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Comment Re:ROTFL (Score 1) 67

Why don't start first by making GNU Hurd is fully functional, and not try to replace an OS that is already FOSS and has wide app adaptation, like Android? And yes, there are bolt-ons like the Google add-ons, but with the FOSS Google replacement plugins, you can get a largely functional FOSS phone. Maybe the FSF could focus on plugging those holes instead of starting from scratch.

Because starting from scratch lets you thump your chest and say "See what we did" vs. the relatively obscure and often thankless task of making something existing better under the hood?

Comment Re:The Way around all these hacks (Score 1) 63

Before flash was even practical, computers kept BIOS on true ROM and used a small persistent storage commonly called CMOS for configuration. It could be a pain because the button battery that maintained it could die.

These days, you could use a small flash for configuration and a larger one with write disabled in hardware for the boot code.

Comment Re:All bets are off if you have physical access (Score 2) 63

On the other hand, by far the greatest threat to your laptop is someone wanting to steal it outright and sell it off. They're not going to bother with anything on it, just blow it away with a bootleg copy of Windows and call it a day.

The people looking to profit from information on your laptop will do it from half a world away while you are using it.

Comment On the other hand (Score 1) 63

This can be used to regain access to laptop you won that has been hijacked by DRM you don't want. Since it requires physical possession of the laptop, it doesn't pose much risk to the end user.

I just disable secure boot. If the device leaves my control long enough for someone to do something with it, it has to be treated as potentially compromised with or without secure boot. Why create an additional recovery roadblock for myself? Security is a funny thing if you think about it carefully enough.

Always lock your car so when someone steals your $5 flashlight they also break your $500 window. Always install security lights so criminals can see what they're doing when they break in.

Comment Re:Interesting Idea (Score 1) 67

I suspect phone manufacturers

What phone manufacturers? Locking down bootloaders is a thing some do and some don't. Non-manufacturer controlled Operating Systems do exist and are in use on many devices. Additionally some manufacturers exist to provide open options to customers such as FairPhone.

Nothing in the mobile world changes with this announcement. If there's a cat and mouse game to be had then it is already ongoing. An example of everything you list as a problem is right there in TFS, LineageOS which itself has roots that date back 15 years at this point.

I realize those devices exit, but how many offer the features of phones at or near teh top of the market? Unless it can match that, it will remain merely neat tech used by a few diehards.

Comment Interesting Idea (Score 5, Insightful) 67

A very interesting technological challenge. I suspect phone manufacturers will attempt to find ways to block installing it on their devices, given the phone itself is not the only revenue stream but also user data. A cat and mouse game will ensue, much like Apple with jailbreaks. Good luck to them, it would be a great plus for users.

Comment Re: Cloud hw wo subscription is accelerated e-was (Score 1) 90

The upshot of my comment is that OEMs do have an easy option to not chain their devices to their cloud. They WANT to chain the devices, but then don't want to maintain the server and cry about the cost of their own self-imposed obligation as an excuse to brick features.

It's a scam.

ESP32 isn't all that new, and has never been expensive. Most of the OEMs doing rug pulls these days had the option easily available at design time.

Comment Just tell the to sell consulting... (Score 3, Interesting) 38

Not sure why McKinsey is wondering how to sell something with "No Measurable Benefits," that has been a key consulting skill for years before AI.

...the report blames on underinvestment in change management. It says that for every $1 spent on model development, firms should expect to have to spend $3 on change management, which means user training and performance monitoring...

That has been true before AI as well. Companies seem to think "people will just learn it" or "it's the same as before with a few changes;" and as a result training and all the other stuff never gets done right. Companies then wonder why they have problems and the promised benefits never happen.

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