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zaidmo

30 karma · joined December 3, 2011

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zaidmo··on What are you working on?
A projector based Virtual Reality solution for home use that doesn't require headsets.

I've also just launched www.immersiveauthority.com - an Immersive Tech / VR site. Whatever I learn I transcribe on the site.

zaidmo··on Discovery launches its virtual reality network: Discovery VR
Check out the Mythbusters 360 degree video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WIS6N_9gjA
zaidmo··on Ask HN: What technology are you sad to see going extinct in the wild?
Floppy disk and cd/dvd drives! When you need to recover files from an old pc and need a Windows XP startup disk.... it's no fun in 2015.

Worse, it was on an IDE Hard drive and I couldn't find an external hard drive case for it so I had to take it to a PC repair store that had an IDE adaptor. Charges $40 to copy any amount of data above 20 Gigabytes.

zaidmo··on Possible commercial opportunities to offer services in VR/AR – per roleplayer
Hi. I'd like to get in on the VR / AR bandwagon and I'm looking at where I could fit in on the value chain. Potentially from a consultancy perspective...

I've started drawing up list of what services I think each role player in the ecosystem can offer to specific target segments

zaidmo··on Smart Luggage Hacked – A detailed component level review
After researching the topic for a few weeks I've just published an article that answers: What components make up smart luggage? Is it worth it? How to hack your own?

Let me know if you need any clarification (I'll try my best).

I was a bit afraid to post my article on Hacker News as BlueSmart is a Y-Combinator backed project. Please note that I fully respect their efforts.

zaidmo··on Twitter’s New Two-Factor Solution Kicks SMS to the Curb
I'm not sure how this works on a PC with IE/FF/Chrome/Opera used as a desktop browser to access Twitter. Will a private key sit on my PC? I would assume that more account hacks originate from a desktop pc (using brute force attack methods, etc) rather than from a phone, hence a PC requires further security?
zaidmo··on First Open Source Airplane Could Cost Just $15,000
I was wondering if the word "open source" is being used correctly in the context of aeroplane parts.

Dictionary.com has 2 definitions:

1. Computers. pertaining to or denoting software whose source code is available free of charge to the public to use, copy, modify, sublicense, or distribute.

2. pertaining to or denoting a product or system whose origins, formula, design, etc., are freely accessible to the public.

I guess the latter definition could apply, where the components can be produced (e.g. 3D printed) from detailed "open source" blueprints? However, I dont think the plane will be built from 100% "open source" rendered components. Generic or branded components may need to be purchased as well.

zaidmo··on Google Chromecast
I dont understand how you stream content from your device to the Chromecast. My PC has Windows Media Player, my Windows 8 phone has XBox SmartGlass. Would these applications allow you to stream to the tv. I am abit lost...
zaidmo··on Mos Def force fed, under same procedure that Guantanamo detainees undergo
This makes me too sad. When will the detainees be treated like humans? Will Obama eventually keep his word and shut down this facility?

This is INHUMANE!

zaidmo··on Bill before Icelandic Parliament to grant Edward Snowden citizenship
Hope it passes. Edward is almost like a refugee (Palestinian or Syrian) - forced to leave his country, can't go back home, and no other country will accept him. Perhaps he should head for and remain on a vessel in International Waters?
zaidmo··on Making the travel site people want, even if it’s impossible
I did a search: JHB to Buenos Aires in November for 60 days. http://adioso.com/za/johannesburg-za-to-buenos-aires-cr-in-n...

On flysaa.com (Star Alliance member) I can get a cheaper direct flight. Not sure what logic was coded to determine which result receives preference (i.e. ranking) in the results.

I also usually use http://flisea.com/ to search for reward flights on Star Alliance airlines. Not sure what API to linking to - perhaps you could check it out.

Or perhaps, change the purpose of the site: Find the best available reward flights on One World, Star ALliance and SkyTeam over a specific period of time. It's focused and a big need for frequent travellers

zaidmo··on It is cheaper to fly to US than buy Adobe software in Australia
I remember that! We also had the "Carrier Pigeon paster than ADSL" saga - we've made progress in SA!
zaidmo··on I am under surveillance by Canadian agents, my computer has been backdoored
How about he contact CSIS directly, and clarify...?
zaidmo··on Bot written to buy random things each month from Amazon
However, the site will never keep the API's the same. The mini-program may stop functioning a few years after the person's death, and there will be nobody to change it
zaidmo··on [dead]
Why was the primary source of buying HD's initially newegg (online electronics store). If you are in the business of buying SO many HDD's, shouldn't you consider getting them directly from the manufacturers? Also, I would like to know what other techniques they used to find / save space - any special compression software, any techniques to limit the storage of duplicate files, backing up your data to another data centre / on the cloud...
zaidmo··on The Story of the New Microsoft.com
A decade ago when I studied usability, we were taught Geert Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions, and how we should design a UI that is appropriate for users in specific locations.

I would like to understand what process followed when designing the new site that will be accessed by anyone in the world. Did the project team do User Experience testing? If there was testing, did this happen at local office level?

zaidmo··on What do you do with the Brilliant Jerk?
I was hoping / expecting the article to conclude with a recommendation on how to best channel the energy / talent of the "brilliant jerk". Not have this person fired. Promote him, but limit him, under a specifically defined position in the company where the boundaries are set - e.g. Head of Product Development, Head of Business Ops, Line Management, Finance...

I'm a Stargate fan and when I read brilliant jerk, I thought Rodney McKay and Nicholas Rush. Yeah, they had there issues, but at the end of the day, you can count on them...

zaidmo··on Meet the Man Who Built a 30-Story Building in 15 Days
It's also what I expected when I read the title. I thought one man physically created the building (like the guy who carved the road in the mountain)
zaidmo··on PayPal CEO writes personal response
And his mum is Carol Marcus? Kirk's son!
zaidmo··on Ecuador grants Julian Assange asylum
This is 2012. Can't they hold a videocon / telecon with Assange if they have questions? Why does he have to be on the ground in Sweden to be asked questions?
zaidmo··on Options Pricing in Excel with QuantLib
Thanks for the referral. I'll have a look at the website. Our business does sell and manage some complex products - most of it is managed out of Excel. I was told to treat this as a low priority (I have a list of solutions I need to get them), so I'm not sure what their budget is. However, if I believe their is a business case for them to adopt a new solution, the door is open for me to make a recommendation
zaidmo··on Options Pricing in Excel with QuantLib
Perhaps someone can help me with a related capability. I am looking for a tool to administer and query the price of structured products (options, securities, indices, etc)

On the administration side: Manage which clients, have been sold which products, value of the product (notional/sold value) and maturity date. On the valuation side: link to treasury and banking systems, and various price feeds to determine current value of structured product.

Is there anything off-the shelf that any of you are aware off?

zaidmo··on Show HN: 51,000 6 character domains
Here are some good domains, if any of you are considering a file sharing/locker or search site:

filean.com, fileea.com, filehe.com, fileou.com, findnt.com, findve.com, fineof.com

zaidmo··on Show HN: 51,000 6 character domains
awesome site - it's so hard to find a good domain name
zaidmo··on Holograms to replace people at New York airports
I've also seen this in a UK airport. I did not think it was a hologram.

When I read the title, I was expecting something different: A pool of agents "beaming into" the busy hotspots from a central, remote location. E.g. If airport A is quieter than airport B, then the agents just beam into airport B.

The agent can see the person via camera, and can tell the person to place his passport in a reader that quickly scans all pages, and sends the agent an image. To stamp the passport, the agent can tell the person place page X in slot "Y", where the agent can release the stamp remotely.

Then I read about the $180k non-interactive cardboard cutouts....

zaidmo··on I hereby resign
I took it to be a real story, although I was confused by the image (which was another story)
zaidmo··on I hereby resign
I'm in SA also. I thought that we are not legally obliged to disclose our HIV status to employers
zaidmo··on Google maps 8bit quest mode. A setup for 4/1 perhaps?
HaHa! Google is awesome! Other outlets are just running bizarre news stories today, but Google actually developed and released something so cool!
zaidmo··on RIT48: Final Presentations Live
I tried watching the live stream - it's too soft! Can you move the camera/microphone closer to the speaker?
zaidmo··on Google Play
If you are not from the US, UK, Canada, Australia or Japan, you may only be able to download apps. No ebooks, games or movies. They should at least add private, non-commercial podcasts. No benefit to me in South Africa. Source - http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/introducing-google-pl...
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