Oh dear
"Are you sure you wan..."
"Indeed!" he blurts, ...."
DOOMED!
Posts by En_croute
36 publicly visible posts • joined 6 Oct 2010
BOFH: Are you a druid? Legally, you have to tell me if you're a druid
Why does Skype only show me from the chin down?
Tuesday 20th December 2016 14:26 GMT
Early Apple
I remember setting up an AppleTalk network (No server) for a small office insistent on using cheap(ish) 2nd hand MacSE30 devices to run ClarisWrite and FilemakerPro. I had just finished setting this up, and the office was littered with these beige cables and adaptors. (http://tinyurl.com/jp3qokz) We hadn't started to tidy up the cables.
Director walks in and takes a distinct dislike to cables, and positioning of the SE30 and pulls them all out of the "Main" machine, (With the Filemaker Pro db) including the power cables...
I explain that this is not good for the little Mac, as the db and OS could become corrupted - It always needed a self repair on power out - and he said "My friend's computer can be switched off instantly, just by pressing the button on the side of the screen - why are ours so fragile then?" He refused to believe the screen was different from the base unit.
In the end I sellotaped the cables to the underside on the desks - they were too cheap to buy cable ties or trunking. (Or a decent Network/System)
BlackBerry's final QWERTY floats past the rumour mill
Tuesday 6th December 2016 17:27 GMT
Re: Too late, already gone for a Priv
Wife has the Passport - loves that it's
a) Querty
b) Different
c) Everyone asks "What's THAT?- Speak & Spell?"
The Hub is good - I understand it's replicated on the Priv.
Microphone is damaged - so she's hard to hear when calling, and charging port is loose and some cables don't charge properly - so considering the Priv - as I'm on Android, and 1 platform in a household is preferable for the "How do I do this on my phone" queries.
Where was your reduced Priv on sale?
Why does an Android keyboard need to see your camera and log files – and why does it phone home to China?
Facebook, WhatsApp farewell BlackBerry
Google splats more bad Android security bugs with patches your mobe will probably never see
Security bod watches heart data flow from her pacemaker to doctor via ... er, SMS? 3G? Email?
Tuesday 5th January 2016 13:27 GMT 
UK fitted pacemakers (well, from 5 years ago) don't have WiFi as standard. Only devices that need regular controlling have this functionality. I checked, mine does not come up on any scan (yet)!
I seem to remember you published a Pacemaker WiFi hack article back in 2008... http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/12/heart_monitor_hacking/
Mine's the white coat with the stethoscope
Doctor Who: Even the TARDIS key can't unpick the chronolock in Face the Raven
They’re FAT. They’re ROUND. They’re worth almost a POUND. Smart waaatch, smart waaatch
Monday 7th September 2015 09:36 GMT
This is a nice idea, a dual watch strap - smartwatch for notifications under the wrist, a smart analogue watch on top - a Dual watch strap.
Not sure about the wooden barrel, but the concept is interesting!
https://ksr-ugc.imgix.net/assets/004/001/644/98b24a980f305bc2bad0b29ec164916f_original.jpg?v=1434592876&w=680&fit=max&auto=format&q=92&s=45fd98058bab15da80be60a5396fa89e
Apple design don Jony Ive: Build-your-own phone is BOLLOCKS
Thursday 19th February 2015 17:12 GMT
Jony extolling
The virtues of design over substance.
Apple all over really.
A phone that doesn't make clear calls with a sealed battery that doesn't last.
$$$$ spent on style, then covered by consumers in $5 of plastic to protect it.
As the old joke [edited] goes, Ham & Eggs is a nice lunch.
The hen that laid the egg was involved, but the pig is committed.
The overpaid chef is only re-arranging it on the plate, and should shut up.
Game of Thrones written on brutal medieval word processor and OS
Reg tries out Google's Chromecast: Yep, we even tested smut sites
SACRILEGE! Hitchhiker's Guide game's back ... and it TWEETS at you
Blighty's great digital radio switchover targets missed AGAIN
Thursday 26th September 2013 16:30 GMT
Car DAB
I've had 2 DAB sets in my cars(s).
A JVC head unit, (2005-12) with fully wired roof mounted ariel, that was amazing.
Full DAB coverage across the UK - the only dead spot I found in 7 years - In Marylebone, behind the BBC offices.
Now I have a Pure Highway 300i (New car, fitted radio was non removable) with a propietry "through the glass" mounted ariel, and the reception is rubbish - cuts out under every bridge. On the motorways, I have switch to Radio5Live on medium wave, or stream from my phone via Bluetooth.
Only bright spot was an excellent fitting service at Halfords - truly surprised me.
Shame the product didn't meet the high installation standards.
Dragons' Den Jones' etail biz Expansys back in the red
Tuesday 30th July 2013 18:03 GMT
Expansys = Expensive
Sorry, but whilst they are often leading the market with availablity, especially with Mobile handsets (along with Clove), I use them for product information, and buy elsewhere as they are 10% more expensive than the rest of the market.
They need to be more competitive in this market.
Tech buyers are savy shoppers these days.
At last: EU slashes mobile roaming fees
Tuesday 2nd July 2013 09:33 GMT
In France now....
I looked for the best solution, as between 76 of us we have 15 IP devices - I found a UK company selling Unlimited data on an Orange France SIM for use in a MiFi (1 month £59 plus £10 setup costs). 3Gb at 3G speed, then 2G after that - but this area only has 2G anyway, so speed was never going to be great.
As all the devices consider WiFi "free", all the application and system updates have continued as normal, as I couldn't be bothered to install application blocking firewalls on family phones/tablets/laptops.
£10 each for 3 weeks - bargain!
So far, 17 days in, 18Gb used.....
T-Mobile UK punters break for freedom in inflation-busting bill row
Tuesday 30th April 2013 15:19 GMT 
What about BIS & Data allowances
My wife likes a QUERTY smartphone, and has the Blackberry Torch.
T-Mobile insist on a call package, data package AND Blackberry Internet Services (BIS).
When I asked why we need both T-Mobile data and Blackberry I was told the services split - T-Mobile provide the data, Blackberry the push service and link to the BB Servers.
During their (RIM's) severe outage (last year?) nothing data dependent worked - Google maps, GMail, Browsing, Blackberry app store. All dead for 3-4 days. So what was using T-Mobile's data stream? Nothing at all. A complete con.
Despite many conversations and promises of call backs, they never did get back to me to explain why we needed both. However I managed to get a BIS discount for the life of the contract.
I notice the blackberry packages have been altered now, and don't l ist both elements.
Other networks however are still just as bad, adding BIS costs to an existing package that includes already data.
Petition for Alan Turing on £10 note breaks 20,000 signatures
Pacemakers, defibrillators open to attack
Wednesday 17th October 2012 07:51 GMT
Re: How wireless are we talking?
My Pacemaker (Medtronic 4194) was implanted in 2009, and, for the curious, sits just below my shoulder blade. During my annual checkup, the reader, a small PC mouse-shaped device is perched over the scar. It's positioning is quite delicate, and 1/2" out of place will see the comms drop off.
So, tor the moment, this is restricted to an attack via the hospital equipment, or a prolonged personal attack (Asleep, passed out in a bar etc)
Whilst the devices will improve their range, this will require a bigger battery. As there is no wireless charging option available yet, this requires a re-fit every 7-10 years.
Hold on, this sounds familiar...... Fixed battery, dedicated software analysis by a "technician", expensive to install, difficult to service, proprietary software, limited connectivity - damn it - I have seem to have an iPacemaker.
Reg readers serve up bacon sarnie amuse-bouche
Virgin Media punters stung in mobile data bill cock-up
Wednesday 8th August 2012 14:14 GMT
Re: Data & Charges
Data usage normally shows in "My T-Mobile"
After 1gb, I normally get a text and then get restricted to Browsing only between 4pm and midnight, until the new billing period.
No Tweetdeck or Gmail app etc
This month - nothing!
Long may it last
The point I was going to make (before the T-Mobile zero data surprise) was how apps and networks monitor, track and bill for data is seemingly patchy at best and downright guesswork at worst.
I previously used SPB Wireless Monitor (paid App for HTC HD2 & paid again for Galaxy S2) that was so different from T-Mobile, it was useless.
Wednesday 8th August 2012 11:53 GMT 
Data & Charges
I'm on a 1gb data allowance, but with the 'limpics currently streaming (TVCatchup), I've been keeping a close eye on how much data I'm sucking up.
Differences:
ISC (4.0.2) on the my Galaxy S3 reports I've used 1.62gb
3G Watchdog says I've used 1.98gb
Network Error:
"My T-Mobile" says I've used 0kb of data since my last bill (Mid July)
Mine's the coat with the tethering cable
HTC One S Android smartphone
Thursday 19th April 2012 16:07 GMT
Re: ouch
Unfortunatly the HDMI cable requires an independent power supply, and uses the micro usb slot. Therefore your phone will only get a small proportion of the power available, so your overall battery level will drain over a few hours.
I tried a cradle with a power & USb Port - phone did not like it - stuttering screen - too much power!
iPhone fanbois enraged by Instagram's Android triumph
GiffGaff boots freetards off mobile network
Go Contacts EX
Tuesday 13th December 2011 16:01 GMT
If you're entering the last 3 digits, it will only bring up a single number - or as many as it matches from all your contacts.
If you enter a name, as shown above, all the numbers of that person are shown.
To use the last 3 digits method, go to the Contacts tab, enter the last 3 digits, of say the home number, long press the name and "View Contact" and then you can dial any of their other numbers at a single press.
I've had this for 7 months on a SG-S2 - very easy.
Google ices native Gmail app for BlackBerry
Amazon rethinks Kindle Fire 2 screen size
Samsung Android 4.0 smartphone priced for Blighty
Play.com spam points to malware downloads
Tuesday 22nd March 2011 10:33 GMT
Apology email received
Dear Customer,
Email Security Message
We are emailing all our customers to let you know that a company that handles part of our marketing communications has had a security breach. Unfortunately this has meant that some customer names and email addresses may have been compromised.
We take privacy and security very seriously and ensure all sensitive customer data is protected. Please be assured this issue has occurred outside of Play.com and no other personal customer information has been involved.
Please be assured we have taken every step to ensure this doesn’t happen again and accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused some of you.
Customer Advice
Please do be vigilant with your email and personal information when using the internet. At Play.com we will never ask you for information such as passwords, bank account details or credit card numbers. If you receive anything suspicious in your email, please do not click on any links and forward the email on to privacy@play.com for us to investigate.
Thank you for continuing to shop at Play.com and we look forward to serving you in the future.
Play.com Customer Service Team
Starbucks' iPhone barcode app easily scammed by screengrab
T-Mobile imposes swingeing cuts on fair use data limits
Amazon Kindle 3 e-book reader
Wednesday 6th October 2010 10:00 GMT 
WiFi only - really?
I was suprised you reccomend the WiFi only option, and not the 3G version.
With a querty keyboard, and a web browser providing access to the internet for webmail (Gmail, MSN, Yahoo! etc) as well as the ubiquitous Twitter - for an extra (once off) £50 fee, and supporting roaming in 100 countries - the 3G option looks like an absolute bargain.
I'd like to try one before buying - but that's just not possible with Amazon.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
