XML appeared in 1996, was refined during 1997, and was standardised in 1998. I remember a lot of excitement about it at the time, from managers who imagined it would solve all their data portability problems. I was conscious of some of this enthusiasm before I really looked at the format. When I did, I… Continue reading Spare us humans from XML
Author: Chris Cannam
Wrapping a C++ library with JNI, part 4
In this series... Introduction, outlining the general steps from starting with a C++ library to being able to build and run simple tests on some JNI wrappers; Part 1, in which I design some simple Java classes and generate the stub wrapper code; Part 2, in which I add just enough of the implementation to… Continue reading Wrapping a C++ library with JNI, part 4
A dot com is an American domain
"Verisign seizes .com domain registered via foreign Registrar on behalf of US Authorities" (via Daring Fireball) — a gambling site based outside the US, using a .com domain registered by a non-US registrar, has had its domain seized by US authorities after prosecutors in Maryland asked Verisign, who control the top-level .com nameservers, to hand… Continue reading A dot com is an American domain
Live Passport Net
Microsoft plans to drop Windows Live branding — Microsoft are apparently renaming their Windows Live user account system to "Microsoft Account". They've changed the name of this service a few times over the years. I first found myself with a Microsoft account in 1998 when Microsoft bought Firefly, an early music-discovery social network, and took… Continue reading Live Passport Net
No Refunds
Bogus Pokemon evolves into iTunes smash hit; 2012: The Year Scam Apps Killed the App Store — As someone who used the Android Market before either of Apple's app stores, the thing I found most mind-boggling about Apple's was the lack of any apparent way to get a refund if an application doesn't work. It… Continue reading No Refunds
Comfy headphones
"Before I switched to closed Sennheisers for my primary headphones..." — I think this writer should try the Beyerdynamic DT250 (80Ω version for standard headphone outs). They won't block out as much external sound as some, but they don't radiate much either, they sound clean and balanced, and they're as comfy as an old pair of… Continue reading Comfy headphones
The Breakfast Post 