Helvensteijn.com

Apparently, the question has arisen wether or not Apple should be subjected to an antitrust investigation. In their youngest SDK license terms, Apple explicitly forbids development of iPhone OS software in languages other than C, Objective C, C++ and JavaScript. That is, apps written in other languages (such as Flash/ActionScript) will no longer be accepted … Read more

This post is in Dutch as it concerns Dutch law and politics. In het bezit van een auto en gesteld op privacy? Lees voor de grap eens de informatie op redonzeprivacy.nl (en als je tijd en zin hebt, de achtergrondinformatie waar zij naar linken). Als je je daarna nog niet geroepen voelt om de petitie … Read more

This morning, I saw a Google Street View car driving around in my home town Oosterhout (map). I it was a black Ford Focus (if I’m not mistaking), and it had a German license plate from Hamburg (HH). Unfortunately, I was unable to take a photo of it. However, I might encounter it some more … Read more

After a few years riding around on a scooter, I’m pretty sick of it. Not only because of bad weather, but mostly because time and time again, someone doesn’t see me, or someone sees me coming but doesn’t care, or I don’t know. But I’m tired of being almost run over virtually every day. So, … Read more

Although Jan Peter Balkenende first took office as prime minister of the Netherlands in 2002, until today I din’t know the man actually has a sense of humor. At least, I hope that he does. On multiple occasions now 1, he has said, and I quote: “I want a VOC mentality again.” VOC in this … Read more

Just a post to commemorate that 40 years ago today, Douglas Engelbart held The Mother of All Demos (video), introducing concepts such as the computer mouse, hyperlinks and e-mail. Taken for granted today, back in 1968 those were things no one had ever heard of. Just think, without the mouse, graphical user interfaces probably never … Read more

This post is in Dutch as it concerns Dutch politics. Als het goed is heeft ieder huishouden afgelopen zaterdag een brief van minister Ab Klink ontvangen over het Elektronisch Patiënten Dossier (EPD) dat op stapel staat. Ik, en met mij vele anderen, zijn het totaal niet eens met deze gang van zaken. Niet alleen vanwege … Read more

Last Monday early in the morning, my sister gave birth to a daughter, making me become uncle for the first time. The child has been given the name Janna, and on birth she weighed 3140 grams and measured 48 centimeters. I’m not exactly an expert in these things, but according to both her mother and … Read more

Alright, as of today, The Netherlands is the next country where it is no longer allowed to smoke in hotels, bars, restaurants and other places like that. Fine, so we won’t smoke there anymore. But leave it to these anti-smoke dickheads to find their next thing to wage war on. Now, they want us smokers … Read more

I wish everyone a happy new year. A few days early, but I won’t be at home for the occasion so it will have to do. Try not to harm yourselves or others with fireworks!