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Now, what was it that Niels Bohr said about believing that you understand quantum theory? 
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Hi All,
We need to do a FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) on some devices we can't get back to base to test. We followed IT policy to get two high spec desktops to run the test and some solid state drives, the policy has changed no desktops, the hard drives were taken out, company policy then demands all hard drives that are encrypted. So come next round of tests the PC's that were to kept are gone, the hard drives can't be encrypted. I am at a loss, talk to help desk 'use your departments lap tops, you got three of them' which are all booked out for other projects. I can have an old Win 8 laptop (which can run the software slowly!) for two days, I will be on site for Monday to Saturday.  If only they had listened!
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Why would they listen to a mere engineer? What do you know about making sensible policies?
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If customers are attending the FAT, you can pointedly try not to embarrass the idiots who made the policy.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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glennPattonWork wrote: two high spec desktops to run the test and some solid state drives
"Those aren't desktops - they are highly specialized test hardware for the XYZ widget that we put into desktop tower cases. Now set them back down and I will fix what you probably broke after you leave..."
If you can't laugh at yourself - ask me and I will do it for you.
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So my LG Flip Phone has just about had it. Battery, even a new one, drains within a day or two (even if not used) and the signal strength oscillates. Voices are broken up most of the time. It's 3G and probably spends it energy looking for unavailable towers.
New flip phone: hard to find and those I did are very costly
So I get this BLU G5 Plus - about $US 100 . After moving the SIM and charging I turn it on. First thing after selecting a language is their privacy terms. Basically I have no privacy at all. If I don't agree then I can't use the phone. No Opt Out possible.
Now, the online search I should have done first: they basically suck. The ![Elephant | [mastadon]](https://codeproject.global.ssl.fastly.net/script/Forums/Images/elephant.gif) 's have an un-removable and non-disableable application that sends everything you do and everywhere you go to a location in Shanghai. It also installs un-asked-for applications. It turns out the FCC smacked them on the wrist last year - as though they cared.
Well - fortunately I didn't install either of the screen protectors or throw away anything from the box. All repacked (w/out my SIM) and back it goes. Thanks a lot, uncle Xi.
The details aren't necessary, but two of the pins in the LG SIM slot are missing - it can't see the card.
The problem is . . . now what?
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Have you looked at refurbished phones?
They're old second-hand phones, but fixed so they work like new.
Or so I've been told.
I've seen quite a few Nokia 3310's because those were popular back in the day.
No doubt they also refurbish flip phones.
Can't tell you whether they're expensive though (i.e. they're cheap alternatives or hipster retro).
I'm all into newer phones so I can't tell you where to buy and who to trust, but I'm sure you'll find some good sellers using your best Google-fu.
Good luck in your search for old, reliable, simple tech 
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Older phones not likely to have 4G - and as 3G is phased out I would find myself in the situation I had with the LG 3G Flip Phone. Burning out the battery searching for towers and poor quality voice because the towers were few and the connection unstable.
Refurbs? I do buy refurb'ed technology - the PC I'm using now, connected by HDMI to a TV is VM'ing into work where I RDT to my desktop. No point in buying new and amazing when it's mostly just a connection point (and also a place to play Dungeon Crawl).
But the real problem is privacy - at least if I have a chance to opt-out and/or remove/disable applications I can work on it and so live with it. Chinese brands are, unless proven otherwise, infested with spyware.
At least, to make things somewhat easier, I have no device requirements for the phone beyond privacy and reliable/audible conversations. When I take pictures I (amazingly enough) use a camera. I don't keep my ears plugged as I go through life - hearing and seeing the world live and first person
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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W∴ Balboos wrote: the real problem is privacy
In that case, don't get any type of phone.
Social Media - A platform that makes it easier for the crazies to find each other.
Everyone is born right handed. Only the strongest overcome it.
Fight for left-handed rights and hand equality.
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So root it[^], delete the cr@pware, then unroot it, if desired.
I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!
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W∴ Balboos wrote: It also installs un-asked-for applications
And you think only the Chinese do this, my samsung has 52+ (I haven't counted recently) applications it "updates" when I let it. I use probably 10 and have installed only 5 of those. The wife (who does not know what Play Store is) has samsung that dings at her all the time for some unknown reason.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity -
RAH
I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP
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Well, then, my wife's LG hasn't done any of this. Maybe I've just discovered brand loyalty.
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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At the risk of getting flogged here, have you seen/considered the new Samsung Z flip? No, I am not affiliated, I am just waiting t get my hans on the S20+ for the Time of Flight camera.
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I feel it's a waste to spend $100 on a phone - the phone I'm replacing is an LG450.
I use the damn thing as a telephone - only. Voice and voice mail, period.
And - at a risk of becoming a rant - anyone who'd spend in the neighborhood of $1000 for a phone is ing nuts . . . and nuts is so damn polite compared to the place on their own anatomy I believe they use for a ski-mask.
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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I'm using a ZTE Cymbal-T. Android 5.1, flips, is under 100$ USD.
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So far, it seems like it's a "TracPhone" only device.
I'm considering going into the prepaid world - but not quite yet.
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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The question on the floor is: Would (will) you trust your life to a self-driving car?
My own answer: "NO!". I will post my reasoning later.
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I really want to say no - but the quality of driving I see as the next generation gets behind the wheel makes me think:
"I would trust it to by mandatory for these new drivers" - since they're way too dumb and self-involved to share the road with others - and they drive that way (it is their road, isn't it?).
| Ravings en masse^ |
|---|
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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I'll just agree, if I say any more I'll get started and there's probably a limit on the length of a post.
I'll just say; without their phones they wouldn't/couldn't survive!
Monday starts Diarrhea awareness week, runs until Friday!
JaxCoder.com
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A lot of us would be very interested in the rant...
My plan is to live forever ... so far so good
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Good point! Driver's Ed doesn't teach driving. I'm not sure what it teaches, but it sure doesn't teach driving--unless you live in a Nordic country like Belgium or Norway--there, they are required to teach such things as control skids, power slides, etc., because of icy roads.
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rjmoses wrote: Good point! Driver's Ed doesn't teach driving.
You're assuming they're taking driver's ed.
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Go to QA.
Read a couple of hundred questions.
Self driving cars? You'll never use a bank, airplane, or mobile phone again ... 
TBH: compared to the quality of driving you get from trained, licenced, apparently legal drivers I suspect that a self driving car that drove itself into a tree one trip out of a thousand would be preferable company on the roads. It won't get drunk. It won't read the paper, text its mates, perform sex acts, disappear to have a rummage in the glove box, or just have such an intense chat with a passenger that eye contact is essential for minutes at a time. It won't let itself out on the road if it has a serious car defect, or if it's been disqualified, isn't insured, or - possibly - even stolen.
It won't drive the wrong way into traffic to get away from the police, it won't deliberate drive though pedestrian areas, it won't drive 10cm from your rear bumper because it's in a hurry - if it does, it's talking to the car in front and savign road space and energy.
Persuade me that all human drivers are better than that, before you try to prevent self driving cars ...
In a generation, manual driving will probably be frowned upon like drunk driving is today, and will almost certainly be illegal.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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My wife and I had a discussion this morning about driver's high on pot in Illinois since it is legal here now.
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