Comment Re:Some users have *policy* to be 3 releases back. (Score 1) 182
Until the release schedule is so slow the version you're on is EOL'd and doesn't support the feature you need, but you can't get approval to upgrade
Comment Re:Unit tests, automated deployment (Score 1) 182
Sounds like a dream. We tried and failed several times to get developers to write unit tests. There was so much resistance we eventually gave up.
Comment Adapt Quickly (Score 1) 182
I find "Adapt Quickly" is a metaphor for "insufficiently tested" or "it worked on my machine"
If I had a dollar for every "tiny fix" that required hours of hacking in prod to resolve with the release team sitting around waiting for the wunderkind to figure it out, for it then to be reverted and done again the next weekend. So much better when properly tested with signoffs and accountability.
Comment All sorts (Score 1) 448
In uni I had lecturers from China, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia among other places. I could understand them. The two hardest to understand were one lady who was extremely soft spoken. Had to sit in the front to hear her, even with a mic. The absolute hardest was a scottish guy. I had no idea what he was saying, even with a presentation up that he was speaking to. And english was his native language! All the foreign nationals put more effort into learning a second language than he did his first.
Comment Re:I think mobile phones win next generation (Score 1, Insightful) 276
Because people have limited budgets of time and money. If you're playing a game on your mobile, your console is probably gathering dust. If your new handset costs $200 and is going to be everywhere you are, are you going to spend another $300 on a console that stays in the living room?
Comment No, it will not. (Score 1) 255
The filter in your brain that parses reality is not installed correctly.
Comment Change the term (Score 1) 103
Non outer mongolia
Ask Slashdot: Best Way To Leave My Router Open? 520
generalhavok writes "I read the story on Slashdot earlier about the EFF encouraging people to leave their WiFi open to share the internet. I would like to do this! I don't mind sharing my connection and letting my neighbors check their email or browse the web. However, when I used to leave it open, I quickly found my limited bandwidth dissappearing, as my neighbors started using it heavily by streaming videos, downloading large files, and torrenting. What is an easy way I can share my internet, while enforcing some limits so there is enough bandwidth left for me? What about separating the neighbors from my internal home network? Can this be done with consumer-grade routers? If the average consumer wants to share, what's the easiest and safest way to do it?"
Nokia Confirms Symbian Is No Longer Open Source 246
theweatherelectric noted an article on the H. From the article "Nokia has confirmed that it has closed the source code for the Symbian smartphone operating system. It says that despite it describing its new model for Symbian smartphone operating system development as 'open and direct' the 'open' part did not refer to 'open source' but to being 'open for business'. The 'open and direct' model is designed, according to Nokia, to 'enable us to continue working with the remaining Japanese OEMs and the relatively small community of platform development collaborators we are already working with.''"
Intel Unveils 10-Core Xeon Processors 128
MojoKid writes "Intel announced its new E-series of Xeon processors today, claiming that they will deliver nearly unparalleled advances in CPU performance and power efficiency. It has been just over a year since Santa Clara released its Nehalem-based octal-core Beckton processors. Whereas Beckton was focused entirely on performance and architectural efficiency, these new Xeons are more balanced. The new chips boost the core count to ten (up to 20 threads with HT enabled) and will be offered at a wide range of power envelopes. The new E7 series incorporates the benefits of the Sandy Bridge architecture, its support for new security processing instructions, and its improved power management technology. Intel has also baked in support for low-voltage DIMMs, which allows vendors to opt for 1.35v products."
Gearbox Boss Bemoans Superfluous Multiplayer Modes 136
Speaking with Edge magazine, Gearbox Software president Randy Pitchford lamented the tendency of game publishers to force multiplayer modes into games that don't need them. Quoting:
"Pitchford points to the likes of Dead Space 2 as evidence that decisions are often motivated by the desire to tick boxes on a feature list, rather than for the good of the game itself. 'Let’s forget about what the actual promise of a game is and whether it’s suited to a narrative or competitive experience,' he tells us. 'Take that off the table for a minute and just think about the concept-free feature list: campaign, co-op, how many players? How many guns? How long is the campaign? 'When you boil it down to that, you take the ability to make good decisions out of the picture. And the reason they do it is because they notice that the biggest blockbusters offer a little bit for every kind of consumer. You have people that want co-op and competitive, and players who want to immerse themselves in deep fiction. But the concept has to speak to that automatically; it can’t be forced. That’s the problem.'"
Sony's NGP May Be Delayed By Japan Quake 51
RedEaredSlider writes "Sony's upcoming portable gaming console, code named NGP, may be latest victim of the ongoing crisis afflicting Japan. Sony America president Jack Tretton told Bloomberg that Sony may stagger the global release of its next portable as the company is hit with disruptions to its production cycle."
Comment Re:So... what? (Score 1) 468
I think it's funny that he references Wikipedia and considers it research.
Comment Re:Bribery fines are funny (Score 1) 263
I know what you mean, but what else can you do other than levy a fine?
Set the fines as a % of annual revenue, or some other legally required, stockmarket linked reporting number.
Company A found guilty, earnt a million dollars, fined 85%. $850000 fine.
Company I(B)M, earnt a hojillion dollars - 85% of a hojillion is a lot.
The trick is using the same number that they use to justify their senior exec bonuses.
Comment Re:Who's responsible... (Score 3, Informative) 191
He cloned the invite page and reupped it after she closed hers. Along with home address, phone etc.
From The Australian Newspaper
A police statement released to Associated Press today said a 17-year-old boy had been charged with using a telecommunications carrier to harass or offend someone.
He is due in court in April.
