Machin Shin 's Techdirt Comments

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  • On the post: Microsoft Finally Admits Its Malware-Style Windows 10 Upgrade Sales Pitch Went Too Far

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 29 Dec, 2016 @ 08:58am

    Re: Re:

    There might be drama in Linux, but that is fine. At least in Linux your free to try and fix things or do something different. Unlike dealing with Microsoft where they just laugh in your face until you leave.

  • On the post: UK Councils Used Massive Surveillance Powers To Spy On… Excessively Barking Dogs & Illegal Pigeon Feeding

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 29 Dec, 2016 @ 12:06pm

    “I’m frankly far more concerned about the rights and civil liberties of the victims and wider council tax-paying public, who are currently having to pick up the tab, than the GOVERNMENT criminal element who continue to treat the rest of us with open contempt.”

    There, I fixed that statement for ya.

  • On the post: Telegram Now Being Targeted By Politicians Because Terrorists (Also) Use It

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 28 Dec, 2016 @ 09:26am

    Re:

    Well lets not forget the automakers, cb radio manufactures, heck while we are at it, what about those darn food producers. Those dang farmers keep growing food and you just know some of that food is being eaten by darn terrorists. We should outlaw making food! That will show them terrorist who's boss!

  • On the post: NYPD Officers Search Wrong Home; Post Photos Of Handcuffed Family To Snapchat

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 28 Dec, 2016 @ 11:20am

    "There's no way the officer who posted this thought anyone would think it was acceptable."

    That is sadly where I think you are wrong. Time and time again we have seen that with the current culture inside police departments this kind of thing is acceptable. I hope I am wrong but even in this case he will probably get a slap on the wrist and told "Don't get caught next time"

  • On the post: I Thought Piracy Was Killing Entertainment? New Record In Scripted Shows In 2016

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 28 Dec, 2016 @ 09:35am

    "and at least "reality" TV often created a demand for live viewing."

    And that is why you can buy survivor on dvd.... Most reality shows are still just like every other TV show. Maybe there is a little more drive to watch it "live" but in reality I bet most people just recorded it and watched it when they wanted.

    That is really what makes Netflix tv shows so awesome. They drop the show on the site and you watch it whenever and however you want. One episode a week? No problem. Beige watch the entire season in one sitting? That's cool too.

    There are a few regular shows I watch and I HATE the annoying trickle of one episode a week. Especially considering some are more one episode whenever we feel like airing it, and we don't feel like releasing anything during the holidays......

  • On the post: Amazon Refuses To Comply With Police Request For Amazon Echo Recordings In Murder Case

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 28 Dec, 2016 @ 06:26am

    "Of course, some people will immediately use this as a reason why no one should ever have these kinds of devices -- but that ignores that they can actually be quite useful as well."

    This is a fight I constantly find myself having. I am a geek and I love technology. The idea of having a Star Trek like computer I can talk to is of course very high on my list of wanted tech. The issue is that I also see the constant abuse of these technologies. It makes me sick to see these shiny toys just within reach only to see

    "Tucked under the light ring is an array of seven microphones that use beam-forming technology and enhanced noise cancellation. With far-field voice recognition, Echo can hear you ask a question from any direction—even while playing music."

    Then my mind processes exactly how that can be abused and I have to walk away.

    It is so frustrating to look around at the world and think of where we could be and the things we could do with technology only to realize we are constantly being held back because a selection of assholes can't resist abusing the power.

  • On the post: Universal Studios Misses A Chance To Be Awesome And Instead Tries To DMCA Leak Of Unfinished 'Mummy' Trailer

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 22 Dec, 2016 @ 01:45pm

    Re: billable hours

    Would be hilarious if a leak like this got tracked back to a legal team looking for more hours. Would be great legal team intern initiation.

    "All right, as the new guy, it is your job to go find some footage to leak. The record to beat is John over there, his leak got us a total of 2,324 billable hours...."

  • On the post: South Carolina Senator Wants To Charge Computer Purchasers $20 To Access Internet Porn

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2016 @ 10:17am

    Maybe it was his intention all along "But any manufacturer or seller that didn't want to install the system could pay a $20 opt-out fee for each device sold."

    To me that pretty much says "$20 tax is being added to every internet device" because charging an extra $20 is a lot easier and cheaper than jumping over the impossibly high bar set for filtering the entire internet with 100% accuracy.

  • On the post: European Information Security Advisory Says Mandating Encryption Backdoors Will Just Make Everything Worse

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 21 Dec, 2016 @ 06:16am

    What really makes this even worse the more I think about it is just how it would have to be put in place. It is bad enough to think about the US wanting a back door, but that is just one country. When you start thinking about it though and thinking about the US, and then EU, then Russia and so on. Suddenly it is not just a little backdoor it is a huge mess.

    Just think about that for a bit. I have serious doubts about the US security agencies being able to protect a backdoor key. You give copies of that key to 30 countries and each of them gives copies to who knows how many agencies inside the country..... suddenly your backdoor key can be found in hundreds of locations and all a hacker needs to do is break into the weakest location and it all falls.

  • On the post: Kurt Eichenwald Sues Twitter Troll Over Alleged 'Epileptic' Image Assault

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 20 Dec, 2016 @ 12:00pm

    Re: When messaging causes physical harm

    This really is kind of an interesting case though in that he sent one of the very few messages that could actually cause someone physical harm.

    I also think it could pave an important path for future issues. As more and more things become connected to the internet it becomes more and more simple to "assault" someone online.

    It does make for some very interesting questions. It is sad that the case seems to have total assholes on both sides that will cloud the core issue of how to deal with this kind of thing in the future.

  • On the post: Like Flies: Doom The Latest Game To Remove Denuvo Via Patch

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 20 Dec, 2016 @ 06:43am

    Re: Re: Denovo does not give refunds

    That is pretty much same thing I got from that second link. I have a hard time trusting Denuvo when they are trying to explain why people are removing their product. They would NEVER admit customers are leaving for any negative reason. (If they did admit that then their PR would be the worlds worst)

  • On the post: Like Flies: Doom The Latest Game To Remove Denuvo Via Patch

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 19 Dec, 2016 @ 01:29pm

    Re: I've said it before...

    That is and interesting thought, and well, it is one that is true anyways. If real encryption is outlawed or otherwise crippled it will cause DRM to crash and burn. DRM relies on having encryption that gamers can't crack. You weaken encryption technology you weaken the DRM resulting in it failing faster than it already does.

  • On the post: Now Germany Wants To Criminalize Fake News

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 19 Dec, 2016 @ 09:23am

    Re: What freedom of press, it's Germany

    "Cause right now, so called freedom of speech is being used against the U.S. to great effect."

    Yeah man, just imagine how much better things would be if all that "fake news" that came from that weirdo Snowden guy could just be outlawed and deleted.

  • On the post: Now Germany Wants To Criminalize Fake News

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 19 Dec, 2016 @ 09:28am

    One thing I find hilarious about all this stuff though is how everyone is just scrambling to find something to blame for why Trump won the election. In all the scrambling though it seems very few people are willing to admit that maybe it was because people were sick of politics and Trump, while he might be a lot of things (most of them bad), he isn't a typical politician.

  • On the post: How The DMCA And The CFAA Are Preventing People From Saving Their Soon-To-Be-Broken Pebble Watches

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 16 Dec, 2016 @ 07:14pm

    Re:

    The closed nature of the watches was large part of why I didn't have one. Upon recently finding the AsteroidOS project I ordered a watch to install it on.

    I kind of hope this kind of thing happening more and more often will wake people up and make them realized how bad closed systems are.

  • On the post: UK's Ridiculous Internet Porn Crackdown Can Be Used To Kill Social Media Accounts

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 16 Dec, 2016 @ 06:12am

    "sexual content which will distress them or harm their development"

    Anyone ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, us making sex such an "evil" and taboo thing is really what "will distress them or harm their development".

    I often find myself looking around and wondering WTF people are thinking these days. Kids used to grow up out side running around, often put to work at very young age helping parents on the farm. This often even included dangerous things like using axes to chop wood. Families also used to have one room houses where I am sure most kids saw sex on a regular basis. They also knew about it from a young age due to farm animals if nothing else.

    So you seriously going to try and argue that our current kids are turning out better now that we wrap them up in bubble wrap and protect them from every little thing?

  • On the post: T-Mobile Applauds Likely Death Of Net Neutrality Under Trump

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 07 Dec, 2016 @ 02:08pm

    Re: Re: very interesting things

    If I was an investor I would be really upset that someone let the CFO out in public making these statements.

  • On the post: T-Mobile Applauds Likely Death Of Net Neutrality Under Trump

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 07 Dec, 2016 @ 10:58am

    very interesting things

    When I first saw this news it just about made me vomit. Anyone with even a tiny little bit of a brain should be horrified by this.

    Think about what was said and WHO is was that said it. The CFO or Chief Financial Officer, so the guy in charge of company finance said "You could do some very interesting things” without net neutrality."

    The CFO cares about one thing and that is money. If a company accountant talking about doing some "very interesting things" doesn't scare the shit out of you then I don't know what will.

  • On the post: How 'Just Metadata' Helped Ruin A Career Diplomat's Life

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 06 Dec, 2016 @ 06:23am

    Re:

    I think the comparison to witch hunter is sadly accurate. If you look back at the history you find that those accused of being a witch had very little chance of proving they were not witches. Even worse was the fact that most of the "tests" would at the very least humiliate the accused, possibly even kill them.

    So just like today, the accusation alone was enough to destroy your life and possibly kill you.

  • On the post: UK Police Circumventing Cellphone Encryption By 'Mugging' Suspects While Their Phones Are Unlocked

    Machin Shin ( profile ), 05 Dec, 2016 @ 08:14am

    Re: GREAT IDEA!

    There are actually already apps to handle this situation. Solution I like was one that watched the sensors on the phone to detect a sudden acceleration, like when phone is snatched from you, and it locks the phone.

    Pretty sure the idea was to stop those annoying friends that snatch your phone to read your latest text, but it would work just as well in this case.

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