kluner.net

I don’t get Apple.

Apple TV

They make great products, have a great iTunes store, and make sure their products work with iTunes. Sounds pretty good, even if you are terrified of something called ‘vendor lock-in’. (which I am not)

Okay, so now we have something called: “Apple TV”. It breaks every rule of intelligent commerce and marketing in the Apple book. It’s useless. So, okay… you get to listen to your iTunes tracks, and watch your iPhoto pictures, and even youtube on your HD tv, through the Apple TV.

BUT!

it’s most important feature is shamelessly missing: video rental/purchase.

At least, when you live in The Netherlands, like I do.

When iTunes 8 was launched, it heralded iTunes’ wonderful feature to rent and purchase HD movies. But once again, this feature, with enormous amounts of my fellow Apple Mac / iPhone / iTunes users (and potential, if not current, Apple TV buyers/users) waiting for it,  is lacking in this country. EVERYONE I’ve spoken who uses iTunes (quite a lot I might add) have stated this is THE feature they are literally dying for.

Apple, where art thou Apple?

(not to mention, they have refused to answer e-mail inquires about this issue by flatout ignoring them)

Arjan Koole Apple Apple, Apple TV, iTunes, stupidity

always remember to do the following after upgrading PHP, but before restarting apache:

1
2

cd /usr/ports/www/suphp
make deinstall && make reinstall

when using eaccelerator do:

1
2

cd /usr/ports/www/eaccelerator
make deinstall && make reinstall

too.

Saves you a LOT of headaches

Arjan Koole FreeBSD FreeBSD, open source, PHP

The FreeBSD developers are clearly stepping up the pace with the second RC for 7.1 out in almost no time after the first one hit.

What’s next guys? -RELEASE before new years?

Arjan Koole FreeBSD FreeBSD, open source, OS

One day, you’re bouncing all over the place because there’s an official 7.1-RC1, the next, there’s already two security advisories.

To sum them up:

• protosw
  safe to ignore unless you have local users, safe to ignore if you haven’t loaded / compiled in the ng_* modules

  Index: sys/kern/uipc_domain.c
  ===================================================================
  --- sys/kern/uipc_domain.c	(revision 186366)
  +++ sys/kern/uipc_domain.c	(working copy)
  @@ -112,13 +112,18 @@
   
   #define DEFAULT(foo, bar)	if ((foo) == NULL)  (foo) = (bar)
   	DEFAULT(pu->pru_accept, pru_accept_notsupp);
  +	DEFAULT(pu->pru_bind, pru_bind_notsupp);
   	DEFAULT(pu->pru_connect, pru_connect_notsupp);
   	DEFAULT(pu->pru_connect2, pru_connect2_notsupp);
   	DEFAULT(pu->pru_control, pru_control_notsupp);
  +	DEFAULT(pu->pru_disconnect, pru_disconnect_notsupp);
   	DEFAULT(pu->pru_listen, pru_listen_notsupp);
  +	DEFAULT(pu->pru_peeraddr, pru_peeraddr_notsupp);
   	DEFAULT(pu->pru_rcvd, pru_rcvd_notsupp);
   	DEFAULT(pu->pru_rcvoob, pru_rcvoob_notsupp);
   	DEFAULT(pu->pru_sense, pru_sense_null);
  +	DEFAULT(pu->pru_shutdown, pru_shutdown_notsupp);
  +	DEFAULT(pu->pru_sockaddr, pru_sockaddr_notsupp);
   	DEFAULT(pu->pru_sosend, sosend_generic);
   	DEFAULT(pu->pru_soreceive, soreceive_generic);
   	DEFAULT(pu->pru_sopoll, sopoll_generic);

• ftpd
  you can ignore it if you don’t run this ftp daemon, or if you have disabled ftp all together. Otherwise: patch it right the heck now!

  Index: libexec/ftpd/ftpcmd.y
  ===================================================================
  --- libexec/ftpd/ftpcmd.y	(revision 185134)
  +++ libexec/ftpd/ftpcmd.y	(working copy)
  @@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@
   /*
    * getline - a hacked up version of fgets to ignore TELNET escape codes.
    */
  -char *
  +int
   getline(char *s, int n, FILE *iop)
   {
   	int c;
  @@ -1207,7 +1207,7 @@
   			if (ftpdebug)
   				syslog(LOG_DEBUG, "command: %s", s);
   			tmpline[0] = '\0';
  -			return(s);
  +			return(0);
   		}
   		if (c == 0)
   			tmpline[0] = '\0';
  @@ -1244,13 +1244,24 @@
   			}
   		}
   		*cs++ = c;
  -		if (--n <= 0 || c == '\n')
  +		if (--n <= 0) {
  +			/*
  +			 * If command doesn't fit into buffer, discard the
  +			 * rest of the command and indicate truncation.
  +			 * This prevents the command to be split up into
  +			 * multiple commands.
  +			 */
  +			while (c != '\n' && (c = getc(iop)) != EOF)
  +				;
  +			return (-2);
  +		}
  +		if (c == '\n')
   			break;
   	}
   got_eof:
   	sigprocmask(SIG_SETMASK, &osset, NULL);
   	if (c == EOF && cs == s)
  -		return (NULL);
  +		return (-1);
   	*cs++ = '\0';
   	if (ftpdebug) {
   		if (!guest && strncasecmp("pass ", s, 5) == 0) {
  @@ -1270,7 +1281,7 @@
   			syslog(LOG_DEBUG, "command: %.*s", len, s);
   		}
   	}
  -	return (s);
  +	return (0);
   }
   
   static void
  @@ -1300,9 +1311,14 @@
   		case CMD:
   			(void) signal(SIGALRM, toolong);
   			(void) alarm(timeout);
  -			if (getline(cbuf, sizeof(cbuf)-1, stdin) == NULL) {
  +			n = getline(cbuf, sizeof(cbuf)-1, stdin);
  +			if (n == -1) {
   				reply(221, "You could at least say goodbye.");
   				dologout(0);
  +			} else if (n == -2) {
  +				reply(500, "Command too long.");
  +				(void) alarm(0);
  +				continue;
   			}
   			(void) alarm(0);
   #ifdef SETPROCTITLE
  Index: libexec/ftpd/extern.h
  ===================================================================
  --- libexec/ftpd/extern.h	(revision 185134)
  +++ libexec/ftpd/extern.h	(working copy)
  @@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
   void    ftpd_logwtmp(char *, char *, struct sockaddr *addr);
   int	ftpd_pclose(FILE *);
   FILE   *ftpd_popen(char *, char *);
  -char   *getline(char *, int, FILE *);
  +int	getline(char *, int, FILE *);
   void	lreply(int, const char *, ...) __printflike(2, 3);
   void	makedir(char *);
   void	nack(char *);
  Index: libexec/ftpd/ftpd.c
  ===================================================================
  --- libexec/ftpd/ftpd.c	(revision 185134)
  +++ libexec/ftpd/ftpd.c	(working copy)
  @@ -2794,15 +2794,20 @@
   myoob(void)
   {
   	char *cp;
  +	int ret;
   
   	if (!transflag) {
   		syslog(LOG_ERR, "Internal: myoob() while no transfer");
   		return (0);
   	}
   	cp = tmpline;
  -	if (getline(cp, 7, stdin) == NULL) {
  +	ret = getline(cp, 7, stdin);
  +	if (ret == -1) {
   		reply(221, "You could at least say goodbye.");
   		dologout(0);
  +	} else if (ret == -2) {
  +		/* Ignore truncated command. */
  +		return (0);
   	}
   	upper(cp);
   	if (strcmp(cp, "ABOR\r\n") == 0) {

I noticed that the -RC2 branch is in place too now. Almost there…. must … be … patient …

Arjan Koole FreeBSD FreeBSD, open source, OS

You got to love the way they write the release announcements:

“Gee. Did we really implement that new interface that way? That needs a bit more work.”

So,  it’s now the last few legs of the release cycle, and I’m looking forward to it.

DO read the release announcement or /usr/src/UPDATING, specialy if you currently have a system that uses the em(4) driver (Intel E1000 NIC), it might change with this release, to igb(4).

Arjan Koole FreeBSD FreeBSD, open source, OS

We’re only a little bit removed from the next major FreeBSD release. The branch has been tagged, and the ports-tree is (thank God!) unfrozen once again. The first Release Candidate has hit the FTP servers.

I’ve been running -PRERELEASE for a while now, and haven’t found any problems so far, not on real-steal hardware, nor on vmware virtualized hardware.

Arjan Koole FreeBSD FreeBSD, open source, OS

Some historical firsts are quite newsworthy.

Net Applications reports that for the first time ever, Windows market share has dropped below 90%.  According to sources, this is mainly because Mac OS X is grabbing a stronger footing in the global OS market with 8.87% share. Linux, the iPhone and the PS3 gain a bit too, while FreeBSD looses 0.01%.

Now mind you, these are digits from consumers visiting sites, there could be much more market share for Linux and FreeBSD, because there are many servers running those operating systems, and servers don’t tend to visit websites all that much. The same, off course, can be said for windows servers.

This is significant, Windows has always been the dominant party in the desktop user market, and seemingly, this is changing. This whole year, Windows has pretty much shown a slow but sure decent, with as much as 91.64% market share in April of this year down to less then 90% today.

Why is this important? Well, Microsoft has been under fire for years on end now, allegations and convictions for unfair business tactics and anti-competitive behavior have cost them billions in legal fees, fines and penalties. This is sure to spark a change within the ranks of Microsoft, where the old walls get broken down, and a new flag of cooperation is to be seen on the Redmond flagpole. Perhaps not so much because the end user is aware of the bad things Microsoft has been doing, but more because other vendors (like Apple) offer  better user experience on the desktop. Even the 0.83% share for Linux can be seen as truth to that statement, with the rise of user friendly distributions like the many Ubuntu versions.

Another important factor is the fact that many businesses are adopting an anti-vendor-lock in policy, where they do not wish to be dependent on just one software vendor and their course.

Another key factor is the ‘Vista factor’. Enthusiasm from many people not withstanding, a lot of people have even been heard making the dreaded ‘ME’ comparison earlier. Quite a few of the kinks have been worked out since that initial release, but consumers have long memories, and businesses do not like the heavy hardware requirements Vista has.

I’m not quite opening the champagne bottle just yet, but I am getting rather optimistic about the downward trend for windows. It should spark inovation in the offices of Microsoft, and inovation is the key to all progress.

Arjan Koole Featured Post, general Apple, FreeBSD, linux, mac OS X, marketshare, microsoft, OS, windows

Count your blessings, but what if there are none?

Yesterday, since it was a saturday and I have a large amount of spare time in the weekend, I decided to get busy on one of those things I never have the time to do during the week: laundry. (yay!).

So, I loaded up the washer, turned it on, and hopped in the shower. I take pretty long showers ( bite me, it’s the only time in the day I truly relax ), but even so I was kinda suspicious on how fast it hit the centrifuge programm…

*KALUNK!!!*

I pretty much hit the roof, I jumped so high (still in the shower). So I got out, towled off and started to look. It was still trying to centrifuge the load, but everytime it had to actually put in some effort there was a screaching noise and sometimes a big klunking sound which actually made the darn thing shift half a foot or so.

So, that’s either the bearings, or the gearbox that’s totaly shot to hell. I tried to do another test today, totaly empty (because maybe, just maybe, I didn’t pay attention and overloaded it a bit). The banging / klunking sound is gone now, but it still can’t get up to speed…. essentialy worthless because the wash comes out totaly soaking wet that way. (and no, I don’t have a dryer – always hangdry my laundry)

Yay, I was hoping to save some money and  start doing something about my house, which is very empty and kinda eary now that Petra and Femke are gone. But it looks like I’m going to have to buy a new washer.

well, let’s hope that’s the last of the crap that goes wrong for 2008, and that 2009 will cut me a little more slack

Arjan Koole general life, murphy

Just a little update, since I’ve not been around for a while now.

A lot of changes in my life. As you know Petra and I where getting a divorce, and that was final in june. Then the waiting game started, because Petra needed a place of her own. Well, she and Femke moved out a couple of weeks ago, and my place is pretty empty now.

That’s pretty much it I guess, I’m still geeking around, making new friends (no, no new love yet) and getting used to really being single and alone.

Naturally I miss Femke, but I get to see her quite a lot thank goodness, she and Petra only live about a 7 minute walk from my place. (which is really good, or I think I would have lost my sanity by now).

more to come, once I get my life back together.

Arjan Koole general life

I would like to issue the follow message to stockholders and financial analysts:

stop messing up the economy even more!

Okay, pause, take a deep breath, go out into the woods if you have some nearby, or a walk in the park. Enjoy some clean air, the company of friends. Clear your mind of all your troubles.

Think about it, this whole financial crisis started as nothing more then a little breeze. But all that panic behavior and ‘doing what the other guy is doing’ is making that little breeze into a storm that would make an F-5 tornado cower in fear.

So, look around, take a good look at your portfolio, and think about it…. do you really wish to cause your economy more harm then it has already suffered at that hands of analysts. Look at those shares in your hand, do you want to harm the company that you hold little pieces of? I didn’t think so.

Investing and playing in the stock market isn’t a ‘get rich quick’ thing, it requires insight, it requires knowledge. But most of all: it requires long term vision.

So, buy some more shares, those companies won’t go away, they won’t dissapear. Your money won’t vaporize (unless you invest into an obscure company like SCO). Have faith in the very economy you once helped built. So, yeah, the banks messed up with stupid mortgages. Won’t happen again. They have learned, we all have. Shame for those who are loosing their home, terrible shame even. But the world will continue to turn, as it always has. Sounds cold, but it’s true. Eventually those people will be able to buy houses again too.

Arjan Koole general financial crisis, life, stocks, stupidity, world