Posts by Test Man

Re: DVD Playback

"That was the other thing. It worked in Win7, then they borked it in Win8 (you could restore it for a fee with WMC, which was overkill just for that one purpose) and now it's back to being made available at a future time as part of Win10."

No, it wasn't borked in Windows 8, the MPEG-2 codec was purposely removed, as virtually all OEMs include DVD-playback software that already included its own DVD playback codec so not many people actually used it with Windows Media Player. You could add it back as part of Windows Media Center, which made sense.

It's still not there in Windows 10, and it won't be coming back. However, if you had Windows Media Center, you'll still have DVD playback after WMC is removed.

In short, as with all versions of Windows 8 and 8.1, you'll need third-party software if you desperately need to play it. This is fine, as DVD playback with Windows Media Player was always naff.

Re: I know I'll get downvoted but...

"They've been screwing my parents over for years but not letting them know they are on a crap, expensive service (been on them since the Telewest days)"

Why is it their responsibility? Surely your parents should be making sure that they are on the cheapest deal come renewal?

"My old car developed a fault with its keyfob which caused the doors to lock followed by all the windows to open fully"

You sure this was down to the keyfob? IIRC VW Group cars (SEAT, Golfs, etc.) can do that by putting the key into the driver's side, and then turning and holding the key one way.

Re: uhd? i dont want hd!

I wish that the Freeview spec mandated the use of automatic update of the channel list. I had an old box that did do that but no other box or TV owned since does this, so I have to retune every few months only when I hear that there is a new channel or a reorg. It's worse than the analogue days, I mean we're in the digital age so why do we still have to retune? Come on, Sky have solved this one even when it was still analogue!

Re: Speed limit reduction

"Was that after the very-public double-Volvo crash tests of exactly this feature where they totalled all the cars involved in front of the world's press?

Brave guy."

Wasn't that Merc cars? And wasn't that down to the fact that the tech wasn't actually ready at the time so they relied on a hidden wooden board on the ground to indicate to the driver to brake but the suspension cushioned the wooden board "ramp" far too well so the driver didn't realise he had to brake and he plowed into the car in front?

Re: Good enough

Blu-ray

Re: Rent a door lock?

"A lot of people already possess remote locks on hire-purchase - the locks on their cars." by your logic that could also apply to a house with a mortgage. So what's your point?

Well there's been a few Sky businesses operating in Europe for years now (Sky Italia, Sky Deutschland, etc.). And they've been featured in movies (Sky News in Independence Day, for example). So I don't think it's a case of "no one knows who Sky is outside of the UK".

Re: so will they ship media codecs?

The Media Center for Windows 8 is the addon to buy if you want the media codecs, that was the point (to not include it but to make it available for people who want it, therefore only paying licence fees according to how many people actually opt for it). For most people, this actually didn't affect them considering most OEMs ship third-party DVD players anyway, which come with their own codecs.

In the article it says that there'll be a "DVD only" option. In other words, the current option will be stripped of the Media Center component but otherwise it'll be the exact same procedure as it is for Windows 8 and 8.1. Again for most people it's not going to be a problem anyway considering that again most OEMs ship third-party DVD players anyway.

Re: So...

"How often do planes operate, without shutting down, for more than eight months at a time?"

Think about it - when do you ever power down your car? Never. Switching the ignition to "0" isn't turning it off in the same way pressing the power button on your TV isn't actually turning it off either. The same with planes.

Re: Close, but still no cigar

" Why can't MS do this?"

Why should they?

Windows 8.1 - you're getting a free upgrade to Windows 10

Windows 8 - why are you still on this when you get a free upgrade to 8.1? Also, see above.

Windows 7 - old, and Microsoft are clearly pushing 7 users to 8 and 10 anyway, this is yet another carrot. If you don't want to, fine, IE11 is perfectly fine, as well as the multitude of other browsers.

Windows Vista - LOL

Windows XP - double LOL

Windows 2000 - fool

Windows ME/98SE/98/95 - *pfffffffffftpppfpfpptptpppp!*

Re: Apple...

We know what you mean but technically speaking it wouldn't have been possible as 1. the apps wouldn't have been delivered from the App Store and 2. they didn't have wifi onboard so any deliberate "pulling" of apps would never have been possible.

Microsoft managed to kinda do that with their Windows 7 Starter Edition OS...

Who cares though when everyone is using Facebook Messenger? This is good news when all your friends are also on this app.

Re: What I want from NFC phone payments

This is exactly the same as for every single payment in history ever, so I don't see why you're making out as if it's a negative. Obviously it's up to you to view the amount on the cash register display whether you're paying via cash, card, cheque, Apple Pay, whatever.

The whole point is to just pay in a near-instant, so you're not going to be able to have your phone display the amount on it at the time of "bonking" because by then it's too late, you've paid.

Re: All change please!

Why would it need GPS? Google already knows where you are even with GPS off (from cell and wifi data).

"How can Google be said to control billions of desktops when the people involved can all switch search engines tomorrow if they wanted to."

I think you're missing the point. The billions of desktops don't know how or don't desire to switch engines tomorrow, that's the problem! I know someone who, instead of putting in company name and adding a .com to the end will fire up Google and put in company name in there, every single time. She doesn't know anything, because Google is the defacto and default search engine, hell, Google IS the internet. Therefore Google can promote ANYTHING and she will simply lap it up without querying it. This is potentially DANGEROUS.

What hope is there for others when Google has such a wide reach they can influence people at will to the total detriment of other companies?

"How can Analytics be said to have no competitors when anyone could write one tomorrow, or how about using Piwik or KISSmetrics or Clicky or Woopra or Open Web Analytics or FoxMetrics or ClickTale or Mint or GoingUp! or Crazy Egg or Mouseflow or Chartbeat or GoSquared or Moz Analytics or etc or etc or etc."

Have you actually tried to write a competitor site and then tried to actually get it promoted? When Google is the one controlling the views of billions of desktop, how do you think your company, who is a direct competitor, is actually going to fare regarding promotion when Google controls the view and, unchecked, will also stop you from being noticed at all?

"(although I think I need to know why my eldest son can unlock my phone and not my youngest!)"

:D

Ask your wife ;)

Re: Turkey holding hands with America.

So, nothing like the Americans then.

Re: This should be compared to the Amazon FireTV Stick

"Doesn't the FireTV Stick compete with the Chromecast?"

Yes, so indeed not the same thing, as it's not a full computer.

Re: Disappointing

"They know they broke VS and Hyper-V, but were willing to distribute it anyway. This does not inspire confidence in the quality or stability of the final product."

It's a beta. Obviously things may break. That's how they TEST things. Fool.

Re: BT subsidiaries?

No, because PlusNet is PlusNet, not BT, obv.

Yes, PlusNet is owned by BT, but being owned by them doesn't suddenly mean they are BT.

Re: I don't really like Apple/iOs

"I'd rather have that sensation than Google scanning through all my documents...<snip!>"

Shut up.

Re: Yeah...

By that reckoning, nor is (central) London (using the EE network here is an AWFUL experience)

Re: I sincerely believe

"You can go to Google news yourself and check out the facts...news.google.com."

Or news.google.es... oh! :p

Re: Bending forward?

Correlation doesn't equal causation.

This is basic stuff, so pull your head out of your arse.

Yeah, I didn't think it was possible to close UK (or even London) airspace either, because clearly they CAN fly airplanes without radar, etc., but obviously they'd have to resort to pen and paper, and fly airplanes into the area one at a time.

Re: Crank up the farce to 11

"It could actually end up in the Judge directing an officer of Microsoft Corp directing an Officer of Microsoft Eire ltd to hand over the data and the Officer of Microsoft Eire refusing on the grounds of Irish/Eu law."

They already have - what do you think this whole furore is all about?

Re: dumb question... how to install "out of band"

They pulled it. Otherwise you could have installed it at will.

I'd also run that question to Amazon as well... the Amazon that operates in the UK that is.

Re: The answer is still no.

"I paid for Win7 when my last laptop died (XP) and won't replace it until it also dies."

Most people do the same, you're no special.

Re: Are they dropping legacy apps???

"As I understood it, the version number allowed apps to run in compatibility mode if they weren't the latest and greatest. It'll be interesting how this plays out if that was true."

No. The main reason why it's been the same major version number since Vista is to accommodate those awful programmers who solely rely on the major version number to determine whether their apps are compatible or not. For these applications, changing the major version number may cause those programs to insist that your version of Windows isn't compatible, even though there is no actual reason for it to not work.

However, we're in 2014, and those lazy programmers have had nearly 10 years to change their ways, and with VMs and virtual layers within Windows (like the previous poster mentioned) as well as a Windows Store that works differently with regards to versions of Windows, there is no excuse now.

Re: Reality and Reason?

Who cares if Microsoft Corporation partly or wholly own Microsoft Ireland, or the former begat the latter, or whether Microsoft Corporation controls Microsoft Ireland?

Fact is Microsoft Ireland is in Ireland and is subject to Irish and EU laws.

Therefore, Microsoft Corporation cannot compel Microsoft Ireland to break those laws no matter what any idiotic judge says.

Re: Just not hard.

Exactly. Simple icon overlay would do it. Anyone who wants everything synced can simply use the relevant option that is already there in PC Settings.