Time Running Out

TomTom really need to up their game or they will be in big trouble soon.

I don't think it'll be long before cars start appearing with a 5 inch Android based interface for the radio and other in car computer functions hardwired into the dash.

GoogleMaps already allows you to download a map area so you don't need a phone connection so it would be pretty easy to allow you to use maps downloaded on you PC ans stored on an SD card.

The same unit could also give you full access to the OBD fault codes and diagnostics on your car without needing to buy a specialised reader.

Protest

If you wish to hold a protest outside a physical property you fill out a form and the police let you get on with it for a reasonable time before telling you to clear off or unblock the streets. Happens in London all the time.

So why can you not use the same proceedure for running an online protest as well?

Future Costs

I assume that by closing this paper now they make it much harder for anyone to take out anymore private prosecutions against them and it'll mean that the size of any compensation is severely limited now.

Existing Customers?

So does this mean that existing customers already on the unlimited plan have to change to this new plan to keep it?

Coming to London Soon

Westminster Council are currently planning a similar law for their borough.

What a Mess

The way they should do the 'special' pre-order store bonuses is something like, if you buy from Game you get the first two levels of the Sniper tree unlocked at launch or buy from Play and get the two levels of medic at launch etc.

This way you would still have some advantage at launch but this would never unbalance the game or discourage people from picking up the game in the future.

Don't Only Blame EA

From EA site "All of this amazing content is available at no extra charge to gamers who pre-order the Battlefield 3 Limited Edition: Physical Warfare Pack exclusively at www.game.co.uk and www.gamestation.co.uk"

Perhaps people should be boycotting Game and GameStation as well so that they get the message to stop screwing up the games for the gamers!

mini itx

This will hopefully also nearly half the cost of the mini itx boards as well then.

Tried BT Router

I messed with the free BT Router when I first got it due to it giving me a free second phone line. Got bored with that as I don't need two landlines and a mobile so stuck a decent third party router on there instead.

Too Late

The Android 3 tabs are on the market now, why bother with a 2.2 tab that won't be upgraded and will always be restricted in comparison. These should have hit the market 6-12 months ago, now their opportunity has passed.

Speed

The BT spokeswoman said: "Building a superfast broadband network is a complex business involving highly skilled staff. We're currently passing 80,000 premises a week." She added that by 2012, superfast connections in the UK would exceed those in France, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.

Yes but how many of the population in these countries are also still stuck at 1Mb Broadband. We need to raise the general standard of broadband all over the UK not just fast get even faster and the slow just keep the same. Although it'll go nicely with the rich getting richer in the UK right now.

Search Engines

What the search engines should do now as a group or just Google is make sure that the Belgian newspapers that bought this case don't appear in any Google searches at all. Otherwise the next stage will be wanting Google to pay the paper everytime they show up in a search.

Asus Transformer

Should be out soon with the keyboard for even less money.

Review Soon???

Got Email Today

I got an email from Sony this morning ...

"We are today advising you that the personal information you provided us in connection with your SOE account may have been stolen in a cyber-attack. Stolen information includes, to the extent you provided it to us, the following: name, address (city, state, zip, country), email address, gender, birthdate, phone number, login name and hashed password. Customers outside the United States should be advised that we further discovered evidence that information from an outdated database from 2007 containing approximately 12,700 non-US customer credit or debit card numbers and expiration dates (but not credit card security codes) – we will be notifying each of those customers promptly."

Oh shit ...

So how can they possibly ever open the system up again?

As soon as they open it up the hackers will probably be trying to us the login details to hijack the accounts.

The only thing they could possibly do would be to send you an email to the listed email address to allow you to change passwords before making the game servers live again, but you can bet the hackers will also be sending out very similar emails in the next few weeks.

So they may have to resort to old style snail-mail to contact all the account holders as this is the only possible way they can guarantee that the right person gets the contact.

I knew SOE/Sony were a shit company after the way they treated us during the SWG NGE mess, but I never knew they would be this bad.

Missed the First Article

But I always thought the World War 2 series by Turtledove would make a great film (or number of films).

Another Option

Take a look at Jorte, it does most of the same and it's free!

NSFW?

I'd hardly call that video 'unsafe', a few suggestive comments and even the digital boobs were pixelated.

The one question it does raise though is if the game has also been sanitized to this level?

Drop It

The public has spoken, they don't want DAB, it's old, expensive and doesn't work properly!

Delay

Just tried it out, first impressions seems OK.

I compared the feed to SKY (which has a short delay on it) and found that the delay on this is about 15 seconds.

Backups

I thought the law was clarified a while back that you were allowed to copy copyrighted works as a backup in case of damage to the original.

Dinaways

There used to be a burger place in Heston, London called Dinaways that was very popular with the late night after pub crowds. The had a couple of car stickers with the slogans "I've gobbled a big one" and "The meat makes you come", which considering that they sold large flame grilled burgers which were the best for miles was perfectly reasonable.

All it took was one person to make a complaint to Hounslow Council and they had to stop using them.

Typhoon

I did wonder if this was also a chance for the Arab League to see the Typhoons up close in the hope that they might buy some from us, as they are probably the target market for them and the only people with money to spend on them.

Archos

If Archos can get Android 3 onto their latest units(7 & 10) they'll beat the Ipad by at least £100.

Employment Opportunities

Perhaps the plan is for this to be the new job given to all the inner city unwed mothers. They can sit around at home with their screaming kids watching TV or playing Xbox whilst being milked to make this ice cream.

As long as the pop out one kid every 18 months they will keep producing milk so they have an excuse now.

Early April the First?

They have got to be kidding.

Ubisoft site describes it as 'Sexy Party Game' and yet it has a 'Pegi 12' rating.

Grab the popcorn and wait for the Daily Mail and the Tories to see this, this is gonna be fun.

Price?

The fact that it is also a mobile phone will mean we are probably looking at £500+ or so.

Also, if you are going to have all the regular mobile phone functions, why no GPS? Would make a sweat in car satnav.

Hamburgers?

"an unpatriotic taste for pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs"

HAM ... You sure? I can't really see a country like Iran that is so heavily Muslim exactly taking a liking to pork based products.

After all we all know that the Middle East problems would be solved if they'd all just sit down with a bacon sannie and talk about it. Everything is better with bacon!

Wider Implications

I know this result is non-binding right now. But if the final decision is binding what is this going to do to the ruling that the non-UK adult satellite channels cannot be used in the UK?

The law in the UK is already a joke considering that you can view the stuff on the net or buy videos, but you cannot watch it via your satellite dish.

PVR or DVD Recorder

To be honest I wouldn't be advising someone to by either of these, instead buy a DVD Recorder with a built-in Hard Drive so you have some means to get the files off the machine if you want to keep them.

At least until they bring out a decent priced PVR that will record to a decent compressed (DivX etc) format and comes with a ethernet port so you can pull the files off that way.

T-Mobile Backed Down

T-Mobile Statement:

“On Monday 10 January 2011 we announced that, in line with the rest of the industry, T-Mobile would be reducing its Fair Use Policy for data usage to 500MB a month for all mobile phone customers. Following a further review of our policy, these changes will now be introduced from 1 February, to new and upgrading customers only - not existing customers.

There will be no change to the data packages for existing customers for the duration of their contract and we apologise for any confusion caused. The revision to the Fair Use Policy is designed to ensure an improved quality of service for all mobile internet users."

Lysa Hardy, VP, T-Mobile UK

Information on new data policy:

From 1 February 2011 new and upgrading customers will be given a monthly 500MB data allowance. There will be no charge for those customers exceeding that limit, and those who do will still be able to access important services such as email and web browsing, however file downloading and streaming services will be restricted. Customers will then have the option to increase their monthly Fair Use Policy to 1GB a month by purchasing a Mobile Broadband Booster. This will ensure an improved quality of service for all of our mobile internet users.

T-Mobile Don't Have a Clue

Copy of post made elsewhere for information

-----------------------------------------

Still no notice of changes here.

Just got off the phone with OFCOM and put in my complaint.

OFCOM phone number is : 0300 123 3333 or 020 7981 3040

Call them and tell them why the changes will be of 'material detriment' to you too.

My argument was that as I currently use about 1.2GB of internet per month (which is steadily increasing) my phone will stop accepting data after about 2 weeks into the month, which will basically stop most of it from working. The only way I could continue to have a fully functioning phone would be to sign up to the new booster which gives you a 3GB FUP if you pay £10.64. This would mean an increase in my bill of over 40% which is unacceptable.

As I still haven't been given notice of these changes T-Mobile are also in breach of the OFCOM General Condition 9.3 which requires 30days notice of any change.

OFCOM General Conditions url=http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/telecoms/ga/cvogc300710.pdf]

I also asked about if I am allowed to demand my PAK code and then cancel my Direct Debit in order to stop them taking out the £370 cancellation fee as I feel the fee is in dispute, and was told that I would be within my rights to with hold the monies whilst the dispute is dele with.

When I spoke to T-Mobile cancellations department this morning the guy on the other end had heard nothing about this change and thought I was just 'going from rumors' as an 'Android phone needs much more than 500mb data'. When he spoke to his boss he came back he still couldn't believe it. He also said that the Android phones will be going down to 1.5GB rather than 0.5GB (first time I've heard that one), but I told him that I still wasn't satisfied. He also couldn't supply that in writing, it was just 'what the manager said'.

I was told that if I wanted to complain I should email cust.rel@everythingeverywhere.com as they didn't give out a postal address, but Companies House gives you:

T-MOBILE LIMITED

HATFIELD BUSINESS PARK

HERTFORDSHIRE

AL10 9BW

Company No. 04347402

and

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE LIMITED

HATFIELD BUSINESS PARK

HATFIELD

HERTFORDSHIRE

AL10 9BW

Company No. 02382161

OFCOM also suggest that you send in these sort of letters by post (recorded etc) instead of email.

My plan now is to write to them explaining that as the new changes are of 'material detriment' to me I therefore reject these new changes and demand my PAK code by XXXX, or an agreement to maintain my 3GB data limit for the duration of my contract with them.

I wonder if it is also worth adding that if I do need to change suppliers I will be holding them responsible for any increased costs that may be charged until April 2011 (when my contract ends).

Considering that I'm paying T-Mobile £25 per month right now and the 'three' unlimited dataplan is £35, it would only be fair to take T-Mobile to the Small Claims Court for the extra £140.

Latest?

Ok just got off phone with T-Mobile after 50mins.

Phillipines: ALL internet contracts are affected by the new changes from Feb 2011.

Me: OK then I reject the changes to the T&Cs and therefore you leave me no choice but to leave T-Mobile, please give me the PAK code.

Phillipines then put me on hold.

Glasgow: I was told something about this yesturday, let me get the FAQ. Reads through FAQ to me, yes Android Web'n'Walk Plus customers are also included, and it states that customers cannot end their contract due to changes.

Me: UK law says differently and in 2009 OFCOM also found against T-Mobile when they messed with the T&Cs. So I have to request my PAK code then.

Glasgow: I cannot give you the code without generating a charge, I will talk to my manager.

Few minutes later,

Glasgow: My manager has spoken to Technical and they state that Android WnW+ aren't included in the change after all.

Me: Could you (or her) send me an email stating that I can keep my 3gb limit?

He goes back to manager again for a few minutes,

Glasgow: My manager has been told that they cannot send out an email as legal are now looking into sending out some form of clarification about exactly what the changes are. He will call or email me today.

It looks like this change has been rushed through and no one has bothered to spell out clearly who is/isn't affected by it. I cannot faullt the guy at the Glasgow call centre, he was polite and helpful as much as he could be. It's just that the main company seemed to just not bother making it clear what's happening.

Last Time T-Mobile Changed T&Cs

Just found this post from October 2009 when T-Mobile last played silly buggers with the T&Cs, should be good ammo for this time

http://www.bitterwallet.com/ofcom-back-consumers-right-to-cancel-t-mobile-contract-but-did-t-mobile-contact-you/20352

Get out there and spank T-Mobile!

Not heard yet

I'm on T-Mobile, running a HTC Desire and not been sent the text yet.

I believe that with such a major change to their T&Cs you can just use this opportunity to 'reject the new terms' and take your phone and number to a new provider with zero need to buyout the remainder of the contract.

This is how people got out of the old Screaming.Net and WorldOnline ISP contracts a few years back.

Phone Support

It appears that T-Mobile are being swamped by people complaining about this change. When you phone 150 to get their customer services you get, the T-Mobile jingle followed by "Sorry, we are unable to transfer your call, sending you back to the main menu" which then just repeats until you hang up as it is transferring to itself over and over.

From the T-Mobile forums

http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/discussions/index?page=forums&topic=8010380bff24f8012d6da8429f007d13

http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/discussions/index?page=forums&topic=8010380bff24f8012d6da8429f007cec

Title

If this happened on mobile ISPs it would only be a matter of time until it ended up on your home internet as well.

But, until all internet providers actually supply you with an accurate way of monitoring your internet use so you can accurately tell how many MB/GB/TB you need each month how can they really blame people for using too much?

Just telling people to download 3rd party apps onto each home PC/Laptop etc just doesn't solve the problems, as these often just record data passing through the network port etc.

stuff

I'm suprised they didn't call the new company Tect-Pro.

You will probably find that they have formed a US middle man company to supply the units to the UK company and it'll be owned by the original Pro-Tect owners.

What's Next?

I expect the next stage will be a developer asking for a fee to allow modders to continue to modify their titles.

First it'll be the power graphs that tell you how much dps you are doing in real time and tells you what button to press. Then it'll be the ingame maping software that tells you where to find targets/places.

This is only a matter of time.