billymeltdown

Agreed, that's some serious melodrama thrown at people who are just looking for help testing their app that's not ready for general release. Big deal.

The revolving door between Government regulatory jobs and positions in the very businesses regulated is pretty well-established at this point. I'd like to see some evidence to back up that assessment with regards to the US PTO, but it certainly doesn't strike me as unlikely.

> I like the idea of password managers, but in practice they were too much hassle for me.

Too much hassle in putting data in, getting it out, or both?

I used to feel that way, but I just ended up getting lazy too often and repeating passwords, so I started seriously using a simple one on iOS (that I helped make, so I had some encouragement). I never use autofill (it annoys the ever long crap out of me) and browser integration features and don't really want to, as I don't mind having to sign in occasionally (I prefer it).

I force myself to take the time to turn it on and create a new entry when i am creating a new web login (e.g. online bill pay for some utility) and I'm tempted to use a throw-away password. Or, when i realize i've got a throw-away password i've been using on multiple sites and it's time to set a new one. This makes data entry easy, it's kind of like lazy loading IRL ;-) People make a big fuss about having lots of add-on features for such apps, but in the end I think all one really needs is a good habit and a strong data store.

Our app uses an open source encryption engine we developed called SQLCipher, it's page-level encryption for SQLite plus some key hardening and hmac protection on the pages. You can check it out here (and maybe use it to build your own?) http://sqlcipher.net

If I may ask something quite specific: how do you justify _automated_ transmission of DMCA take-down requests? Shouldn't a human being be reviewing them first to prevent this sort of thing? Do you guys care? I mean, who's idea was that? As a customer and a developer, I'd really like to know.

I was actually wondering the same thing, Peter, it's had me thinking I'm missing something obvious. Zed?

Oh, Google doesn't appear to be developing Nexus One any further, unfortunately. So, IIWY, I'd avoid it.

that's an interesting device. any word on the battery life?

I've been told by a friend, who's opinion on these matters I dig, that he got his hands on an HTC Legend and said it was "Android done right." I think the HTC Incredible is available now and is of similar design, user interface wise. Apparently the HTC folks are making a lot of head-way there.

I've read some rough review and commentary about the EVO, think you might want to do your homework there.

Another advantage to spaces like this is that you don't have to take the risk of leasing a commercial space yourself if you want an office out of your home. And I think that's valuable in and of itself (CRE leases are often for 3 years in many places). My space is $200/mo and it's a write off for our company that's a heck of a lot cheaper than leasing our own office.

[ by "my space" I mean, the one I work at, and by "our company", my boss's ;-) ]

Asbury Park has changed dramatically over the last few years. I don't have any stats on hand, but I'm originally from the area, and spent some time working for the city (a job that took me into places where my safety was very much in question), so I can assure you it's changed dramatically for the better.

Parts of it are still really tough, but it's not the kind of place you should be scared to visit, especially the downtown area around Mattison and Cookman (this is actually a great place to hang out with a lot of new business and restaurants, too. You've even got a great pub, Brick Wall, and the beach down the street). The west side of the city, closer to Neptune, is still a pretty dangerous place, but you wouldn't be going there if you went to this place.

Permanent storage areas and desks are common at the pricier places (I'm pretty sure Cowerking is offering you your own desk space).

In other spaces, like the one I work at, we have a setup that's really dynamic and flexible so we can re-purpose the room, so we provide everybody with large lockable cubby-style storage. Thus, we're a lot cheaper, too, than places that offer your own desk space.

Yep, we've got a kitchen (and micro, and coffee pot, etc) at my co-working space in brooklyn.

And, yeah, the fact that it's a work environment (to respond to further up this thread), is a huge benefit. Way easier to focus here than at a coffee shop or at home.

wow, we both got modded down for a joke. harsh.

Strooltz is the original "Situation"

I'm particularly curious to hear of any optimization suggestions the HN crew might have.

Y'know, I used to think he was a blow-hard, but his writing style has really grown on me. The guy is thorough, and thoughtful (if sometimes extremely caustic), and I think he helps raise the bar of commentary by way of example as well as ridicule.

I wonder how many of his detractors have actually unsubscribed from DF in their feed readers?

In other words, the DOJ is basically saying they have no intention of investigating or prosecuting these crimes alleged to have been committed by the FBI as reported in the NY Times and elsewhere.

Well, the OLC issued the ruling as a means of ass-covering, it's a legal brief detailing the basis of why they think this is legal.

The fact that they're doing such should trouble anyone with half a brain, but it also comes as no surprise at this point.

Agreed, title is misleading. Still, an interesting, if outrageous, article.

From the original wire article:

> "AT&T's prepaid calling cards must be treated as unclaimed property under district law," the attorney general's office said in a statement.

More from the wire article:

> According to the attorney general's office, that sum, known in the industry as "breakage," represents some 5 to 20 percent of the total balances purchased by consumers who use the calling cards.

It's actually an interesting bit of case law insomuch as how the law applies to modern technologies, and if it IS in fact the case that AT&T has to turn the minutes over as unclaimed, a cash-strapped operation like D.C. would be crazy to leave the money sitting on the table.

That's interesting. I have friends in Toronto who do a Rails' Pub Night that has a similar purpose (casual gathering space for Rails-oriented startups), but we're pretty quiet and focused in our space (Wburg Coworking) unless it's beer-o-clock.

I'd say the coworking wiki is not a bad place to start for reference and to get in touch with folks who have founded spaces themselves:

http://coworking.pbworks.com/

I haven't personally founded a space, just adopted one ;-)

Well said, sir! I ought to have emphasized the community aspect more in the blog post, it's really the critical part.

> "The client gives out the RF[PQ] so the client can say it was properly competed for so it can pass the approval process in upper management."

Indeed, we call this "column fodder," ;-)

Nice article, Max. Carl from nGen Works has an interesting post up of late on the same topic:

http://www.ngenworks.com/blog/detail/from_the_archives_chapt...

you guys really need to knock this off

New Jersey is my friend.

Unalone - corporations are by nature, by their charters, sociopathic entities. I'm not trying to be a hater, it's just the truth. They exist for very specific purposes, and by design they pursue the highest profit margin possible (publicly-traded companies in particular). There's a real danger in assigning human emotions or anthropomorphic qualities, it unnecessarily confuses policy issues.

Think of someone complaining about their computer or a program, "It doesn't waaaaant to! [do whatever]"

> <em>I understand that a large email blast will generate all kinds of auto-responses, email bounce messages, and other forms of invalid replies, but with some decent filtering and a little work an organization could surely separate the wheat from the chaff. It's the least they could do to in exchange for reading their message.</em>

I don't think the author appreciates how difficult this is. It's just not realistic in all situations, especially situations where the user knowingly signs up to receive an automated message.

I normally use Error-To for do-not-reply, and post a valid reply-to header, but in many scenarios this isn't enough. dpcan's first comment is particularly relevant > "the email address has to resolve back to the sending server properly or the spam filters kill it"

I should also add that you won't feel obligated to pay for a piece of cake or a coffee every so often, just bring what you need. Williamsburg Coworking in Brooklyn is a great space, so is Indy Hall down in Philadelphia.