Disqus - Latest Comments for alacarte

Re: What is wrong with TV remotes?

alacarte — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 06:24:55 -0000

Yeah, the Harmony remotes still have good use being multi device controllers. But considering that they also boast support for over 175,000 devices in their databases, you have to wonder how many of those devices are just TVs which have exactly the same functions. Or DVD players with exactly the same functions. Or stereos with exactly the same functions.

The Harmony remotes are still definitely the pick of the bunch, however they're not exactly an elegant solution as they require considerable configuration and/or learning (as with all remotes by the way). A true solution would be a remote like the Harmony that could control everything with minimal configuration - standardizing Infrared codes would be a considerable step towards that!

Right now, there are even different control signals for TVs of the SAME BRAND. I mean, come on!

Re: What?

alacarte — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:16:58 -0000

Don't forget that "deathly gust of wind".

Re: http://www.kbabslive.com/2008/11/long-and-wordy-essay-regarding.html

alacarte — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:25:47 -0000

HAHAHAHAHA.

I knew this would happen.

Re: http://www.kbabslive.com/2008/11/long-and-wordy-essay-regarding.html

alacarte — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:37:01 -0000

I wholeheartedly agree - people who vilify others while hiding behind the anonymity of the internet are cowards who really should be punished in one form or another. I'm not justifying their actions, I'm simply stating that by posting your material publicly on the internet you are potentially exposing yourself to such people and whatever results from said material.

To be bluntly honest though, I'm just rather sick of the resulting complaints from such incidents. Again, I state, this does not justify vilification however this is the reality that you expose yourself to and no amount of wishful thinking is going to change that. There are two simple solutions to this problem - either just don't post material publicly on the internet that might attract unwanted attention, or just don't care and take advantage of the anonymity that the cowards take similar advantage of.

If you have a thick skin, then go post crazy. If you don't, then don't. It sounds brutal, but that's reality for you.

Also, GPx is not her boyfriend - he found the photos posted on her myspace and posted it on the forums for the world to see. He should fall in a well and die, really.

Re: Feeling unloved?

alacarte — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:42:08 -0000

Peh!

Re: Feeling unloved?

alacarte — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:41:28 -0000

Fifi is large enough to jump over the fence. She did quite a few times before the neighbors decided to add extra fencing so she couldn't.

As friendly as she is, having a 1.5 metre long dog trying to lick your face is terrifying.

Re: Sound isolation, and why you care

alacarte — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:05:29 -0000

Depends. Most headphones are 'open' meaning that their isolation is just as bad as ear buds. These headphones would be more powerful than ear buds, so you could drown out the outside noise with music but then you would be missing the point.

Closed headphones offer the extra power and sound quality of headphones with full isolation, but as a trade off are rather bulky.

Re: USB Panic Button (HACKED!)

alacarte — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:14:11 -0000

Meaning that the original program that comes with the button is already and always running in the background - when the button is pressed, a JPG is spat out. No program running, and the button does nothing.

As for hooking the button straight to your own program - use a USB sniffer and you soon figure out that the original program's method of detecting button presses is plain weird, and possibly very inefficient.

Re: Our Freedoms One Step Closer to Death

alacarte — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:52:21 -0000

September 11, 2008.

Classy, eh?

Is this one of those 'lazy parent' vote grabs? Censoring the entire internet?!

You might as well ban cars, in case they run into kids.

Re: About USB Panic Button Hack

alacarte — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:12:11 -0000

Anonymous (if that is your real name),

I understand your frustration with the lack of information regarding the USB Panic Button, however calling the person who actually does have something on it a jackass isn't exactly the way to solve the world's problems. What happens to any code is entirely up to the developer - he/she may release it open source, closed source or even charge a nominal fee for their handiwork.

In this case alphaomega is planning to release the program for free, but not the source code as he wishes to retain some degree of control over the code. Unfortunately he has become quite busy of late (note the lack of posts from him) and because he wants to make sure that the program doesn't do something spectacularly devastating he has not been able to release it yet, though he is still working on it.

Regardless, alpha was the one who spent the time to figure this all out in the first place and I respect his choice of release. If he had decided to charge twenty bucks a pop or something then perhaps something could be said. But he's working on it and releasing it for free. So you have no right to call him a jackass.

Re: tamarasaurus joins the team

alacarte — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:22:16 -0000

Oh shitzer, welcome!

I forgot to read things, and stuff.

Re: Free gift!

alacarte — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:09:21 -0000

I just want to see them try and enforce it:

"Hey! You can't sell that!"
"I'm not selling it, I'm giving it away."
"Hey! You can't give that away!"
"..."
*More miscellaneous legal threats*

Re: The Coriolis Effect

alacarte — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:35:59 -0000

I think the absolute max for current rifles is 2 km or so, so you're gonna be looking at artillery for anything more than that. Rather overkill, but it doesn't stop the US Army from doing it.

Do we sound enough like terrorists yet?

Re: Adieu Facebook

alacarte — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:27:15 -0000

Wow. And I thought I hated it the most.

I applaud your stance!

Re: Test of Insanity

alacarte — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:12:46 -0000

to napoleon:

eBay, shizzle. eBay.

Re: USB Panic Button (HACKED!)

alacarte — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:11:26 -0000

You forgot to mention that you've made it to make sounds.

Like, screamy sounds, for instance.