Web page bloat – average now as big as the id Games classic, DOOM

Credit: id Games/Engadget

Yes, according to a report from the HTTP Archive, the average size of a Web page is now around 2,301kB. Full install image for the id Games DOS classic, DOOM, was barely larger, at 2,393kB.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/04/22/web_page_now_big_as_doom/

Just for the record, pages on this blog are well below the Web average. In particular, some effort is invested in ensuring that images are below 100kB. Case in point – image at the top of The Register article linked above is 106kB – image at the top of this item is just 50kB.

Exceptions to the 100kB rule are made if a critical image is only available in a larger size. / web DOOM average page id Games DOS classic BFG BFHTTP average web page same size full install image classic DOS game Doom according to Ronan Cremin lead engineer Afilias Technologies dotMobi W3C World Wide Web Consortium data HTTP Archive 2.3MB average page same size original DOS install id Software mega-hit HTTP Archive report average web page 2,301KB Doom's 2,393KB footprint slightly page bloat images average 1,463KB data script code 360KB video averaging 200KB per page growing size of pages wasteful some sites have become broadband connections Doom multi-level first person shooter ships advanced 3D rendering engine multiple levels maps sprites sound effects Web deliver page of web content average page size Web swollen top sites gotten smaller HTTP Archive top 10 Alexa-ranked sites dropped average page size developers page bloat top sites search engines keeping things light getting lighter heavier top ten websites list relatively rich sites Amazon PCs complexity size of Internet downloads playing Doom full disclosure average article page weight about 400KB fetch everything fresh maximizing data centre efficiencies /

Apple MacBook 2016 – what’s changed & what hasn’t

Macbook 12" available in pink (rose gold) for 2016
Credit: Apple/Forbes

In its second iteration, the Apple MacBook 12" appears exactly the same, but has a few incremental changes to improve speed.

What has changed:
● processors – 1.2 or 1.3 GHz up from 1.1 or 1.2 GHz in 2015

● Intel HD Graphics HD 515 GPU replaces Intel HD Graphics 5300 chip – Apple claims 25% speed improvement

● RAM – 1866MHz up from 1600MHz – still 8GB

● battery – 41.4 watt-hour – up from 39.7 watt-hour in 2015 version

● runtime claim increased by 1 hour to 11 total

● colour – pink is now optional, although Apple still prefers to call it, “rose gold”

What hasn’t changed:
● size
● shape
● weight
● screen size & resolution
● storage options
● ports – just 1 USB-C port + 1 x 3.5mm earphone socket

http://www.forbes.com/sites/brookecrothers/2016/04/22/new-2016-12-inch-macbook-vs-2015-version-specs-performance-breakdown/#3a7cdcbb4135

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/137369-apple-macbook-2016-vs-macbook-2015-what-s-the-difference / subtle differences updated 12 inch MacBook just released original version benchmarks performance 5th Generation Broadwell processor MacBook 6th Generation Skylake chip early benchmarks Geekbench 3 benchmark new Skylake 1.2GHz Core m5 powered MacBook last year’s 1.1GHz Broadwell 25 percent speed bump benchmarks difference in price 2016 MacBook new Intel HD Graphics 515 flash drive speeds benchmarks boost battery life subtle hour more battery life Apple's rating battery life DRAM RAM LPDDR3-1600 DRAM new MacBook LPDDR3-1866 DRAM new Rose Gold color colour chassis identical Retina display resolution same one USB-C port original 12-inch MacBook /

How much did the FBI pay to unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone?

Over 1 million dollars apparently. FBI Director James Comey gave some very broad hints at the Aspen Security Forum in London. Apparently the sum is “... more than I will make in the remainder of this job – which is seven years & four months – for sure.”

With Comey’s salary at $183,300 that makes

$183,300 x (7 + 4/12)
= $1,344,200

Comey is reported as saying that the hack was worth it, although rumour has it that the FBI didn’t find anything of interest in the iPhone in question.

http://www.techradar.com/au/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/here-s-how-much-the-fbi-may-have-paid-to-unlock-the-terrorist-iphone-1319524

http://www.cnet.com/au/news/fbi-1-million-dollars-san-bernardino-apple-iphone/ / FBI paid over $1 million third party hack iPhone 5C used San Bernardino terrorist Syed Farook Aspen Security Forum London FBI Director James Comey revealed how much agency paid unlock iPhone a lot Comey worth it no paid vacation bonuses Comey $183,300/year salary FBI paid $1.34 million hack FBI wanted Apple create backdoor software access iPhone Apple refused FBI find another way in Comey's comments alleged statements unnamed law enforcement officials agency hasn't found any data iPhone communicate ISIS supporters December 2 attack killed 14 people useful exhaust investigation helped FBI unlock iPhone reports Israeli firm Cellebrite may have assisted in the hack statement firm couldn't comment ongoing investigation Cellebrite offers Universal Forensics Extraction Device hack iPhones running iOS 7 iOS 9 tougher encryption Apple's lawyers compel FBI reveal how it broke into the phone Comey paid exploit allow FBI penetrate other iPhones 5Cs running iOS 9 /

Tesla Model S P90DL with Ludicrous Mode on Fully Charged

Robert Llewellyn takes a look at the fastest Model S.

/ Tesla Model S P90DL Ludicrous Mode Fully Charged LiIon lithium ion battery charged /

Still waiting for your jetpack?

Check out the JB-9 JetPack



http://www.gizmag.com/jetpack-aviation-new-york-flight/40286/

Manufacturer’s site
http://jetpackaviation.com/

Martin Aircraft Jetpack has a more practical intent:



Manufacturer’s site
http://www.martinjetpack.com/

Still not convinced? Zappata Racing has the Flyboard Air:



http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/15/11439798/franky-zapata-racing-jet-powered-flying-hoverboard-interview

Previous product from Zappata Racing is the Flyboard Legend water jetpack

/ personal flight hoverboard hover board jetpack jet pack /

11 record hot months in a row

Credit: Climate Central

2014 was the hottest year on record – until 2015.

2016 is showing signs of continuing the trend, with the hottest January, February & March on record. In fact, the last 11 months have all been record months. This 11 month streak of hottest months is in itself, a record.

http://www.climatecentral.org/news/earth-sees-11-record-hot-months-20254

Another piece of evidence, consistent with climate change, is the appearance of coral bleaching¹ in Sydney Harbour for the first time. Coral bleaching has been occurring closer to the equator in Australia, for a period of years, but this is the first time it has been observed so far south.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/sydneys-corals-now-bleaching-in-pretty-shocking-sign-of-warming-waters-20160418-go8qex.html
__________

¹ NOAA: “What is coral bleaching?”, http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html / past 11 months hottest months 135 years recordkeeping record keeping streak set a record the planet has warmed buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere new global temperature data NASA 2.3°F 1.28°C Celsius degrees above 1951-1980 average month warmest March on record beat previous warmest March 0.65°F 0.36°C margin 11th month in a row set record previous streak of 10 months six straight months temperatures more than 1°C above average stated goal international climate talks keep warming 21st century below 2°C aiming for 1.5°C March anomalously warm February most anomalously warm month on record other agencies around the world global temperature records National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA NASA data Japan Meteorological Agency March 1.93°F 1.07°C above 20th century average agency uses different baselines differ slightly from each other different ways of processing the temperature data global temperatures boost exceptionally strong El Niño bulk of the temperature rise due to excess heat trapped atmosphere carbon dioxide greenhouse gases emitted human activities succession of temperature records other notable climate records biggest ever year-to-year jump carbon dioxide levels Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii record low winter Arctic sea ice peak Arctic most anomalously warm areas planet warming at twice the rate planet as a whole 2016 on track warmest year on record El Niño La Niña cooling effect global temperatures La Niña temperatures temperatures coral bleaching Sydney Harbour warmer water temperatures coral bleaching water is too warm corals expel algae zooxanthellae /

Personal data security – another approach

Many, including Apple, Alphabet Inc's Google, Facebook Inc, Microsoft Corp, AT&T & the FBI, have publicly declared positions on the importance of personal data security.¹ But there is another view.


Credit: Scott Adams

Which is not to say that the view in the strip above hasn't informed some of those publicly declared positions.

More insights at: http://dilbert.com/
__________

¹ Reuters: “U.S. tech companies unite behind Apple ahead of iPhone encryption ruling”, http://www.reuters.com/article/apple-encryption-google-facebook-idUSKCN0W527Y

/ apple fbi security encryption encrypted encrypt google gmail decrypt user customer client data personal data security unlock encrypted data users customers privacy national security terrorists profitable apple verses fbi apple vs fbi unlock San Bernardino shooter iPhone /