That is normal

Actually it isn't ... it's another cheap production short-cut.

Besides Apple claims their products are NOT normal ... that they are 'special' (at least in their minds). Obviously this heap bak is less than the experted Apple standard.

Return the junk - under the 30-day Money Back Warranty and say it's because of the heap back.

I'll tell my wife to hold the new wallpaper order ...

should be lots with FB printed on it soon.

And poor old Zuxker*ucker hasn't cashed his in yet! Poetic.

Apple and connectors ...

a fatal combination.

USB connectors, bashed out by the millions and Apple gets it wrong?

More likely they have another adapter to sell? Even better, a reversible one, so their favourite type of person can't plug it in backwards.

Baa, baa.

Apple is running out of ...

revisions or 'upgrades'. and they won't be able to sustain their drip-drip annual upgrades and money-raking operations.

They have to fight the competition as Android & WinMob cell handsets will offer so much more variety, tailored more closely to peoples needs.

The Far East, for example. needs waterproof units and only Android has them (if you don't believe visit Singapore or the Indochina region in the rainy season) and dragging a Zip-lock bagged iFone out to use is so degrading.

Some people love to spend all their waking hours on social networks, and they have their socially enhanced handsets, others need more business oriented units.

What needs revamping is the US patent system so all these artificial blocks to progress are eliminated. They are considering rolling back auto patent lives so maybe this will spread to other areas of technology.

The Apple/Samsung trial was an aberration, the judge bent so many rules that another trial is warranted.

The New Zealand Government is ...

so unlike it's counterparts in other countries.

Their healthy legal attitude is to be recognised.

So many governments break the law in achieving their goals that law-breaking becomes the norm. Look at the USA and that piece of tattered litter called The Constitution, that much hallowed thing American children are taught about. Nearing the value of toilet paper now that all those sworn to uphold the words are busy passing laws that shred it still further.

The UK doesn't even have a Constitution and runs rampant over the rights of it's citizens.

Canada, but even more so New Zealand, have Constitutions that work and the judiciary that observe them.

The FBI is looking more stupid as the days go by. And Holder's US Justice Ministry can't even get service of documents straight!

NOT a problem

We always delete Internet Explorer from our workstations.

It gives users piece of mind.

COOK is a new word for Compromise

Jobs might have treated his employees like a maniacal fanatic but rarely would he compromise on quality.

The Don't squeeze phone obviously embarrassed him and a few heads were pushed.

This COOK guy has screwed up serially: first with Siri and now with this joke called maps. It's not as if Apple hasn't been purloining user location data. The satellite maps are crappy old black and white, low resolution junk. Russia sat ops are selling better quality sat pictures.

This fiasco shows just how good Google maps are.

In the USA he would be labelled a terrorist and worse

no doubt persuaded to plead guilty and gets off lightly with 50 years.

US Federal sentences don't get time off for good behavior, either.

At least France doesn't surrender it's own, unlike the UK.

Aoole software doen't have bugs

These are unannounced, undocumented features - in this case for the US NSA so they can tap all iPhones without difficulty. Their motto is: Your secrets are ours.

Rome wasn't built in a day and ...

Apple has only been buying so-called mapping companies for three years.

Perhaps they should have stuck Beta on it and then everyone would be happy. Siri didn't work well, give Apple a few more years and they will get it right.

Ever forgot your PIN?

HSBC has a great system.

Computer logins have Forgotten Password? prompts. Well HSBC is just as handy.

If you know the card holders name (it's printed on the card!), access a convenient genealogy web site, ascertain the card owners date of birth and Mother's maiden name, then call Customer Service (the free 800 number is also on the card) .,, and Bingo!

Banks call it security.

Imagine getting 'bonked' by a Canada Goose ...

could be fatal!

Big enough to take aircraft down. Remember the Airbus in the Hudson? Canada Geese were fingered In the Flight 1549 crash!

Tough birds.

... attack works on IE 7 through 9!

Another 'reason' for the UK government to keep on using IE6.

Someone, somehwere will be broken hearted ...

when they turn on their little iPhone 5 and find their laser keyboard and holographic projector don't work, will take it back for 'repairs'..

That's the problem with promising the world and not delivering.

Still, there is always Samsung's Galaxy Beam with a built-in projector. That actually works. Maybe a keyboard later?

US using security to fight imports

Consider: "And under Chinese law, ZTE and Huawei would likely be required to cooperate with any request by the Chinese government to use their systems or access for malicious purposes.”

along with

"And under US law, manufacturers would likely be required to cooperate with any request by the US Government to use their systems or access for malicious purposes.”

Tit for Tat. Obviously the US government is double-dealing as usual.

The US government requires back doors in all manner of equipment. Only Phil Zimmerman has guts enough to tell them to stuff it.

You mean to say the HSBC lied to it's customers?

'We've never claimed chip-and-PIN is 100 per cent secure is not the line of patter that a suit at my HSBC branch said

And now we have the (drum-roll) SecureKey which is garbage, doesn't work and has people changing accounts. You can't even read the squinty characters if you wear glasses and they even catch fire (doubles as a one time cigarette lighter).

It's simple. just ignore whatever

Some parents think the governments should ban / censor material / web sites they don't care for., just avoid them.

Someone calls you a name, the only way a name caller gets a rise is if you react. So don't react.

I moderate some and administer others, for a total of 41, chat rooms. I ignore all the barbs, threats, etc. and even the most dedicated give up after a while.

They should doing this with Twitter. We don't need any more nanny rules.

Lightning Micro USB adaptor costs £15 ; 30-pin adaptor is £25 and the cabled version £30

Don't worry, there is undoubtedly a Chinese toolmaker busy carving up a block of metal so they can bash out imitations.

Nothing beats a connector that meets acceptable international standards.

So much for Apple's promises to ...

ensure humane working conditions.

Too many complaints for there not to be a valid reason for them.

Obviously ...

BigDaddy is not too big to fail.

Obviously they didn't think their PR line out too carefully.

Cambodian IT Security? The US DEA & Australian Police have full access, unofficially

Whilst Cambodia is a great country, it is hardly a centre for technical excellence. Gets InterNet feeds through VietNam, who also donated a couple of TV transmitters.

Even cable TV is rough - on subscribers - with few experienced technicians to cover the whole country.

Not really a challenge for our friends at Anonymous.

The new scheme works by storing credit card details, from any card, in Google's cloud.

So how does Google Cloud work with the HSBC SecureKey?

Not even the HSBC can get it working reliably, for more than a short duration. The HSBC SecureKey is really good at helping you save - I haven't been able to access my InterNet banking for FORTY DAYS now.

Dragon Dictating is so GOOD, I actually go and buy it

Living next to the big DVD consolidator called China, I usually pick up a few DVDs each time I visit NanNing, GuangXi Province.

However, there is one software package I always buy in original sealed packaging is the Nuance Dragon Dictating, mind you I get it at trade prices.

Recommended - as is their Android App.

That's a nice win for American and for punters, who can hope it translates into lower fares.

Fat chance.

AA was the lead airline in slashing Travel Agent commissions, as well stiffing passengers with baggage charges. Ryanair looks honourable next to them. Let's hope American fails.

AA also has the oldest fleet in the US and a high percentage of cabin staff look as if they came with the aircraft, too.

Give me an airline that cares, every time, like Eva or Cathay.

Both Australia and the US have raised concerns at the highest level about potential security risks

Most likely the Australian and US governments are concerned they can't install back doors in Huawei equipment without revealing what strategies they use for keeping tabs on users.

They spend trillions of dollars on all this security and still the Pants on Fire guy nearly succeeds, as did Richard Read except for the fact he didn't take his shoes off and the explosive material got damp and didn't ignite.

Another thing, security 'experts' say the hardest 'terrorist' to catch is the lone operator. So just what the hell is NSA listening to - single operators who talk in their sleep?

The Key Missing Factor is Trust and Quality

Notwithstanding Alibaba's outstanding success with it's product sourcing search engine, Chinese products cannot be trusted, either for quality or integrity.

I'm not concerned about Chinese backdoors in networking equipment - the US NSA already has plenty of backdoors in US equipment (which is made in China) and software but rather their software integrity and whether can be trusted to behave like an international enterprise should.

China has two quality standards: home and export. Some of the products destined for the home market are pure garbage. Yet, often from the very same 'garbage' factories emanate some world class products. A walk around any of the electronic malls you find in all major cities you can see both extremes.

The Chinese playing field is not level, even for it's own manufacturers, and you never know which large Chinese corporation is bending the rules on government instruction or as a result of bribes.

No, even though Alibaba uses an international OS, I rather stick with the devils I know than stick my neck in China's wok.

Broadband Wiring Can be Simpler than Cable TV

North America puts it channel selection in equipment within a house whilst many European systems put the channel switching systems outside on the street.

Fibre optic cable is simply the conduit through which signals flow and the controlling equipment is within the 'exchange' or switch building.

This means very infrequent access is required to broadband fibre cable and therefore simple 'holes in the ground' are quite adequate.

A perfectly acceptable underground chamber can be seen at: < http://www.areco.co.uk/images/access-boxes.jpg >.

Blocking Web Sites Futile and Cameron's Nanny State

You would have thought by now even Tory cabinet members would realise blocking web sites is futile.

All a potential self-terminator need do is to e-mail friends overseas and they could either send e-mails of contents or even burn a DVD.

Why is it that European governments think their citizens so immature? Children look for pornography, preachers look for pornography, it doesn't just 'pop' up - it requires searching.for. My employer has a search group who work on client contracts and all they do is search for material. That's six women for 40 hours a week and they rarely accidentally happen across porn. In fact the web site producers might be disappointed for whenever their are a burst of giggles I know they are laughing at some of the featured antics.

In fact one of the best porn lists was published by the Australian government. It was their block list for ISPs.

If someone decides to kill themselves with gas, or to take a toaster into the bathtub, or to asphyxiate themselves in a car you don't see governments banning the supply if gas, or electricity or petrol.

Parents are responsible for their own children and if they want to block InterNet or long-distance calls, etc. they can damn well do it themselves without restricting the whole of the citizenry. Why should the greater public be penalised because some incompetents can't program their computer software or TV channel blocking.

Art Nouveau Reincarnated

What a ghastly looking lot of radios.

FM worked fine for decades, AM for much, much longer. What do we need all this for? Just so people can have more spectrum for cell handsets?

Wet Creams ...

So impracticable they'll unlikely work.

Remember we were all going to be flying in our personal planes, or zipping between planets with sky windows served by voluptuous female cabin staff by now? Hell, they even had to junk the Concord.

And what did we get?

Security Theatre staged by the TSA. Some progress .. shoes off, belt off, let us have a little feel.

VietNam ... More Expensive than most Home Countries

International 'industrial' schools here in VietNam are nothing less than a rip off.

Many schools have fees either nearing or at the USD$20,000 mark PLUS you get to pay horrendous additional amounts for Registration, Evaluation, Admission, etc.

Several are Cognita owned ... you know Cognita, the UK industrial school company financed by a UK vulture capitalist.

These industrial schools join for profit associations who proclaim how their fee paying members are 'accredited'.

Apartments, for Foreigner management types who want to maintain their home country lifestyle, can look forward to a monthly bill of around USD$2,500 plus all the essential services.

Many wives of these Foreign imported experts find things so tough they have to find part-time employment to make ends meet.

The VN government policy is to allow 'experts' in, but then pick their brains so Vietnamese acquire the skills. Then the Foreigners can go home.

Another bent judge ...

bought by and sold to Apple.

My glasses are shatter-proof, why not Apple's glass?

When, I wonder, are they going to ...

start arresting all the crooked Plod who were on the take, whether leaking the Queen's schedules or simply dishing out the dirt?

Some of us don't forget just how much the reputation of Scotland Yard has been diminished.

Reporters are not paid to be honest, Plod is.

Ever heard of a hole? And things that go bump in the night

The obvious thing to do is to have buried terminal boxes - as they used to do with other telecoms. Out of side and out of mind.

With broadband there should be no need for frequent visits to 'pedestals' as these eyesores are referred to in the trade.

A neighbour of mine, who owns a small construction company, had one of these things 'grow' in his lawn, and Bell would erect their 'tent' and work away for days. (There was a telephone switch building in the area).

Telco's, electricity and water utilities always get 'easements' on subdivisions before the houses are built so they are free to run what they want, where they want - and Bell Telephone wouldn't place it anywhere else.

There were a few bumps in the night where a 'mysterious' vehicle would run into the box and push it over. Out would come the Bell boys and rebuild the mess.

Eventually my friend visited with his lawyer who, as lawyers are wont, crawled over the documents pertaining to ownership. He discovered that there were 'legal impediments' that made the box illegal.

The neighbour then had his back hoe operator dig a sizable trench around the box, as well as nicely disassembling the box, then the dirt was removed from around the cabling until there was a nice hole. He then filled the whole thing up with concrete and replaced some soil and turf.

The Bell boys were confused, their trace equipment revealed where the box should have been. Long story short, Bell dug a hole in the road and re-terminated the cables in it.

Still there, 36 years later at the corner of Ernest Avenue and Edmonton Drive near Victoria Park and Finch Avenues, in toronto!

Apple, FBI and the US Government - all damn liars

Personally I don't accept any are telling the whole truth.

Apple usually doesn't respond, the FBI answered/responded way, way too quickly for them and the US government ...

Who has the more believable track record? AntiSec, or the rest. Apple could have been under legal restrictions imposed by the FBI warrant not to disclose the disclosure, apart from the fact they employ a whole department well practiced in the art of saying nothing, often in a verbose manner.

US manufacturers sleep with the government, only Zimmermann of PGP fame had the guts to stand up to the US government harassment and give them the finger.

No Sweat, the American Taxpayer Covers it Through Corporate Expense Deductions

Even if a Larry, in this case, neither would really hurt as they are rich, even filthy rich.

The bit that really hurts is that Larry the Mouth and Oracle lost. The lost prestige and the argument. Egg all over his face.

And Google no doubt learned something for it's USD3-million, clean up the comments in your code ... not that they are alone.

The world’s change-rooms and fitness clubs might get that little bit more private,

Once more the puritanical Apple is out to save it's users sensibilities.

The trouble is that what's banned in California, isn't necessarily banned elsewhere. In 1991 toplessness as an indecent act was challenged by Gwen Jacob in Guelph, Ontario, who removed her shirt, and bra, and was charged with indecency.. She prevailed citing as men can do, so can women.

So Apples new feature would be 22 years out of date in the bigger country north of the USA.

This is the biggest reason why I prefer Android over Apple, the freedom to do what I wish, with what I own.

Russia, a trusted source ...

like China.;

Many companies ...

use Google for sourcing services and products.

Since the UK is no longer a manufacturing country, thanks to Maggie's 'service' economy, , it's not surprising.

Does that mean ...

that dirty old men who search on the InterNet for pornography, are protecting their health?