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Showing posts from January, 2010

AddThis Add TOO Much

I have a web-site which breaks every first visit because a mysterious rogue flash app was appearing (and presumably it's creators intended to be hidden) that traced back to Clearspring.com. There was absolutely no reference in the code (or in any user entered CMS area) relating to clearspring so this was bamboozling until I nailed it down to the javascript call out for the supposedly reputable AddThis.com. I thought that I was getting a convenient way to add pages to facebook, myspace, twitter etc. but OH YES AND MORE it seems once installed on your page they feel at liberty to put any manner of junk on your site. Firstly, I don't want my pages broken. Secondly, I don't want me or my customers to be tracked (presuming that's what this flash app does) without my knowledge Thirdly, I don't know how well this (now trusted) intruder is written, and what potential security holes that entails. Hell, JUST RUNNING FLASH on a site that currently has none is a security risk i

I've Got My Lithium Ion You by jamesleeds

I make music, too - I've Got My Lithium Ion You  by  jamesleeds

Ballmer Implicated In China Attacks?

In comment to the recent attacks by Chinese agencies on Google: http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE60E0BC20100115?feedType=nl&feedName=uktechnology&pageNumber=4&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true Security firm McAfee Inc said the recent cyber-attacks exploited a previously unknown flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. and Microsoft's CEO downplayed the hacking attacks. "There are attacks every day. I don't think there was anything unusual, so I don't understand," Ballmer said. "We're attacked every day from all parts of the world and I think everybody else is too. We didn't see anything out of the ordinary." and Playing down the concerns raised by Google, rival Microsoft Corp said it had no plan to pull out of China. "I don't understand how that helps anything. I don't understand how that helps us, and I don't understand how that helps China," said Steve Ballmer, CEO of the world's largest software ma

iSlate

There is much talk of Apple's forthcoming iSlate . Many are predicting flop, but for me it seems like a device that needs to exist - the only reason for a flop is if it's not great to use. For example, Smart Phone web-access was guff before Apple figured out a way to navigate and zoom non-wap web-sites with ease - the rest is history. What would make an iSlate succeed? This, I believe: 1. tactile keyboard - The screen needs to offer feedback, like a traditional keyboard, when the keyboard appears. This seems far fetched, but could be achieved with designated areas. Whether the technology can be advanced enough for ANY shape to become a "key" is not so clear. This would paves the way for something I would ADORE - which is the ability to produce piano keys and knobs. Imagine downloading apps that have their own interface! Bring on the Arturia powered AppStore mini-moog... I'd shell out the £800(?) for the device for this portable wonder alone. 2. Multi-tasking. And