Posts by James Pickett

"Microsoft will continue to keep it current for the supported lifetime of the device"

Er, what does that mean exactly? I've got working devices over 10 years old...

"Windows Phone may be the most attractive and original piece of work Microsoft has ever done"

But that's not saying very much, is it..?

I find it hard to believe that replacing a copper wiring loom with an aluminium one will save enough weight to make a measurable difference to fuel economy. It's filthy stuff to make a good connection to, too - we have aluminium phone lines round here, thanks to a copper shortage in the 70's, and BT are forever re-making the connections in the local junction boxes, due to corrosion.

A much simpler way to improve economy is to add a small measure (0.2%) of acetone to the fuel. This reduces surface tension and improves atomisation, with a resultant smoother burn. I've used this in two cars and one motorbike, with an overall 8% improvement in economy. The bike, in particular (as it's a twin) runs more smoothly and is more tractable at low revs. I've been doing it for some years, with no ill effects or damaged seals. It works with petrol and diesel, but increasing the amount does not help - I use 20ml per 10litres.

"$6.9m in interest"

Does MS own Wonga?

The problem with winning a rat-race is that you are still a rat...

There's a saying about money and sense that temporarily eludes me...

"a speed once thought impossible"

I expect it's also doing more than 30mph.

So MS is the favourite with cyber-squatters? I look forward to reading their spin on it...

If there's a supplier monopoly, shouldn't they be chasing the pirates?

I remember a BBC journalist reporting from Beijing that he tried to buy a legitimate copy of Office, but it was really difficult, and the shrink-wrapped product he finally bought also turned out to be pirated.

"courtroom war of attrition"

I don't suppose Apple's lawyers are familiar with 'Jarndyce vs Jarndyce'?

Now, that is prior art.

"We’d like to apologise.."

Somehow, I doubt it (unless followed by the words, "but we prefer not to").

@Crazy guy

"the climate-change deniers"

I don't know anyone who denies climate change. I do know a few who believe that it happens naturally, though. After all, it always has.

Service stations are going to need their mains supplies upgraded if electric vehicles ever become popular (and vice-versa), especially when a 'fuel stop' may take a couple of hours for each EV. I know Tesla's 'supercharger' can do it in 30 mins, but how many 120kW outlets can you install without your own sub-station?

"we can expect as a result of global warming to see more of this pattern of extreme cold"

Global warming - is there anything it can't do..?

"Nearly half of Apple's customers in China during the past six months, he said, switched from Android phones to the iPhone."

What else would they switch from? And how many moved the other way..?

"Your personal details will be held securely by Microsoft"

That's the bit I have trouble with...

"Let the machines do what they do better than humans."

Which, as the piece explains, is not driving. Driving in real-world conditions involves all kinds of skills that don't automate: the necessary eye-contact you make at crossroads or pedestrian crossings, the judgement required when negotiating a narrow road or deciding when a verge is safe to put your wheels over, driving past rows of parked vehicles, dealing with unexpected situations/roadworks/breakdowns etc.

I can see that it might ultimately be possible, in areas where there can be only that type of vehicle, but a mixture of robot and human drivers sounds pretty scary to me.

Three facts, quite easy

Should be known to all

Would-be arrivers

Who set out on wheels:

That roads are greasy

Safety margins small

And fellow drivers

Fellow imbeciles.

(Piet Hein)

"couldn't show me a live broadcast on a TV they had for sale as the shop hadn't actually got a TV licence"

Brilliant!

"We don't think of antivirus as a moneymaker"

Funny how AVG, Panda, Avira et al continue to make enough to be able to offer a free version for individuals. I don't suppose Symantec ever tried that...

"a loaded mass of about a tonne" (said the chap with the Aygo)

Actually, the lift motor only has to cope with the weight of the occupants, thanks to a counterweight. Still a fair amount of grunt required, though, and I'm really not sure about the pressurisation, intended to prevent ear-popping. Won't that be much worse when the doors finally open and the people waiting to go down are blown backwards..?

What is wrong with a plug/socket that is obviously asymmetric, like, say, Firewire? Doesn't KISS apply any more?

Even 10% (which seems a low estimate to me) of a very large number is still a large number. Come April 9th, when the sky hasn't fallen in, most XP users will just carry on as before, but without the nagware.

My 15-year old Toshiba laptop (upgraded from Win98 to 2k) was in use again last week, queuing up and playing sounds for a local theatre production, as it has done for a decade. I'll change it when it breaks.