My...how things have changed!
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You know, it's been awhile since I've heard "Crystal Reports." These types of software are like kudzu. Once these invasive species gets a foothold you can never get rid of 'em.
Forum Activity for @harold-powell
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My...how things have changed!
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IE6 ,,, ? From the land of the undead.
Not even Microsoft has been able to drive a stake through it's heart.
IE6 users cannot update their OS with security patches because not even MS supports it. Yet, there it is, lurking in every set of logs still being used--in very small percentages--but still being used by machines which have to be virus and malware ridden.
My...how things have changed!
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You're right! It could be quite dangerous in the digital spiritual realm. Especially since Steve Jobs has now crossed over. And I imagine installing it was quite illegal--or at least a breach of Apple's TOS, which may or may not be the same thing. But I only left it running a day or so then uninstalled it. I'm a stickler about keeping all my software legit. Of course, breaking a law for only a "day" might not be much of a defense! But a search of Youtube for "Hackintosh" will provide plenty of evidence that it can be done.
My...how things have changed!
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I run Windows under VirtualBox on Ubuntu, and Ubuntu under VirtualBox on Windows. The nice thing about VirtualBox is the double clip board. I wasn't a fan of Chrome at all until recently. One thing I really enjoy is the abilty to login to Chrome and have all my passwords, bookmarks, etc. available. I've even run OS X in VirtualBox on an HP workstation. But I've only been able to run it as a test then immediately had to uninstall it. Apple will not give permission to use their OS on anything other than an Apple product--except for OS X Server. However, who can afford that? It's legal to run it on a PC but the license cost more than a whole new server with software.
My...how things have changed!
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In a world once ruled by the Evil Empire led by Microsoft and where the last fading light of the Jedi dream of freedom flickered at the edge of extinction, it came to pass that "...t he more the Emperor tightened his grip, the more star systems slipped through his fingers."
Last week Mark Shuttleworth crossed off one of the biggest goals of his free Ubuntu operating system: removing Microsoft's dominance. He did not claim credit but he did claim that the goal had been reached. So Is Microsoft dead? No quite. And Shuttleworth is no fool. He knows Ubuntu and every other competitor has a long way to go.
Yes--the Empire is still alive but becoming more and more fragmented each day as these recent Browser Results attest:
http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp
Plus,the suspicion of many users that Apple, under the leadership of Steve Jobs, was not really part of the alliance attempting to break free from the Empire. Rather, Jobs merely wanted to replace the old Emperor with himself.
The stats above show--decisively--that Jobs failed in his quest to control all things digital. But so has Microsoft.
The Rebel Alliance is growing stronger each day whilst the Storm Troopers and the old Empire watch more and more users reject top-down, centralized control.
Microsoft IE browser: 12.6 %
Firefox Mozilla: 27.7 %
Chrome: 52.9 % (The Force is strong in this one)
Safari (Apple): 4 %
Opera: 1.6 %
Personally, I use Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP, Linux (primarily Ubuntu and NGINX ), Android and iOS. My personal usage of browsers pretty much mirrors the stats above which came as a surprise because I did not consider myself average. About a year ago Chrome finally--after a long on and off relationship--became my favorite browser.
updated by @harold-powell: 12/14/15 04:01:36PM
Obama Plans to Take Action Against Patent-Holding Firms or "Trolls"
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Yes, I do wish him well. Trial lawyers are bound to oppose reform for obvious reasons. And, should that powerful lobbyperceivethat the President's initiative is a juggernaut, an issue favored by everyone, their fallback position may be to regroup and riddle any proposed legislation with language filled with loopholes favoring them.
Obama Plans to Take Action Against Patent-Holding Firms or "Trolls"
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Now sales of iPhone 4 and iPad 2 could be banned in America due to Apple'sinfringementof another company's patents.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/10100076/iPhone-4-sales-could-be-banned-in-America.html
Another win, win situation for trial lawyers.
Obama Plans to Take Action Against Patent-Holding Firms or "Trolls"
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See Bloomberg News:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-04/obama-issues-patent-abuse-order-seeking-congress-s-help.html
U.S. Patent Law was created to protect intellectual property and thus incentivize, or reward,innovation. In recent years this form of legal protection has been turned on its head and has begun to be used as a legal tool to bludgeon competition. Like the runaway financial and real estate crises of the past decade, legal departments inside giant corporations comb through existing technology and anything that is even remotely useful but not yet nailed down, or patented--is patented, then repackaged as part of a company's portfolio and net worth. A case in point: Apple's MagnaSafe power cord. For many decades this type of connection was used throughout Asia on almost every electric-powered cooking device like rice cookers, slow-cookers, electric tea kettles, etc. It was considered a "no-brainer" by Asian consumers and manufacturers. A pot of boiling water is best powered by a cord attached magnetically so that if bumped, the cord simply detaches rather than dragging a pot of scalding water off into someone's lap. Trouble is: The idea was considered so practical and "common sense" in Asia, in much the same vein as keeping a broom "bristle-side-down" when using it, that no one ever thought to patent it. Enter Apple which spends more on legal fees, legal staff and patenting than it spends on Research and Development . So when the giant noticed the magnetic power cord idea in wide-spread use in Asia, and that no one had ever patented the idea, they in effect said, "Wow, let's patent that idea and charge some of our competitors to use it while forbidding others."
All these practices are legal. I honestly believe Apple is a law abiding company. But it's patent law itself that needs to be changed. Good luck to the President in his endeavors on this score. I believe Apple, Google and all companies would be better off spending money on research and development rather than paying lawyers to hamper and "muck-up" the works for competitors.
updated by @harold-powell: 11/11/15 10:38:54PM
Automatic Tea Making Machine
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When my daughter saw the 1902 automatic tea maker pictured above she immediately dubbed it the "Wallace and Gromit" tea making set.
Automatic Tea Making Machine
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BTW, you would need some extreme luck trying to get the original 1902 version through an airport! LOL
