Posts by Arctic fox
1893 posts • joined Friday 6th November 2009 05:17 GMT
Page:
I really think that in order to be "mislead" by those ads........
........you would have you would have to be so brain dead that you would have difficulty walking and breathing at the same time, let alone have any idea what a pc was. I say that without taking any position concerning the quality of the advertisements per se. The Famous Eight remind very strongly of those supporters (two men and dog) the late Mary Whitehouse had who always managed to fined _something_ offensive to complain about even if it was the weather forecast.
Better make sure that it........
. is a phone that actually has top class call quality and does not have a tendency to drop calls if the coverage is anything less than first class. I wonder which phone that might eliminate from any short list?
Hang on a moment....
"But Microsoft is not helping its own chances. Windows Phone 7 is only available on 12 handsets running on two carriers - AT&T and T-Mobile"
Firstly MS is the _os_ manufacturer _not_ a mob producer. It is for the likes of HC, LG, Samsung etc to decide how many they are going to make for WP7 and how frequently - and I do not think that 12 different high-medium to high end handsets in the last six weeks or so since launch can be described as amazingly slow. Secondly this is very US-centric and whilst America is without question a crucial market it is not the be all and end all of the smartphone market.
@Lost all faith You are quite right.....
................I wrote my post a little too fast being on my way out the door at the time. What I meant was the protection of intellectual property rights in general - which I am sure you would agree covers both copyright _and_ patent rights.
Patent Law.......
.....in the US is patently broken. I am not suggesting BTW that it is perfect in Europe (that would be a ridiculous assertion) however, the American system in this area appears to fail to protect genuine intellectual property rights whilst at the same time provides a huge number of opportunities for legalised bullying and trolling that contribute nothing to the US economy. On the contrary the system as practiced "over there" is actually damaging to America's interests as a nation. This kind of vexatious litigation ought to be thrown out by the judge of the first instance as a matter of course with full legal costs being awarded to the defendant, only then would Trollcorp think again.
Posted in Google unloads Nexus S Gingerbread phone
I admit that I am puzzled........
...........as to why any producer is releasing high end phones without either a _lot_ of inbuilt storage or the capacity to utilise SD cards (or both, let us be greedy!). It seems especially puzzling in this case since Android (I believe I right in saying this) has had the capacity to run apps from SD storage since 2.2 was released. Given how many people seem to love installing as many apps as they can get their mitts on, one has to wonder.......?
I do not......
......he has after all still got his head. Such inefficiency.
Pardon?
"This provides full access to the user’s account and allows malware to be persisted on the client, something which was not possible from low integrity whilst in Protected Mode.”
"Persisted on the client"? I realise that the development of terminology often involves giving words a meaning that they did not have before, but that is downright UGLY. Far be it from me to bang on about the language of Milton and Shakespeare but there are all the same limits to how much abuse our mother tongue can take!
Ah, now that's a thought......
"And unlike the garbage software industry most of the porn we have is made in the usa keeping the jobs here."
.............that would surely imply that the desire to watch someone else having sex with your wife could be classified as outsourcing.
Not to worry........
"Perhaps the topper is the 2002 tale of a scientist who burned his penis after placing his notebook on his lap for an hour."
......If he did not notice it burning for an hour then then he did not have much use for it in the first place.
Excuse me, must go, my eyes are watering.
Alternatvely we could....
................boil every single spammer in oil - especially the viagra/penis extension bandits. That would deal with at least 90 %-age points of that overload!
Posted in How to kill your computer
This guy may very well be quite sincere when he says.......
..........that he means no "disrespect" towards St SJ's products (consciously at any rate) but _boy_ has he got some issues!
Funny, I just heard the slamming sound of a................
.............stable door being hurridly bolted.
Just discovered the answer to my own question.
Anandtech have just published a short review that includes read/write speed tests highly relevant to this drives use as an _external_ storage drive.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4032/quick-look-kingston-hyperx-max-30-a-usb-30-v100-ssd
My thanks to El Reg for a very timely heads up on this piece of kit - think I know what I will be asking Santa for now!
Posted in WP7 vs Android: a struggle for supremacy
@Giles Jones
"I really don't understand the handset makers, their job is to produce hardware for the software. "
I think that a big part of the problem is that they are very keen on keeping the cellcos happy. Result is that the producers first naff around with the basic os build, then the cellcos naff around with it. Thereafter, depending on which cellco is far enough in bed with the given producer, you _may_ as a contract customer get your upgrade/update. If of course, like me, you have been silly enough to buy sim-free you will slowly discover that hell will be gradually freezing over before the given producer releases to you. If one then takes into account that the producers would _far_ rather you bought a new phone in order to get the next version of the os we can see why this process can end up really pissing customers off. I have a wildfire with 2.1 - I am very pleased with it but when it comes to upgrading to a high end phone next year......? Am I really going to spend four hundred pounds or so to be treated like that? I think not. Not because I am unhappy with the phones or the os per se, I am however _very_ unhappy with the way the "food chain" is organised.
@Henry Wertz 1
"Windows Phone 7 *is* a version 1.0 product; instead of modernizing Windows Mobile 6, they essentially gutted it entirely and started over, both with the kernel and the interface. I don't know if WinMo *could* have been reasonably modernized, but the fact of the matter is they didn't."
I would guess myself that they probably tried to learn from Nokia's mistake in trying to overhaul an os not really designed as a smartmob os (in the sense that we would now recognise such an os) at the outset. The hardware that is available now and the expectations of the customer (in relation to, for example, touch screen performance or os "navigation" etc) probably convinced MS that the back to the drawing board approach was the way forward.
Posted in WP7 vs Android: a struggle for supremacy
Very interesting and....
...thought provoking article. Not sure I agree that MS is doing more than merely stroking the cellcos. The company is well aware that even owners of Android kit (like myself, Wildfire and very pleased with it as far as the os and hardware - for the price - are concerned) who are very pleased with their mob are piss tired of the very long delays in upgrading. Especially if you paid full price buying sim-free - then you really are at the back of the queue. I think MS will want to avoid that marketing downside if they in any way can.
@AC "Arctic Fox, my apologies":
I fear that we are definitely _not_ talking about the same thing at all. I was discussing as objectively as I could what the likely prospects were (on the basis of what we currently know from the market) for WP7. I pointed out that we in fact (IMO) have very limited reliable information and it is currently very difficult to make any reliable estimates. I repeat my question from my previous posting - what the devil does that have to do with MS' corporate culture? We are talking (well _I_ was even if _you_ clearly are not) about ANALYSIS of the current market performance of WP7. What on earth do you mean in _that_ context by saying "I don't think they deserve the benefit of the doubt."? I assume that you do not mean by that you reserve the right to make statements about an os' sales figures that you _know_ (or suspect) are cobblers simply because you do not like the company concerned? With regard to some of your other points in your posting I do not actually disagree with you, although I think it is blindly bloody obvious that (as you note yourself) they apply to many more large companies than merely MS. The main problem in fact with your posting(s) is that, given that the topic was the prospects for WP7 in the market, they are largely as far off topic as it is possible to get. What you may or may not feel about MS has _bugger all_ to do with how WP7 is going to fare commercially.
Posted in Viewsonic ViewPad 7 Android tablet
I am confused.
Amazon amongst others is advertising this tablet as driven by a Intel Atom N550 1.5Ghz. Does anyone know what's going on here?
Interesting
I agree that the reading speed is significantly slower than a typical internal drive but the sequential writing speed is in fact somewhat faster than my Intel 80 Gb X25 (by most of 30 Mb/sec). As an external storage drive the read/write performance balance is pretty reasonable - as long as the price is of course!
I have a question though, might be a bit dimwitted but here we go. TRIM-support, does it have it and how does the mob support it? Anyone know?
@Alex 77
"In the US sales were reportedly at around 40,000 over a weekend or something like that. In the European market - supposedly they were around 200,000+ which isnt too shabby."
Indeed, the contrast is in fact instructive. In the American market iPhone is unquestionably the dominant force - that is obvious. In the European market this is much less the case and it may very well be that WP7 will have a _relatively_ easier launch period in Europe than it is having in the US. I have my self talked to a number of friends and acquaintances within the retail trade in Europe and they are saying that whilst WP7 is in no way setting the world on fire the interest and sales they are experiencing in no way supports the "WP7 as disaster" story that so many are trying to sell us. I honestly do not _begin_ to be able to predict/guess what this os is going to end up doing in the market place - I just wish certain people were willing to discuss the issues instead of beginning to howl and scream the moment MS' name is mentioned.
@AC Pardon, do you actually read my post?
Who is talking about about being "nice" to MS? All I was talking about was trying a little bit of analysis and logic instead of the howling we so often read. What has an attempt to estimate _realistically_ what WP7's current situation is got to do with the MS' past monopolistic practices? Some of you people are utterly incapable of discussing anything concerning that company without beginning to churn out a series of slogans based on your attitude to the company. What the hell has that got to do with whether or not WP7 is going to work in the marketplace or not? Do us all a favour and grow up.
I do not know whether or not anyone is indulging in "astroturfing" but.........
.........it is very clear from the downvote pattern that someone is most definitely pursuing an agenda! Other than that I can only agree with El Reg and some of those who have posted on this thread. It is way too early to make any worthwhile predictions concerning the fate of WP7. What we do know is that it has been launched on some good pieces of kit and will get a great deal of what folks have said is missing from the release version of the OS when "SP1" comes down the pipe in Q1 next year. Then, and only then (when we have some reliable actual _sales-figures_ as well) will we begin to get a reliable indication regarding the future for WP7. At the moment the discussion appears to be largely based on hot air and the desire of some people that WP7 should fail, _regardless_ of any merits the os might or might not have - that at least is very obvious from threads like this. Oh, and before certain people start to howl and downvote, I am no MS fanboi. In addition to Windows we have both Ubuntu and Android (depending on what kit is involved) at home - horses for courses is our motto when it comes to the old homestead's IT requirements. Furthermore, when I upgrade my personal "coms" next year I will first and foremost be evaluating what Nokia can offer with Meego before I look further down the list. I find quite frankly the high-pitched whine of axe-grinding in this type of thread _very_ tedious.
Posted in iPads improve image of IT industry
@Yag It gets even worse.....
To look for new positions you are going to _have_ use Arse-BooK. Oh the humiliation!
@Far Canals
I re-read my opening line and can see that is was ambiguous. What I meant was that for the 10" it would for me be an interesting choice between Android (as my phone is) and Win 7 (as our home systems are) dependent upon to what degree the touch screen on the Win 7 version was reasonable and whether the presence of a physical keyboard was a genuine plus contra the version equipped with the very latest Android. I am definitely going to have to have a good look at both - first time that I have been really interested in a "fondle slab"! Does it have USB ports and SSD expansion BTW?
AF
Sounds interesting whether wer're talking.....
...............Android or Win 7 - though that depends on whether or not Acer has done/can do something to improve Win 7 at UI level in the context of touch screens - although if its coming with a slide-out (?) physical keyboard Acer may be coppering their bets! Great that they have WiFi. I suspect that for those for whom the touch screen is alpha and omega of such a choice then the 10" with Honeycomb should be a real winner. One question - USB? Oh and of course, how soon will we find out how much!
Posted in Brits say 'no, no, no' to 3D TV
I am not surprised......
...........for the simple reason that the producers have only now just _begun_ to bring really good 2D picture quality into price categories that ordinary mortals can afford. My lady and I do not have kids, do not run a car and we are both reasonably well paid "white collar professionals" (and we do not have a particularly big mortgage). All the same when we laid out £2000 for our 55" Sammy it was not exactly an impulse purchase - the old eyes watered a bit I can tell you! My point being that the manufacturers have only really begun bringing decent picture quality and a big screen within reach of "the masses" and now they are trying to punt a very dubious take on 3D imaging, charge a premium for it, assume that content will just materialise AND they are hoping the punters will be enthused! Sorry any memo I sent them would read something like "tell your people to ring my people when you can produce a genuine holographic tv and a price I can at least pretend to afford".
I suppose this marriage may stand a chance as long as.........
.
..........somebody has explained to Master William that he should ensure that his antenna is only external in private and the bit about not holding Kate the wrong way.
.
Posted in Google Voice gets going on iPhone
@Daytime. Well done? That depends on whether you are the one with the.....
........vaseline or not. By permitting this Apple is in practice attacking their own business partner's income stream. Whether or not that is such a smart idea remains to be seen. It will of course depend upon just how much money this actually ends up costing AT&T. In the event that it _does_ cost them a shit-load one can imagine that other service providers who until now would have happily sold their grandmothers into prostitution to be able to offer the iPone 4 on contract to their customers might be very wary of becoming involved with Apple. Why would that matter? It would matter if Apple and AT&T had a "falling out" and Apple discovered that their negotiating hand with regard to AT&T was seriously weakened by other telcos being less inclined to do business with iJobs. It could end up under certain circumstances being a classic example of "what goes around comes around" - to Apple's cost. Doing something simply because you now believe that you can is not always the smartest thing to do.
For the record I have absolutely nothing to do with AT&T in any way shape or form and never have.
I would sooner gnaw my own leg off than........
...........have anything to do with Facebook. However, as we know, information is power and power equals money. The contretemps between Google and Facebook is about money, in one form or another - regardless of how either of them dress it up. FB has something Google wants. Google can either pony up (in one form or another) or shut up, that's the way it works. If the shoe in this instance were on the other foot it would work exactly the same way in the opposite direction. The nausea level when leading commercial players start talking about openness goes off the top end of my personal scale at any rate.
Hmm.....yes, it has rather pleasant........
.........alliterative possibilities - how about a "thicket of thickies"?
Yes, now what was it called.......
......something beginning with N was it not - some kind of trailblazer that Google are inordinately proud of - gave to a whole gang of devs or something?
I love science and technology but sometimes.......
I have to ask, why?
Technology's biggest weakness......
.......the individual brain-dead plank that owns it.
Posted in So did Windows Phone 7 'bomb in US'?
One more point Sarah.......
..........I see some deeply sad plonker has downvoted your reply to my post - it was not me, honest!
Posted in So did Windows Phone 7 'bomb in US'?
Hello? I do not shout hundreds of times every day..............
....In fact I very rarely shout - ALRIGHT!!!!! No, to be a little more serious Sarah I have to concede that (after re-reading my original post, the one you terminated with etc..etc) there was a degree of potential ambiguity in the way I structured that post which might have misled the reader with regard to _which_ "original" article I was referring to. So I will admit that the fault was at any rate partly mine even if my intentions were of course as pure as the driven snow - and all that jazz. I would also like to say that I realise and respect the fact that pre-modding at high speed such that one does not strangle the debate but at the same time keeps the debate within in the rules is not the easiest task going and I have a genuine regard for what you and your compadre at Reg Hardware are trying to achieve.
May I be permitted to contribute.......
..........a very old headline from a (I believe) Hollywood newspaper from many decades ago?
"Hix pix nix in stix".
Which apparently meant that films set in rural America did not go down very well amongst audiences in rural America. Other than that I can only say that if that is the worst that the officer faces in the course of his career, he is clearly on a winner.
Posted in So did Windows Phone 7 'bomb in US'?
@El Reg in general and Ms Bee in particular
I see that my second contribution to this thread was rejected. In I criticised the lack of cross-checking of the source "in original article". The original article I was referring to was the one in "Thestreet.com"; NOT the one here in El Reg!!!! Hello? A bit sensitive not to say quick on the draw today aren't we? I was in fact _agreeing_ with YOUR article's skepticism regarding what "Thestreet.com" had published - and I get modded?
Posted in Rethinking the iPhone
I think that we are missing something here and that is.......
..........how different geographically different the US and Canada are contra the UK. The square area of those two countries is _gigaaaaaantic_ with a consequent population density equation if one is to be a national cellphone carrier in North America that presents an entirely different scale of challenge when it comes to infrastructure costs. I accept of course that there may well be other contributory reasons but the sheer physical scale of those two nations has got to be part of the explanation at least.
Posted in So did Windows Phone 7 'bomb in US'?
I agree. There is a definite rodent-like smell to the story
One point alone, I quote: "Thestreet.com is quoting that figure from an unnamed analyst, ". "Unamed analyst"? We all know from experience that these people _love_ getting their name in the media because it promotes their business. The fact that the person concerned remained anonymous indicates that he/she could not actually justify their conclusions or there is some negative spinning going on - or both. Personally I think that whilst the _UK_ figures indicate that WP7 is doing at least OK it is _way_ to early to say anything positive or negative with regard to sales figures.
@chrisjw37 Another good point in this thread.
Indeed, MS by doing this are not just protecting the great unwashed and the brain-dead they are protecting the rest of us by keeping these retard's machines (we can hope anyway) out of the bot-nets.
@JustaKOS
"I've had enough experience with Windows to applaud MS for conceding that they are selling OSs which are a little too vulnerable. MSE is essentially an upgrade to the OS which attempts to rectify this situation."
Spot on, in fact their complaints are about as logical as suddenly discovering that the next Windows build was no longer vulnerable in the same way that they have all been so far and howling about that on the basis that building a really robust OS will put them out of business!
@Richard Willetts As far as I can tell the AV-companies...............
............compete on making their products _look_ good from the point of view of non-techie customers. The result very often is a shit load of visual bells and whistles that in reality do no more than impress the easily impressed and use an unnecessarily large amount of system resources. After trying for many years the products of a large number of different companies my opinion FWIW is that _currently_ MSE is a good piece of kit and is not a resource hog.
@Volsano We can assume then that you missed that bit in........
.........MSE's install guidance about not installing along side existing AV software because of the possible conflicts that can arise. The same advice that almost all AV vendors give when you are about to install one of their products. You know, that bit of the process based on the concept RTFM? As in do not install the product in a way that the provider recommends against and whinge about its performance when it does not behave as per spec - when you have chosen to ignore the said specs?
You have just totaled your car.....
.....would you like Windows to search for a solution to this? Solution found: We suggest you install a new driver. (Sorry could not resist that one!
@Sarah Bee
I fear that irony/satire are sadly wasted some - but respect for trying anyway.
Posted in Hacker unshackles Kinect from Xbox
@Not exactly the same. Sorry, actually yes.
The car manufacturers of the period tried to exploit the law so as to be able to claim that all spare parts produced by patten part manufacturers which could be used to replace any original parts on your car if they were for the same purpose however different they were otherwise were in fact illegal. Yes some pattern parts were exact copies of the originals - so what. If I buy a computer from Asus and decide to change their screen card for something from MSI - that's my business. Otherwise the original manufacturer is claiming that he is entitled to control your property in perpetuityl
Posted in Apple coughs to time zone problems
@ Pascal Monett "Time zone problems?"
"Dear God, is it possible that, in the 3rd millennium, such issues can still exist ?"
It would seem so yes. In fact what is astonishing about it does not even require considering the last two thousand years or so. One only has to remember back 10 - 12 years or so and the _enormous_ furore over the "Y2K" bug which was going to end civilisation as we know it. Alright, I am waxing a trifle ironic with that description but my point really is that the issue of data systems and clocks really got a _huge_ amount of attention across the entire globe, both at the time and during the years immediately prior. Particularly with regard to possible negative consequences! I really do not understand how a mere ten years later a tech company of Apple's size and status could possibly miss something as basic as seasonal time shifts - especially, ho ho ho, in an alarm clock app!
Posted in HTC forgets Norwegian alphabet
All you need is vowels
Many moons ago during an election campaign the Norwegian Labour party when campaigning in North Norway made use of the North Norwegians contempt for consonants by using a poster slogan which when translated into English meant "I am also in the Labour party". All they needed to do was print posters with "Æ E I A Æ Å" to convey that sentiment. Amazing how much information one can convey with only a few vowels.
Posted in DWP CTO predicts the end of Windows
@ AC
Chants and incense? When are you going to join the twenty first century? For the modern and up-to-date technomagus only best quality black hens or, if we are talking BOD, a virgin (when available) will do.
