional' or 'Enterprise'. These editions are defined by the additional features they provide. For example, to get the Aero graphical user interface, you will need to have at least the 'Premium' edition. To get encrypted file systems, you need at least the 'Professional Edition', and so on. This type of re-packaging of different feature sets is a prett
(read the entire post)...
11 reasons to switch to Linux
linux, posted: 4-FEB-2009 08:24
People like to publish top-10 lists of all sorts. And "reasons to switch to Linux" is no exception. Many of those have been published, and the latest entry is here. However, I think the author completely forgot a very important point. Also, some of the points he makes should be examined a bit more closely and critically. The comments on the original article reflect some valid and some unfounded criticism. Let me just run through those points (italics are quotes from the original 10-point list, m
(read the entire post)...
Section 92A (three strikes law) is not a New Zealand novelty
internet, posted: 4-FEB-2009 06:08
With rightful indignation people here in New Zealand have commented on Section 92a in our law, which allows copyright holders to tell ISPs which of their customers to disconnect, without trial, without means of objection, without recourse or punishment for wrong accusations. After being informed of a particular IP address for the third time, the ISP is required to disconnect the user. No need for the copyright holder to actually prove anything. They merely need to accuse.
The copyright ho (read the entire post)...
The copyright ho (read the entire post)...
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Vista: Microsoft's biggest failure yet?
microsoft, posted: 3-FEB-2009 11:19
Not much love for Vista
The Register comments on a recent report by Forrester (the report itself is not a free download). Apparently, adoption of Vista in the enterprise market has not moved much since last July. It's still just under 10% of corporate PCs that run Vista. The Register article then concludes that Windows 7 will come to the market sooner, rather than later.
In essence, the quick release of Windows 7 is seen as both a necessity for Microsoft as well as an admission of (read the entire post)...
The Register comments on a recent report by Forrester (the report itself is not a free download). Apparently, adoption of Vista in the enterprise market has not moved much since last July. It's still just under 10% of corporate PCs that run Vista. The Register article then concludes that Windows 7 will come to the market sooner, rather than later.
In essence, the quick release of Windows 7 is seen as both a necessity for Microsoft as well as an admission of (read the entire post)...
A truly light-weight OS: Written in ASM, with GUI, networking and apps
misc, posted: 3-FEB-2009 09:39
Much has been written about resource hungry operating systems. Microsoft Vista or even various GNU/Linux desktop editions, which can't be happy unless you throw gigabytes of RAM at them. Today I came across an operating system that can truly claim to be light-weight. It is called Kolibri. Check this out:
The complete ISO is 4.4 MB in size (when zipped it's 2.8 MB, so you can basically send it around as email attachment, if you really want to).It's completely written in assembler.It has a nice (read the entire post)...
The complete ISO is 4.4 MB in size (when zipped it's 2.8 MB, so you can basically send it around as email attachment, if you really want to).It's completely written in assembler.It has a nice (read the entire post)...
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A time when IE is NOT used by most people? Don't bet against this trend when designing a site
internet, posted: 3-FEB-2009 08:59
Read Write Web today makes us click on their link with this interesting headline: Soon, Majority of Web Users Will No Longer Use IE. Then when you read it you find that they didn't really mean 'soon' the way we would use that word:
It might take a few more years, or it might happen suddenly...Ok, slightly opimistic there in the phrasing of the headline, weren't we?Nevertheless, the article does point out that even at this time the IE share of users seems to be around 2/3 'only'. That's a far (read the entire post)...
It might take a few more years, or it might happen suddenly...Ok, slightly opimistic there in the phrasing of the headline, weren't we?Nevertheless, the article does point out that even at this time the IE share of users seems to be around 2/3 'only'. That's a far (read the entire post)...
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How Microsoft wins against GNU/Linux in schools
microsoft, posted: 14-JAN-2009 06:09
Very interesting discussion on Slashdot here. The articles that are linked to and the discussion itself provide insights into the various strategies that Microsoft uses to ensure its presence in educational institutions and to prevent Linux from being used in schools instead. The biggest fear is to 'lose against Linux' and to give up on the for-free Microsoft training that tax-funded, public schools are unwittingly providing for Microsoft.
The discussion also mentions Microsoft's "Unlimit (read the entire post)...
The discussion also mentions Microsoft's "Unlimit (read the entire post)...
Ubuntu 8.10 OS giveaway
linux, posted: 14-JAN-2009 05:27
We have a copy of Ubuntu 8.10 to give away this week. Ok, not only this week and not only one copy. In fact, get as many as you want, tell your friends as well. Powerful, modern, user-friendly desktop environment.Out-of-the-box support for most available hardware and USB devices. Home networking. Home computer backup. Secure, multi-user environment, no need to run anti-virus software. Thousands of applications for any task, freely available, easily browsable and
(read the entire post)...
25 open source projects for software development
open source, posted: 20-DEC-2008 05:23
When the times get tough and everyone scrambles to lower costs wherever they can then it is time to consider what open source can do for you and your development efforts. Palamida has written up a list of 25 good open source projects, which could be of great help for you.
"In challenging economic times, how do internal application development teams continue to deliver higher quality software and Web applications with fewer resources? Unlike in past economic downturns, development teams today (read the entire post)...
"In challenging economic times, how do internal application development teams continue to deliver higher quality software and Web applications with fewer resources? Unlike in past economic downturns, development teams today (read the entire post)...
Astonishing example of what FOSS software is up against: Teacher confiscates Linux CDs
free software, posted: 11-DEC-2008 02:57
(Please note the updates at the bottom of this posting...)
From this blog here, we learn about a case where a school teacher sees some kids sharing free Linux disks at school ... and proceeds to confiscate the disks, claiming them to be illegal. The teacher then writes to the father (who provided those disks to the kids):
"... at this point, I am not sure what you are doing is legal. No software is free and spreading that misconception is harmful. These children look up to adults for g (read the entire post)...
From this blog here, we learn about a case where a school teacher sees some kids sharing free Linux disks at school ... and proceeds to confiscate the disks, claiming them to be illegal. The teacher then writes to the father (who provided those disks to the kids):
"... at this point, I am not sure what you are doing is legal. No software is free and spreading that misconception is harmful. These children look up to adults for g (read the entire post)...
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