The Spam Thread!

[cpd2009]

First, Java gets no love on the desktop anymore. It's taken off on BluRay players and Android devices, but not on the desktop. Lately, the US Government essentially warned it's residents to disable the current version of the Java software due to a rather nasty security exploit. Now, I rarely use Java anymore, but I do go to some websites from time to time that have free games from the early days of the internet written in Java.

Naturallly, you can set the Java plugin to ask you whenever it wants to run any code, unsigned or signed, but Apple is taking this a bit too far IMO. Apparently, they released an update to their little known XProtect system that blocks the Java plugin. From what I read though, it seems only Safari is affected by the block, and you can get around it by using Firefox.

That Java exploit is very nasty, I know that, but still... Apple shouldn't just block Java like that. Let the users turn it off or set it to the highest level of security.


Another thing is that Google thinks that my Internet connection is slow as of late. Standard Google searches still work fine, as well as News search. Try searching for images, and you will get a message saying "You are seeing the basic version because we think your Internet connection is slow". >.<

You are offered to switch back to the regular, better looking Google Image Search, but leave the site and try searching again later, you get the same message and the same cruddy basic version.

First, I thought it was Opera, but I tried Firefox. Same message appeared.

I then tried Safari on Lilly, who is hardwired into our router upstairs. I get the same message. :x

That is outright weird and perhaps insulting. Sure, my internet connection isn't the fastest in the world, but it's 6mbps....maybe even somewhat faster than that. I can stream HD 1080p video on YouTube without any buffering, as well as surf the internet at the same time on another system....as long as our crappy modem doesn't act up. (we seriously need that modem replaced or something, but I digress)

I am tempted to try out an image search on the upstairs computer, but it's getting late and I have to return to college classes tomorrow. I may try in the morning before we leave.

BTW, the test phrase I was using for image search was "dogs". No, cute images of dogs won't help me get over this issue.

David, I guess I know what it feels like when a piece of technology insults you, such as Windows complaining of a lack of touch screen capability.

[RAMChYLD]

I'd think you're having problems with your DSL line. Check to see if moisture has gotten into your phone exchange box. If not, then a complaint to Golden West is in order.

[cpd2009]

I'd think you're having problems with your DSL line. Check to see if moisture has gotten into your phone exchange box. If not, then a complaint to Golden West is in order.

No, it's not that. I'm not talking about my modem yet. It's about Google being wrong about my connection being slow.

Google, as well as any other site I load up still loads blazingly fast for a 6mbps+ connection when our modem isn't acting up. Even when I switch from the basic Google image search to the full version, the images load up very fast without any sort of lag. Every other Google service loads up at top speed and they don't complain about my connection, such as Google Maps.

In short, there is nothing presently wrong with my Internet speed, and Google saying my connection is slow is insulting. There appears to be no way to disable such message either, unlike Opera, which will occasionally ask if I am on a slow connection and offer to turn on Opera Turbo. You can easily decline that offer.

Right now, I am on my college WiFi, which comes from an antenna from across the parking lot. Thus, it's somewhat slower than our connection at home. Google Image Search is no longer complaining about my connection. Go figure. >.<


As for our phone exchange box, there is no real way I can possibly check for moisture. That box is sealed to prevent consumers from inspecting it. I would have to call Golden West about it, but not today since I am in school.

I did mention earlier that was going to swap out the phone line that was connected to our modem. The previous cord looked very old in comparison to the one that is used by our cordless phone, which looks more modern. I noted that when I turned on my portable hard drive, I had the cordless phone with me and when the drive was spinning up, I heard no static on the cordless phone. Thus, I switched both phone lines so that the modem has the newer line and the phone has the older line. Since then, the modem no longer cuts out when I turn on my hard drive, but the internet speed still slows down to near 56k speeds. It's better than what it was before, but it suggests that the modem is having problems because of interference on the line. Full 6mpbs speed returns once I hit the modem's reset button. I know one form of interference comes from my portable hard drive, but what other interference could be causing our modem issues when I am not using my hard drive?

Both the phone and the modem come from the same phone jack. The wall jack has a splitter attached to it, with one line going to the phone and the other to the modem. I tried connecting the modem to the wall jack by itself, but it didn't work at all, so that means the splitter is a required piece of hardware.

I still think we should get our modem replaced with a better unit that can ignore interference more.

[RAMChYLD]

Ugh, "Midnight Blue", one of the worst kind of depression fit because one of it's side effects is Insomnia

--
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cAIAkt0uwM[/youtube]

I tried to close my eyes and let the mad world go by, but it's difficult

[Stella Grapes]

That's an amazingly long holiday, Sandy, second only to summer holidays.

[Blackberry Bun]

That's an amazingly long holiday, Sandy, second only to summer holidays.

And it helps me to write my chapters faster.

[cpd2009]

I'm testing out Opera on Lilly. I still think Safari is one of the best web browsers on a Mac, but as of Lilly's 10.8 upgrade, Safari has the nasty habit of just crashing on you without warning, and there isn't even a crash report.

The Opera theme I am using here is based off of the old style Mac OS X theme (pre 10.3). Doesn't really match the more plain-looking silver style of present releases, but hey, Lilly's a Mac. She needs something Mac related.


And as I took the picture, I was re-watching Dr. Ashens review of the Tiger Game.com. Never heard of it? Well, I wouldn't be surprised. Tiger wanted to compete with the Game Boy in the late 90s, and they came out with the Game.com. It was a massive failure because it had an underpowered processor and very poor ports of licensed games, such as "Sonic Jam" and "Duke Nukem 3D".

In fact, I got a Game.com for Christmas in 1999. I actually liked it somewhat, but I never found any additional games for it, and because of that, it fell to the wayside. My mom liked to play solitaire on it though. My particular model was the late-release "Pocket Pro", and it was a fuchsia/pink color.

I sometimes do want to buy another Game.com because I lost my other one, but only for nostalgia value. Thanks to Ashens and TweeterMan287, I finally saw what the games are like. And most are pretty crappy.

[cpd2009]

Daffodil Firmware Upgrade Succeeds...


Now to reinstall Google Play and redownload my apps.

Here is what pops up when you run the Google Play app from Digix...


Hint, read the window title FOR GREAT JUSTICE!

[Blackberry Bun]

Big flood all over the capital. People just never learn...

[RAMChYLD]

Tired...