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Demon-Haunted World

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Re: Demon-Haunted World

#211

Post by bitL »

jordigh wrote: post #145

There is so much "Stallman was right" in all of these examples... non-free software always manages to eventually sneak in malicious anti-user features, where the user has no recourse. At least with free software there's always the fundamental freedom to fork. You think systemd is a Red Hat plot to destroy Linux, then go use Devuan. You don't trust what Google could be doing with Chrome, take your pick of alternatives…

> Whenever someone refuses to show source code I always think, "what are you hiding in there?"

I think it's mainly just laziness, most devs don't want to be always under review and can live easier lives if they can allow themselves a bit of a mess in their own projects without consistenly dealing with complaints. And many open source users are super obnoxious, bombarding devs with insane questions/requests all the time, then acting super hostile when they don't get what they want right away.

Re: Demon-Haunted World

#212

Post by hycaria »

Nomentatus wrote: post #147

This isn't a new demon-haunted world, this is the old, demon-haunted world before nineteenth-century progressive politics, back when "milk" that wasn't half chalk still might have a fish in it (see famous Thoreau quote on evidence.) We aren't enforcing the laws we have and our grandfathers and mothers had. (Three guesses why.) Not on monopolies, contracts, patent misuse... nothing. Just this week I and Hearthstone ca…

Can't you turn around against your bank in the case where unapproved payments would be made with your leaked card ? I mean thats a displeasant clause for sure, but I don't see its implications as gigantic as you seem to do.

Re: Demon-Haunted World

#213

Post by hutzlibu »

amitp wrote: post #118
meric wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My iPhone 6 is still snappy but the battery barely lasts 2 hours. I'm half way to work and it's at 29%.

If you're on a Mac, try Coconut Battery to check the battery health. Mine was showing 30% of original capacity, which explained why it kept draining quickly. Resetting (recalibrating?) it by letting it drain completely and letting it charge got it back up to 80%. I don't know why it had gotten into a bad state :(

> I don't know why it had gotten into a bad state :(

just ordinary use makes them that way. Calibrating is necessary for all lithium batteries, but normally you charge when you think its time and don't wait for the battery to get empty first

Re: Demon-Haunted World

#214

Post by sbarre »

jcbrand wrote: post #184
computator wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Whenever someone refuses to show source code I always think, "what are you hiding in there?" There's usually something. There's a dilemma that developers face when deciding to release source code that's bigger than fear of software theft or the desire to hide something evil in the code. It's a fear of being scrutinized, ridiculed, or humiliated over the quality of their code. Imagine 2 programs that do something us…

I'm skeptical that this is actually as big a reason people don't want to open-source their code as you assume. In any case, there are good solutions for it. Firstly, if you know from the start that you're going to open source the code, then you'll make more of an effort than (perhaps) usual to ensure that the code is well-organised, well-tested and elegant. At least within your current level of competence, but that's…

> Firstly, if you know from the start that you're going to open source the code, then you'll make more of an effort than (perhaps) usual to ensure that the code is well-organised, well-tested and elegant.

This is assuming you even realize that your code is un-organized and inelegant.

There is no doubt tons of software out there written by journeyman developers who don't know best practices or good coding techniques, but just know how to "ship it"..

And, honestly, there's nothing wrong with that..

Re: Demon-Haunted World

#215

Post by graphitezepp »

yAnonymous wrote: post #189
computator wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Whenever someone refuses to show source code I always think, "what are you hiding in there?" There's usually something. There's a dilemma that developers face when deciding to release source code that's bigger than fear of software theft or the desire to hide something evil in the code. It's a fear of being scrutinized, ridiculed, or humiliated over the quality of their code. Imagine 2 programs that do something us…

This is a non-issue and you are projecting your own fears on others. I work on very large projects and frankly, some of the code is utter crap. Still, if someone came along and criticized it without offering patches, they'd be the one looking stupid.

I have not been here long, but my current company has absolutely no culture of shaming code. People do some pretty egregious things, and not just in terms of adherence to style, and their work is still lauded if it runs fast.

Re: Demon-Haunted World

#216

Post by pjc50 »

middleorigin wrote: post #117
sliken wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to mention headphone ports, usb ports, and charging ports. Also most phones have a vibrate function which uses an electric motor.

Wait, ports are considered moving parts?

Yes. Connectors like USB and headphones consist of metal "fingers" in a plastic insulating shell, perhaps with an outer metal shell. The contacts are sprung and need to move. So the simplest, most natural implementation has gaps around the contacts. There's also usually a thin gap between the connector on the PCB and the outer casing of the phone. If you want it sealed you have to add gaskets everywhere during assembly.

Not to mention sockets for SIM and SD cards. If you can take the back off the whole phone to change the battery, that makes it a lot harder.

Quite a few phones are waterproof or splashproof : http://www.techradar.com/news/best-waterproof-phone

Exact meaning of ingress protection "IP" ratings: http://www.dsmt.com/resources/ip-rating-chart/

Or if you want something cheaper: https://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_602673.html

Re: Demon-Haunted World

#217

Post by jabl »

captaincrowbar wrote: post #14

Doctorow mentions the cases where a printer company has made their software lie about how much ink was left in a cartridge to make consumers replace them more often. I always wondered why a manufacturer would want to do that. I mean, I understand the motive of making consumers buy ink more often, but from the manufacturer's point of view, why would they want to throw perfectly good ink away? Colour ink isn't as expen…

Sorry to hijack the thread, but what is considered a good printer brand nowadays? My requirements:

- Someone who doesn't treat their customer as a criminal (e.g. no DRM in cartridges games, please)

- Works on Linux/MacOS/Windows.

In particular, I'm looking for a printer for my home. I don't print very much, so an inkjet is probably out if the cartridges still have a habit of drying up in a few months.

Re: Demon-Haunted World

#218

Post by pjc50 »

tftjfjtft wrote: post #135
wyager wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not remotely how waterproofing works. Getting any meaningful degree of ingress protection is hard . It requires entirely different assembly techniques and is generally contrary to user serviceability. Proprietary batteries are the reason thin electronics exist. You can't use 18650s to make a MacBook. I think the problem here is that you vastly underestimate how hard manufacturing is. The things you're proposin…

No one thinks its free of any effort. But $10 wrist watches claim 100m waterproof (whatever 100m means in watch land). All I want is my phone's screen not to mess up when if my buddy pushes me into the pool. 2 ft of water for 10 seconds. That's it.

Behold the $75 claimed waterproof phone: https://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_602673.html

Re: Demon-Haunted World

#219

Post by graphitezepp »

hutzlibu wrote: post #209
Nomentatus wrote: post #147

This isn't a new demon-haunted world, this is the old, demon-haunted world before nineteenth-century progressive politics, back when "milk" that wasn't half chalk still might have a fish in it (see famous Thoreau quote on evidence.) We aren't enforcing the laws we have and our grandfathers and mothers had. (Three guesses why.) Not on monopolies, contracts, patent misuse... nothing. Just this week I and Hearthstone ca…

"on the beat, and Trump vowing to fire more regulators, that's what's changed. " I don't really like to defend trumps sayings, but in this case I don't think there are government regulators needed. The company acted shitty and you took the consequences and quit and avoid this company. That's how market works. No need for regulation here. The "only" problem with this in general today is, that most people do not unders…

In past this was how I thought, and still is to a large degree and think smarter people is the core, but I do see ways in which regulation can create real positive change. Specifically on the issue of say, how companies are allowed to market. People might be smarter if they are less brainwashed.

Re: Demon-Haunted World

#220

Post by hutzlibu »

graphitezepp wrote: post #219
hutzlibu wrote: post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"on the beat, and Trump vowing to fire more regulators, that's what's changed. " I don't really like to defend trumps sayings, but in this case I don't think there are government regulators needed. The company acted shitty and you took the consequences and quit and avoid this company. That's how market works. No need for regulation here. The "only" problem with this in general today is, that most people do not unders…

In past this was how I thought, and still is to a large degree and think smarter people is the core, but I do see ways in which regulation can create real positive change. Specifically on the issue of say, how companies are allowed to market. People might be smarter if they are less brainwashed.

hm, I see it more in a way, that people are not so smart because of regulation. Like, if the state allows this to be sold, it can't be fraud. So they don't bother to check further.

And regulation s about brainwashing ... I am not sure how that could really work.

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