Disqus - Latest Comments for geekrebel

Re: I’m in ❤️ with this new approach to product strategy

geekrebel — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 19:16:12 -0000

I'm "tuned" Blake! Now where's Part II? :-)

Re: What happens when you mandate helmet-wearing among young Swedish cyclists?

geekrebel — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 08:29:25 -0000

Erik, I think it's crucial to look at the severity of head injuries. The point of a helmet is not to reduce the amount of knocks you get to the head, it's to reduce the damage that is caused!

Re: SA tech firms can now transfer IP offshore

geekrebel — Mon, 19 May 2014 02:12:56 -0000

I don't think this has anything to do with SARB making an effort, but rather to comply with a court order that was made after Mark Shuttleworth sued the Reserve Bank last year.

Several parts of the Exchange Control Act were declared invalid and unconstitutional and the SARB was given some reasonable time to comply. See http://www.saflii.org/za/ca... for details.

It's extremely sad that the SARB and its well paid attorneys didn't themselves see that many of their regulations, which were based on the Act, were unconstitutional. An institution as important to the South African economy as the SARB should be at the forefront of upholding the Constitution, not wait to be sued (and only a very few can afford to sue the SARB).

If Mark Shuttleworth is to be remembered for anything, it should be his challenge to the SARB's archaic, Apartheid era, interpretations of an archaic, Apartheid era Act.

Due to SARB regulations, South African startups have been unable to trade globally and thus missed out on two internet booms.

Re: New company to tap into mobile analytics

geekrebel — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 05:31:40 -0000

Hi Jackson,

I don't usually respond to anonymous (cowardly?) comments - it looks like you registered specifically to have a go at Skyrove - but I thought I'd address the substance of your message.

You are quite correct in that Skyrove is a small player in the WiFi market, which is in itself a rather small market overall. You're also correct in pointing out that WiFi Analytics can add value and spinning off WiFi Analytics into a separate business was not something we undertook lightly.

At the end of the day, it comes down to basic business fundamentals. Yes, Skyrove could continue to invest time & resources into an exciting new field that potentially "can add value", but, as it were, this new value-add was not bringing in any revenue as yet.

Spinning off Viento was not only the right thing to do for Skyrove (it decreases its cost base significantly, without any revenue sacrifice), but it would establish a new, superfocused, startup with a dedicated team that would be much more successful in its own right.

No bailout required! But I'll gladly take you up on your 6 month wager.

That is, if you're willing to put your money where your mouth is... ;-)

Henk Kleynhans
Skyrove Founder & Director

Re: Two scary developments for SA property owners

geekrebel — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 20:12:05 -0000

I'm not so sure that a 1% default rate can be counted as a dead loss, unless the collateral somehow meant interest free loans. (in my mind, if a loan guaranteed, why have any interest at all?)

I'm all for property taxes. Preferably very high property taxes. Especially if we can abolish income tax. The knock on effects would mean that most all land is put to productive use and encourage a strong sharing economy.

Re: What teachers really want to tell parents

geekrebel — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 01:46:46 -0000

Actually, this is one of the few exceptions where you can use an apostrophe to indicate a plural.

The (exception) rule: Use apostrophes with capital letters and numbers when the meaning would be unclear otherwise.

Similar example: "Please dot your i's"

Re: Cops attack blind busker

geekrebel — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:17:43 -0000

Ja, he should have just looked at his watch, eh?

Re: Daily Maverick - What education did Mr Khohlokoane get for the money he didn’t pay?

geekrebel — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 03:17:56 -0000

Xhanti, I try not to criticise journalists. It's an occupation fraught with peril, nasty deadlines and being constantly underpaid. And then having to deal with trolling public comments because the newspaper owners believe "it's good for SEO" (Joke's on me, right?) It's not a job I'm capable of doing.

Nonetheless, a good motto to write by is always: "Research before Opinion" (Kitchen Debates excluded)

Mr Khohlokoane has a severe speech disability. It is debilitating to the point where he was demoted from being a petrol attendant... to being a cleaner.

If this were not the case, I'd agree with every one of your points.

Re: TV white spaces broadband trial: good news for SA

geekrebel — Mon, 27 May 2013 07:59:58 -0000

"Staff Writer",

Although it's true that there are "less" TVWS frequencies open for use in urban areas, there are still huge swathes available for use. Various spectrum databases will show this, but a simple test is to switch on a TV and start manually tuning to find stations. The "snow" or static you see is indicative of the amount of TVWS available, and you'll notice there's a LOT of it, regardless of where you are.

Re: Pistorius syringes ‘odd’ – sport scientist

geekrebel — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 19:16:28 -0000

According to @pipeweed on Twitter, it's more likely to be the homeopathic remedy, "testis compositum" than "compositum coenzyme".

As has now been widely reported, "testis compositum" is commonly prescribed for impotence.

Again, as it's a homeopathic remedy, it won't have much effect at all.

It is of course possible that the label does not truly reflect what is inside the box... and the test results would still be interesting.

Re: Pistorius syringes ‘odd’ – sport scientist

geekrebel — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:09:23 -0000

This substance is better known as "coenzyme compositum" and available in vials under the brand name "Heel".

Sending it for testing, however, would be a waste of time and money. It's a homeopathic remedy and as such contains no active ingredient whatsoever; its only effect is as a placebo - the placebo effect is known to more amplified when a "fake" medicine is injected.

It is interesting to note, though, that a professional athlete would be taking such a substance... The question becomes: who recommended ("prescribed" is too strong a word for a sugar solution) it to him?

Re: Digital migration thrown into turmoil

geekrebel — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:57:47 -0000

I think it's important for the idea of digital TV encryption to be nipped in the bud ASAP. The idea of "blocking" neighbouring countries (eTV Botswana anyone?) from receiving the signals is as absurd as trying to block citizens of neighbouring countries from reading TechCentral online.

- Henk Kleynhans

Re: Windows 8: love at first sight - IOL SciTech | IOL.co.za

geekrebel — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:02:10 -0000

PC's is possessive. The plural of PC is PCs. /me eats, shoots and leaves...

Re: [iAfrica] Boy raped on rugby tour

geekrebel — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:12:41 -0000

This was at Edgemead High School, as far as I can tell. Brandon Grant, I hope you go to prison where you can "stand up for yourself and be a man". Wie's jou pappa?

Re: Gov’t wants to license new telecoms operators

geekrebel — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 04:15:03 -0000

Duncan, any idea on Mr Nkuna's position on using the managed unlicensed model now being used for sub 1GHz spectrum in the US, UK and Canada?

The IEEE has just revealed the 802.22 standard, so we can expect to see rapid development of TV Band Devices. The usage of this will revolutionize rural communications in SA, and if we follow the overseas licencing model, whoever builds the towers first (and 2nd, 3rd... 50th) will automatically get the rights to the spectrum in a particular area.

There is no need for auctions or beauty contests as it's no longer necessary (technologically) , nor desirable (economically), for a single company to own an exclusive licence to spectrum.

Re: Yossi Hasson: Synaq’s rock star geek

geekrebel — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 13:20:04 -0000

Yossi's a smart guy who makes time for other entrepreneurs and willingly shares his knowledge. Also lots of fun to hang out with, though I've (fortunately) never seen him pretend to be Ali G!

Re: Sequoia Leads $15 Million Round In Wireless Networking Company Meraki

geekrebel — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:56:29 -0000

In enterprise Wi-Fi it's typical to find an on-site controller that is connected to multiple APs. Such controllers are expensive and a common point of failure bringing down campus wide networks, thus necessitating redundant controllers in case of failure.

On-site controllers can also be a PITA to manage w.r.t. settings, licences, firmware upgrades etc.

Meraki effectively takes the same controller model, but puts it on remote, redundant servers. (i.e. "the cloud")

Re: Sequoia Leads $15 Million Round In Wireless Networking Company Meraki

geekrebel — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:52:34 -0000

Elemental, is your service actually being provided by Meraki? Or by a company that is using Meraki equipment?

Skyrove has been using Meraki equipment for a variety of installations with fantastic results.

However, any internet service is only as strong as its weakest link, e.g. sufficient backhaul or proper planning by the service provider.

Re: Zephyr solar-powered UAV breaks three more world records

geekrebel — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 11:03:54 -0000

I think geosynchronous orbit is ~36,000km, not ~36km...

Re: http://adiirockstar.com/post/532857186

geekrebel — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:10:43 -0000

I agree with you here Adii. I would sell my startup if I was offered $80M tomorrow. But that mostly has to do with the fact that I can think of a lot of other startups I could get going using the money.

The reality is obviously different. If someone came with an offer to buy me out, lock stock & barrel, the offer is more than likely going to be less than what I (as the founder) think it is worth.

And even though that offer could _look_ like a lot of money to someone else, it probably is going to look like very little to me, knowing about the implicit worth of my company considering all factors.

So basically, even though I might be able to do something new with the money received, I'd probably always regret selling too low and not being there when my startup reached its full potential.

Re: Startups: What VCs look for

geekrebel — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:18:55 -0000

Very valid points Brett.

Now, I know a few guys who have started companies but they do not need money!

What would be the VC pitch to them? (And trust me, the "I'm connected and I know everyone" doesn't work. I've tried it!)

It's an interesting mismatch, well known by the saying: "Raise money when you don't need it".

Henk

Re: Climate denial and arrogance

geekrebel — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:25:27 -0000

"Aha!" said Pooh, practising.

"Aha! Aha!...Of course," he went on, "we could say 'Aha!' even if we hadn't stolen Baby Roo."

"Pooh," said Rabbit kindly, "you haven't any brain."

"I know," said Pooh humbly.

Re: Climate denial and arrogance

geekrebel — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:36:53 -0000

Let's see:

1. I'm an expert in logic (this is true, ask around)

2. It is my expert opinion that your argument is false, therefore it is. (And I can find other logic experts to concur, thus forming a consensus)

3. "Arrogance" is a relative opinion. It's defined as "overbearingly assuming", which could be a feeling felt by someone because of a feeling of inferiority (which may be caused by being wrong)

4. You now have a choice. Continue having your own opinion. Or submit to my superior logic skills and admit you're wrong. If you do the former, by your own admission, your stance is (1) deeply unreasonable and (2) arrogant.

:-)

Re: Climate denial and arrogance

geekrebel — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:00:43 -0000

Hi Mike, regarding homeopathy: Yes, I do know it's nonsense apart from scientific consensus.

I was able to figure this one out all by myself and if pressed I could give you a variety of reasons besides for Avogadro's Constant.

I don't think one would need to be a trained scientist to understand the scientific method (i.e. homeopathic medicines don't work in control studies). Or basic molecular theory (i.e. molecules combine with each other and can form reactions) and dilution (substances will have lesser effect when diluted - covered in Grade 4 if I recall)

It can easily be shown that temperatures have been increasing in recent decades and the mechanisms for how this happens is well understood and easily explained.

No esoteric training is necessary...

Re: Climate denial and arrogance

geekrebel — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:56:18 -0000

And for some reason I did it wrong again! Where's the edit comment button??? ><