Recent Posts

3201

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by wraith808 on January 15, 2016, 02:07 PM »

I want to see what Renegade thinks.  Especially in the light of that troubling PDF he directed us to a bit ago.

-wraith808 (January 15, 2016, 11:44 AM)

Me too, I'm just afraid by the time he chimes in it'll be under $200. I hate to 'Panic Sale' the coin, but I'm really really tired of the waiting game...and I have other things - being held up by it - that need to get done.

-Stoic Joker (January 15, 2016, 12:57 PM)

If you read the article, some people ask some really good questions of him... that he doesn't answer.

Mike, How were you able to sell your coins if your claim “Couldn’t move your existing money” is true?

I think someone who quits an open source project to work for a company that does basically the same (centralized blockchain) should not comment on their previous “employer”. It’s the lowest thing you can do, you lost all credibility and if I were an employer I would never hire someone who just talks crap about an ex-employer.

You do realize that these messages are poisonous to Bitcoin… And that, especially coming from you, this might be a nail in the Bitcoin coffin. I mean, it’s a little petty to spread these articles to destroy the confidence in Bitcoin, just because things didn’t go the way you wanted it to go. There would’ve been better solutions… I’m just saying, we all have a problem now… I hope Bitcoin won’t respond too much to this article..

3202

Living Room / Re: Does anyone here use Bitcoins?

« Last post by wraith808 on January 15, 2016, 11:44 AM »

I want to see what Renegade thinks.  Especially in the light of that troubling PDF he directed us to a bit ago.

3203

DC Website Help and Extras / Re: Official CMS Migration Progress Thread - September 2017

« Last post by wraith808 on January 14, 2016, 07:13 PM »

Nothing looks different 

3204

DC Website Help and Extras / Re: Official CMS Migration Progress Thread - September 2017

« Last post by wraith808 on January 14, 2016, 06:08 PM »

I think I'm gonna need to buy some potions

-Stephen66515 (January 14, 2016, 04:34 PM)

P-o-o-o-o-tions for sale!
P-o-o-o-o-tions for sale!
P-o-o-o-o-tions for sale!
...
then again,
can you give a reference?

-tomos (January 14, 2016, 05:59 PM)

You calling him Miracle Max?

"Bring out your dead!" *Clank*
"Bring out your dead!" *Clank*

"I'm not dead yet!"

3205

DC Website Help and Extras / Re: Official CMS Migration Progress Thread - September 2017

« Last post by wraith808 on January 14, 2016, 05:53 PM »

SOOOOOO MANY OLD PAGES THAT NOBODY EVER USESSSSSSSS!

-Stephen66515 (January 14, 2016, 04:34 PM)

Hey!  I use those pages!   

3206

Living Room / Excellent articles on the advantages of Subscriptions over Ads

« Last post by wraith808 on January 14, 2016, 12:29 PM »

Selling ads is a short-term strategy. Here’s why subscriptions are the future of journalism

One quote that I wanted to highlight:

Damaging the ties with your audience is the last thing one should do, yet it seems to be every publisher’s strategy at the moment.

Right now, I really don't care about most content.  When I see the damage done by their revenue stream to me personally, when I see them try to gate the content, I just become uninterested.  I do subscribe to google contributor.  I flattr.  I am a Patreon.  I'm willing to pay for the content that I consume.  I'm just not willing to have your ads flashed at me all the time, and the inherent vulnerabilities that they introduce.

How hard of a concept is that?

3207

Living Room / Comcast Upselling - and wrong about the upsell!

« Last post by wraith808 on January 14, 2016, 12:13 PM »

I saw this bit on Ghacks via consumerist:

http://consumerist.c...l-me-on-a-new-modem/

BB knows that sometimes customers can indeed be left out in the cold by using old tech — just ask all those people who had to scramble for digital antennas and cable boxes when that changeover happened — so he called Comcast to ask exactly what he was missing out on with his old modem. He says the support rep would only tell him that he wasn’t enjoying the full benefits of the upgraded modem, but failed to provide any real technical info about what this meant.
“Now they’ve moved to more aggressive measures to try to get me to upgrade,” writes BB. “The other day as I was browsing the web on my phone, on my home WiFi, I got a pop-up notice while browsing on wired.com.” (see screenshot above)
In big red letters, the notice alerts BB that there is some “Action Needed” on his service.
It reads:
“Our records indicate that the cable modem, which you currently use for your XFINITY Internet service, may not be able to receive the full range of our speeds. To ensure you’re receiving the full benefits of your XFINITY Internet service, please replace your cable modem.”
“This feels like a step too far,” writes BB. “It just feels invasive in a way I’m not comfortable with.”
A Comcast exec we talked to argued that this is not an attempt to upsell the customer on a new modem, and instead characterized the alert as an educational tool to let the customer know that their device may be nearing the end of its life cycle. They explained that while an older modem may work, it may also no longer be receiving necessary, regular software updates and bug fixes.

I've been getting the same alerts.  The only difference between him and me is that my modem IS new, and it IS on their list of modems.  In fact, it's on the TOP of their list.

But still I get notifications.

3208

Living Room / Re: Looking at an android tablet

« Last post by wraith808 on January 13, 2016, 06:04 PM »

Thanks!  Some good info there

3209

Living Room / Re: Looking at an android tablet

« Last post by wraith808 on January 13, 2016, 03:00 PM »

I have another question.  Someone said before that the Nook tablet uses Lollipop.  The Nook on bn doesn't say what version of Android is included, but the S2 elsewhere says 5.0.

Anyone have any insight into that?

http://www.amazon.co...-Black/dp/B010OTFRYU

http://nook.barnesan...nch-tablet/379004444

http://www.engadget....axy-tab-s2-hands-on/

http://www.engadget....alaxy-tab-s2-review/

3210

Living Room / Re: Looking at an android tablet

« Last post by wraith808 on January 12, 2016, 05:03 PM »

That's good advice!  Thanks!

3211

Living Room / Re: Forbes forces users to disable ad blockers, promptly serves malware.

« Last post by wraith808 on January 11, 2016, 11:33 PM »

IMPORTANT: uBlock Origin is completely unrelated to the site "ublock.org".

What are people here using?

-Renegade (January 11, 2016, 10:16 PM)

There are two version from the cluster that happened with the original maintainer of ublock.  Ublock Origin is the one from Gorhil- the original maintainer.  And that statement about not being associate is true, because ublock (non-origin) is the one from the person that took it over.  I use uBlock non-origin.

3212

Living Room / Re: Looking at an android tablet

« Last post by wraith808 on January 11, 2016, 10:31 PM »

Ah... thanks!  I figured it out... it was swipe with the edge of your hand across the screen.

3213

Living Room / Re: Forbes forces users to disable ad blockers, promptly serves malware.

« Last post by wraith808 on January 11, 2016, 10:09 PM »

If they'd go back to 'dumb ads' then I think that they wouldn't have this problem.  Images... and pay the artist/photographer.  Like magazine ads.  But... progress, right?

3214

Living Room / Re: Recommend some music videos to me!

« Last post by wraith808 on January 11, 2016, 10:07 PM »

I wasn't really in the news cycle yesterday, so I hadn't heard.  I could have done without knowing that I'm living in a world without David Bowie.

3215

Living Room / Re: Looking at an android tablet

« Last post by wraith808 on January 11, 2016, 06:42 PM »

Chuwi tablets turn up on OzBargain (search link) fairly regularly, you can peruse the comments there.

-4wd (January 11, 2016, 06:31 PM)

Thanks.  Another option bites the dust.

For anyone interested: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/228113

3216

Living Room / Re: Looking at an android tablet

« Last post by wraith808 on January 11, 2016, 06:18 PM »

Samsung Tab (Nook) is just a Tab 4 with some Barnes & Noble apps added.  It runs the Samsung Touchwiz UI over Android 4.4 (Kit Kat).  It's a low end tablet with a low res screen (1280 X 800), a slow processor and an older version of Android, which is what you'd expect for $139, which is what it sells for now at B&N.

-xtabber (January 11, 2016, 04:40 PM)

There are different galaxy tablets.  I was talking about the one that is the equivalent of the Tab E.

http://nook.barnesan...ook-tablet/379004465

As far as running something on top of KitKat, that's what I'm trying to discern.  Everything that they show in those UI pictures is a widget.  I've removed all of those, and my setup looks the same as a vanilla android device.  Now I'm not android saavy, so there might be something else I need to look at.  But the basic control panel stuff looks just like the images I've seen of others on my current tablet, which is the Tab 4.  I even look at the images of touchwiz on the stock tab devices, and that's not what my device looks like.  But given that I'm not an android user, perhaps I'm missing something that differentiates it.  As soon as I can figure out how to take a screenshot, I'll upload something

And that bit about the lack of expandability basically lets me know that I'd not want it.  Thanks!

On the subject of tablets, the Dell also looks like an intriguing choice.  I just want something to read on, and to experiment a bit more on.  But with that caveat, maybe it's better if I go with a different Android device.  Hmm... thanks for the food for thought!

3217

Living Room / Re: Forbes forces users to disable ad blockers, promptly serves malware.

« Last post by wraith808 on January 11, 2016, 05:46 PM »

That's weird. I'm running AdGuard and uBlock Origin and NoScript and the article loads for me.

Try this:

https://archive.is/n0gIV

-Deozaan (January 11, 2016, 04:27 PM)

That worked. And it was a lot faster loading something, than the original site was at loading nothing.  Go figure.   

3218

Living Room / Re: Forbes forces users to disable ad blockers, promptly serves malware.

« Last post by wraith808 on January 11, 2016, 03:44 PM »

I can't see it with ublock and disconnect enabled.  And after your bit about forbes, I'm not disabling my adblockers to see the site.

3219

Living Room / Re: Looking at an android tablet

« Last post by wraith808 on January 11, 2016, 03:43 PM »

It runs vanilla Android and not Samsung's customized crap.

-Deozaan (January 11, 2016, 02:39 PM)

My samsung (Nook) doesn't seem to have anything customized.  It has a few widgets that you can choose to install, and apps... but the interface is the same as far as I know.  Do you know what this 'customized crap' entails?

3220

Living Room / Re: Looking at an android tablet

« Last post by wraith808 on January 11, 2016, 03:35 PM »

Where did you hear about it? I've never heard of Chuwi and I see no customer reviews at that link.

-Deozaan (January 11, 2016, 02:39 PM)

http://www.amazon.co...ranty/dp/B015Z1O8Y2/

Try that one.

3221

Living Room / Looking at an android tablet

« Last post by wraith808 on January 11, 2016, 01:38 PM »

I have an Android Nook tablet currently, but haven't really looked at moving from iOS to Android seriously.  Still not sure that I'm looking to do so, but I am intrigued.

1. Has anyone heard anything about the Chuwi?

http://www.amazon.co...p/product/B019RDTS58

Everything I've seen has been complimentary.. which makes me suspicious.

2. My other choice I'm looking at is the Galaxy Tab E

http://www.amazon.co...Black/dp/B018QAYM7C/

I lose the Windows option, but maybe that's just a disaster waiting to happen.  And I can also get the Nook version.

3. The third choice I'm looking at is the Nexus 9

http://www.amazon.co...White/dp/B00M6UC6LI/

It's a bit more expensive.  And I don't know why it's worth the added expense.

Any ideas on any of these three?  Or any others that would be suggested?

3222

Living Room / Re: Movies you've seen lately

« Last post by wraith808 on January 10, 2016, 01:23 PM »

Nope. Haven't seen it yet. Haven't had time. I'll wait for the online version. But, I still really like Star Wars a lot. Even if I don't have posters of it all over the house, and dress up like SW characters...

-Renegade (January 10, 2016, 01:48 AM)

The funny thing is... back before video and being able to see it outside of that venue, I saw Star Wars over 100 times in the theatre.  I haven't seen the new one at all, yet.  It's not like something I can miss.

I also attribute it to being a kid at the time

3223

DC Gamer Club / Re: ShinyLoot shutting down

« Last post by wraith808 on January 08, 2016, 03:54 PM »

https://www.reddit.c...t_they_mean_for_you/

http://www.polygon.c...ay-market-game-codes

As far as legitimate distributors, it's a function of steamworks for steam.  I'm not sure how it works on other platforms (uPlay, origin, etc), but Steam is the distribution method, and it also doubles as a store.  Only when you look at steam the store as the only entity does it not make sense.  Looking at steam as the distribution method, is where you get into how the third parties get into the business.

3224

DC Gamer Club / No more pirated games in two years, cracking group warns

« Last post by wraith808 on January 08, 2016, 12:44 PM »

Hyperbole and frustration?  Or real concern?  I got out of the cracking scene years ago, but I still pay attention to the goings on.

https://torrentfreak...-group-warns-160106/

In the past most games would be playable for free before their official debut but increasingly pirates are being made to wait for big titles to have their protection defeated, or ‘cracked’ as it’s more commonly known. In fact, aside from many dozens of dedicated piracy forums, there’s even an entire sub-Reddit community dedicated to providing the status of cracks.

One of the hottest topics involves the Avalanche Studios/Square Enix title Just Cause 3. Released on December 1, 2015 and despite massive demand, the game has still not been cracked. The problem appears to lie with the robustness of the technology protecting the game.

Just Cause 3 uses the latest iteration of Denuvo, an anti-tamper technology developed by Denuvo Software Solutions GmbH. While its secrets are best known to its creators, Denuvo is a secondary encryption system which protects existing and underlying DRM products.

Another source for the same info: http://www.eurogamer...o-game-crack-success


But what is Denuvo?  A blurb from their site:

272 days! That's how long one of the latest Denuvo-protected games from CI Games (Lords of the Fallen) has gone without being cracked. That’s simply unprecedented and it’s a testament to one of Denuvo’s core principles: always keep innovating. Our latest innovation, Denuvo Anti-Tamper, allows publishers to reap the benefits of stamping out all piracy attempts in the crucial first weeks of a title’s release. We’d love to do the same for you.

Denuvo Anti-Tamper and SecuROM can be ordered through our close partnership with Sony DADC.

An old, but relevant article on Denuvo, and the difference between it and DRM.

http://www.eurogamer...nuvo-anti-tamper-drm

What protected Dragon Age: Inquisition was Anti-Tamper technology by an Austrian company called Denuvo. It's tech that acts as a forcefield around whatever DRM the game has - such as EA Origin. To use Denuvo's language, it prevents "debugging, reverse engineering and changing of executable files". Literally, it stops tampering. Exactly how it works is Denuvo's trade secret.

But, as Denuvo was at pains to point out to me, "It is not a DRM solution." There's no rights management (as in Digital Rights Management) or licence management going on.

"Anti-Tamper is fundamentally different from DRM," I was told. "For example, if you add anti-tamper to a title without a DRM such as Steam, then Anti-Tamper is completely inert. Anti-Tamper only works in combination with an existing DRM system."

Interesting bit of a coda:

"Due to our recent success in the past two years, some publishers are even considering releasing console-only titles for the PC platform," he said.

It's naive to believe game piracy is about to be stamped out, because I don't believe it ever will be, but Denuvo's Anti-Tamper technology has achieved the most significant victory against it that I can remember.

"On a side note," Thomas Goebl aadded, "one other complaint we've heard is that since our solution keeps a game crack-free during the initial sales window, players cannot use a cracked version to test whether the game will run on their system prior to buying it. However, we believe that most consumers can test games they want to buy without resorting to cracks (either via official demos or via convenient refund policies most platforms now offer)."

Is this security by obscurity (no one really knows how it works) going to work?  It seems that the bar is also low for it currently, as most legitimate sales for major games happen within 30 days of release, and so publishers may consider Denuvo a success if it meant a game took significantly longer to be cracked. (link to similar story on Ars)

3225

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows 10 Announced

« Last post by wraith808 on January 08, 2016, 12:32 PM »

The waiting frustrated me too much , I'd advice to use the MCT, get it from here

-Ath (January 08, 2016, 09:11 AM)

Me too TBH..

-Stoic Joker (January 08, 2016, 11:04 AM)

Can you use that on multiple machines?  I've downloaded it for one machine- but have others I'm looking at upgrading.