Danie van der Merwe

Revisiting Borland Turbo C/C++, A Great IDE back in the 90s

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 12:06:16 +0200 zuletzt bearbeitet: Sun, 09 Apr 2023 20:08:26 +0200

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

"Tough Developer" did this blog recently about looking back at Turbo C and Turbo C++, and also installed an old version to play around with it.

It is a reminder of how far we have come, firstly from the late 1980s and early 1990s, and secondly for those who remember coding with it back then, how advanced it was in its day. Coding before this time was "basically" (yes, I know) standalone text file editing (the days of Emacs and Vim), and you'd debug really from compiler errors.

I'd been programming in Quick Basic for DOS before this, and I only wrote one program in C++ using Borland C++, before I moved on to Visual Basic (with real GUI Windows), and Clipper, Python, etc.

Because there was no Internet yet, nor YouTube, I had to buy paper books to learn from (even though the Borland C++ package came in a massive, cubed foot size box with about 7 or 8 manuals). I still have the three books: Using Borland C++ 3, Tom Swan's Code Secrets, and The Waite Group's Turbo C++ Bible.

Maybe I just did not try a hard enough, but the whole C++ syntax never sat well with me. Yes it wrote really nice tight code, but for some reason I never felt I could just flow with it.

It felt like, back then, that computing was really advancing in leaps and bounds every year or every second year. Graphics cards changed resolution and EGA colour came out, sound went from beeps to real true sound, spreadsheets appeared for the first time, the mouse appeared, graphical interfaces appeared (before Windows even), simulated multitasking appeared, the 640k memory barrier was broken (remember extended RAM and DR DOS?), we progressed from single sided floppy discs to double-sided, stiffy discs, token ring networks (with their T-connectors) appeared and were later replaced by Ethernet, 10MB MFM hard drives, and finally USB ports.

Today, graphics are already so good, storage is so abundant, processors so powerful, so most new innovations are just incremental in nature, and hardly noticed. As I heard on the LTT channel the other day, a user will notice moving from 60Hz refresh rate to a 120Hz monitor, but they will really struggle to notice improvements from 144Hz to 240Hz even though it is double the refresh rate.

Apart from a bit bigger and a bit better, the only big advancement that I remember from the last 15 years or so is SSD drives coming out (super light power, much more robust, and superfast). Even webcams and optical mice had already started to appear 20 to 24 years ago.

See Revisiting Borland Turbo C/C++, A Great IDE back in the 90s

A look at Borland Turbo C/C++

#technology #BorlandC++ #retro #coding

technology retro BorlandC++ coding

The Swap Club: This Company Saves Your AirPods From Planned Obsolescence

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 19:06:08 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

The Swap Club believes you should trade your old tech in for a refurbished version. They even do the refurbishing for you: While they don’t reveal exactly how they do it, they told iFixit they rely on “specialized equipment and precision robotics” to make “Podswap” possible.

It’s a Swap Club cycle: The company sends you a refurbished pair of AirPods, then you send in yours within three to five days. The Swap Club then attempts to resuscitate those AirPods, performing the complicated task of replacing the batteries without breaking the earbuds altogether. They then clean both AirPods thoroughly, so you won’t be dealing with someone else’s earwax if that’s what you’re worried about.

You still need to pay the Swap Club for a refurbished pair of AirPods: $59.99 for a standard pair, or $49.99 for one with more visible wear and tear.

I suppose some cost is better than just throwing your old pair away. I wonder how much longer it will be legal to just keep selling "new only" AirPods? Battery sellers have often got to at least accept the old batteries for proper disposal / recycling. I did post a few months ago about one set of earphones which allowed battery swap outs, but apart from that, these devices really generate e-waste.

But with regard to Apple AirPods specifically... my first, and only pair, of AirPods I bought gave up the ghost just after 2 years old when the warranty had expired. I was pretty disgusted considering what they cost. After a while I did buy a cheap pair of wireless earphones, and I just realised, that many years later these cheap ones are still working. That now makes me super suspicious as to why the expensive AirPods just stopped working after 2 years!

So maybe what I'm realising now as my Aha moment, is rather buy cheaper 3rd party earphones. They'll last longer!

But what we do know for sure is, Apple won't change this situation unless legally forced to do so...

See This Company Saves Your AirPods From Planned Obsolescence

#technology #ewaste #airpods

You don’t need to buy a brand new pair of AirPods when your old ones die—just join the Swap Club.

technology AirPods ewaste

The Great War: Western Front - A new and very realistic WW1 strategy game

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 21:54:58 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

This is hardly the first game to use history as its frame. But it's clear that the team at developer Petroglyph Games took its setting seriously. "We wanted to create that authentic World War One experience," says Chris Becker, The Great War's lead designer, noting that Petroglyph worked with London's Imperial War Museum to make their product as "plausible" as possible. This partnership can be glimpsed in the game's canvas – and its smallest specifics. On a strategic level, players are encouraged to appreciate the attritional nature of trench warfare, each attack incrementally denting their army's resources and national morale. Zoom in, and they'll notice the buzzing of biplanes, and how every shell blasts soil up into the air.

The Great War: Western Front is the definitive (their claim) World War 1 strategy game from Petroglyph, the makers of Command & Conquer™ Remastered & Star Wars™: Empire at War. Play a deciding role in history with this real-time tactical experience as you take charge in the pivotal Western Front from 1914 to 1919.

Pick your faction and lead your forces to victory, by directing your armies in gritty real-time battles and by guiding high-level decisions in turn-based strategic gameplay. Dig detailed trenches, research new technologies such as poison gas and tanks, and make decisions that will have a profound and lasting effect on your success. Think like a Commander to either relive history - or redefine it.

As Theatre Commander, experience enthralling turn-based grand-strategy as you direct the deployment of forces, perform research and carefully consider how you disseminate your resources across the Western Front in a war won by inches. Alongside this, take up the mantle of Field Commander in dynamic real-time battles as you direct units to defeat your opponent, build trenches and perform direct assaults by sending your infantry over the top. Pick your battles and fight them your way to shape the course of history.

The video at https://youtu.be/DoZ3aKKpDvQ gives a pretty good overview of what to expect. What is clear, though, is you can play at the strategic level with some really great animations you can zoom into, but you can also play tactically by laying out trenches, defences, etc.

Although the reviews on Steam Games are mostly positive, there are some issues, especially with the AI. Some lengthy reviews give some detail on some shortcomings, so it is always worth reading through the reviews before buying. A couple of game reviews have also started appearing on YouTube, for example, this popular one at https://youtu.be/z0or9cqxp10.

See The Great War: The WW1 video game that's eerily accurate

#technology #gaming #WW1 #strategy

Video games have often borrowed from the past, but recent releases like The Great War and Pentiment have taken historical detail to the next level, writes Andrea Valentino.

technology gaming WW1 strategy war

Sunbird is steaming forward to bring iMessage to Android, no hardware required, and with E2EE

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 19:14:52 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Back in early December 2022, news broke that a new company was attempting to achieve something that no one else done – Bring iMessage and its blue bubbles to Android phones. Granted, there are some solutions out there that “technically” allow users to use iMessage on Android, but they’re clunky and require having a host device running 24/7 to make it work. Yes, there is another app out there that promises iMessage on Android, but it’s currently closed beta, and we already know that it’s not going to be free when it finally arrives for the masses.

As you’d expect, Sunbird if very tight-lipped about how the app is delivering iMessage to users. They insist that the delivery method is 100% secure and doesn’t violate any of iMessage’s ToS. Speaking of security, Sunbird is touting that the app implements iMessage’s 100% end-to-end and that the only data stored on the company’s servers are the credentials for the Sunbird app itself.

Danny Mizrahi says that Sunbird has been able to scale while bringing the cost down to less than 60 cents per user. What is not clear is whether that is 60c per message or per month? But "cost" is not retail "price" so it will no doubt have to allow for a profit margin to be sustainable.

See Sunbird is steaming forward to bring iMessage to Android

technology #Sunbird #iMessage

Correction: I mentioned another app that is offering iMessage for Android and stated that it will not be free. I was incorrect as Beeper has announced that the app will be free with a Plus plan that will cost $5-$10/month. Back in early December of 2022, news broke that a new company was attempting to...

technology iMessage Sunbird

Asus announced its ROG Ally, a Steam Deck-like handheld gaming PC, on April Fool's Day

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 18:59:20 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

But then, two entire days later, Asus confirmed the device was, in fact, not an April Fools’ joke, and the YouTube channels Dave2D and Linus Tech Tips posted hands-on videos with the device. From those YouTube channels, we can glean a few specs, like a 1080p display, support for 120Hz refresh rates, and Asus’ claim that the device offers double the performance of the Steam Deck. While the company still hasn’t shared a price, it seems like it could be a really good product.

It is worth watching the two videos mentioned (links in the original article). It is good to see some more competition in this niche, but I wonder if the Asus version will be as open as the Valve Steam Deck.

See Asus announced its handheld gaming PC in the worst way possible

#technology #SteamDeck #ROGAlly #gaming

Don’t use April Fools’ Day to announce real products.

technology gaming ROGAlly SteamDeck

Kobo launches the Kobo Elipsa 2E, a 10.3" e-reader you can also write on

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 15:42:34 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Good to see there is still effective competition for Amazon. The main improvements though to this model seem to have been around the stylus, from how it attaches, charges, and annotates.

Along with the Elipsa 2E, Kobo also announced the launch of its own take on Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited, the Kobo Plus service, in the US today. The three-tier subscription grants members access to over a million ebooks and hundreds of thousands of audiobooks starting at $7.99 per month.

See Kobo launches the Kobo Elipsa 2E, a huge e-reader you can also write on

#technology #gadget #Kobo #ereader

It comes with an upgraded stylus.

technology gadgets ereader Kobo

IBM’s iconic Model F recreated for modern computers

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 23:18:28 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

With the tactile buckling of the internal spring and the click of the flipper against the capacitive PCB, the keys in IBM's Model F keyboards inspired today's mechanical switches.

IBM’s Model F keyboards are prized among keyboard enthusiasts. Introducing buckling spring switches over a capacitive printed circuit board (PCB) in the early 80s, they’re considered the grandfather of mechanical switches. Despite their prestige, Model F keyboards were no more by the following decade and, due to outdated technologies, have become very rare and can be tough to use with a modern computer. Targeting retro keyboard fans who don't want to deal with long searches, repairs, or mods, Model F Labs recreates IBM's Model F keyboards with modern OS support, and it recently introduced the iconic buckling spring switches in a classic full-sized keyboard, as well as some unique form factors.

“Much of the design follows in the footsteps of old Model F keyboards, though these are not exact replicas of a 4704 banking keyboard or any other old keyboard," Model F Labs' website says. "The firmware and hardware components are completely modern and do not use IBM chips or firmware."

See New buckling spring keyboards re-create IBM’s iconic Model F for modern computers

#technology #retro #keyboards

USB, modern OS support and customization options meet vintage IBM inspiration.

technology retro keyboard

Mullvad browser : The Tor Project’s new privacy-focused browser doesn’t use the Tor network, but VPNs instead

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 19:54:34 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

The Mullvad browser’s main goal is to make it harder for advertisers and other companies to track you across the internet. It does this by working to reduce your browser’s “fingerprint,” a term that describes all the metadata that sites can collect to uniquely identify your device. Your fingerprint can be made up of simple things, like what browser and operating system you’re using, to more invasive info, like what fonts and extensions you have installed, and what input / output devices your browser has access to.

It’s possible to configure a browser like FireFox, which Mullvad browser (and the Tor Browser) is based on, to have similar protections. However, doing so would require at least some level of technical savvy, as you have to know which switches to flip and have the confidence that you’ve caught everything.

According to Pavel Zoneff, a spokesperson for The Tor Project, Mullvad browser is very similar to the Tor Browser, it just connects to the internet through a VPN rather than the Tor network. (It doesn’t have to be Mullvad’s VPN either; if you use another service you trust, or if you have made your own then you can use that.) Mullvad browser also doesn’t offer the Tor browser’s censorship circumnavigation user experience, access to onion sites or services, or “circuit isolation and the integration with new-identity.” But again, if you don’t know what those things are, it’s probably not a huge concern.

See The Tor Project’s new privacy-focused browser doesn’t use the Tor network

#technology #privacy #browsers #Mullvadbrowser #Tor

It’s not a privacy silver-bullet, but could be a good first step.

technology privacy Tor browsers Mullvabrowser

5 of the Best Steganography Tools in Linux: Hiding information inside other innocent files

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 23:04:01 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Steganography is the art and process of putting one type of information inside another in an attempt to hide it. This is often done in situations where an individual wants to preserve secret information inside normal objects.

Steganography is not a new innovation. Since the time of ancient Greeks, historians have written about how cultures used steganography to hide information in plain sight. To that end, one famous account was Herodotus’s story of Histiaeus, where he tattooed a short message on a servant’s bare scalp. It is now possible to insert an entire book inside a simple JPEG photograph.

This guide shows five of the best steganography tools currently available in Linux: Steghide, Stegoshare, Wavsteg, Snow, and Steganoroute. It also shows you how you can hide your first message using these utilities.

Information can be concealed inside image, audio, text, and even TCP ICMP packets. And the image, audio and text files would still open and be processed like their original file types.

See 5 of the Best Steganography Tools in Linux - Make Tech Easier

#technology #privacy #Steganography #Linux #opensource

Steganography is the art of concealing messages inside regular objects. Learn how you can do this art in Linux with your digital files.

technology opensource privacy Steganography

Flyme Auto: The New Kid on the Block That Puts Android and CarPlay to Shame but needs Car Manufacturers to install it

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 19:20:08 +0200

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Called Flyme Auto, the new system powers a completely new experience behind the wheel, as it brings the mobile phone and the car in total sync.

While many might consider it an alternative to Android Auto and CarPlay, it’s much more than that. Flyme Auto was developed to be deeply integrated into the vehicle, so it sports capabilities that aren’t even available on Android Automotive and the new-generation CarPlay.

As compared to its rivals, Flyme Auto is supposed to be significantly more dynamic. As such, it offers more advanced customization options, including a live desktop.

Yes, reading through the details of the article, it knocks the socks off the current offerings we have. It probably shows we needed more competition and innovation in this niche. It really makes Android Auto and Apple's CarPlay look positively legacy. But whether we'll actually see it is another matter, as it all depends on what car manufacturers decide to install.

So, it is possible we'll see this new car OS on some makes of cars, but not others. These decisions though really affect end users, even to the point of deciding what phone OS they can, or cannot, use. I'd really hope it was a car buyer's choice to specify which they'd like to have on their car, or that cars come with all three from the factory (like my own car, it has both Apple and Android's offerings installed, which is why I chose the car).

See Flyme Auto: The New Kid on the Block That Puts Android and CarPlay to Shame

#technology #FlymeAuto #AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto

Apple and Google currently spearhead the software revolution in the car, but Chinese firm Meizu has just launched a new operating system that makes its r...

technology FlymeAuto AndroidAuto AppleCarPlay