* Posts by Matthew Flint

8 publicly visible posts • joined 13 Sep 2007

2011's Best... DVRs and Media Streamers

Matthew Flint

Firmware versions in reviews?

If you're going to criticize a product for the features in its firmware, can you include in your reviews the firmware version of the item you're testing?

At least then we can look at the manufacturer's website and see what's changed (or not changed) since the review was written.

Thanks :)

Fanboi primer: How to move your iTunes from PC to Mac

Matthew Flint

Genius disabled

I've had Genius disabled ever since it recommended "The Very Best of Chas and Dave". I was not amused...

Microsoft releases first flaky iPhone app

Matthew Flint
Gates Horns

But why?

Given that the iPhone is both gorgeous and shiny, why on earth would I soil such a lovely device with a piece-of-sh!t app from the Redmond mob? FFS, couldn't they have come up with something more interesting than that?

VbyV password reset is childishly simple

Matthew Flint
Stop

You *don't* "talk to your bank"

Dave says: "You then talk to your bank, nobody else, and when they're finished they bounce you back to a page on the retailers site."

WRONG! The details are submitted to another party's website. Not the retailer. Not your bank. Not even Visa themselves... Someone like "arcot.com". Ever heard of them? No, me neither.

(The "arcot.com" example comes from the checkout at "dabs.com")

I closed my Smile account because of concerns about VbV, and would encourage others to do the same.

Dawkins' atheist ad campaign hits fundraising target

Matthew Flint
Thumb Up

Here's why they use the word "Probably"

Ariane Sherine wrote in the Guardian: "I Googled Carlsberg and found this marketing site, which suggests that using the word "probably" at the start of the ad saved Carlsberg from litigation."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/20/transport.religion

Dell UK releases Ubuntu netbook but favours Windows

Matthew Flint
Linux

Wireless differences?

With the Inspirons, the Windows-based machine comes with a Dell-branded (ie, cheapo) WiFi module, the Linux-based models with a pukka Intel-branded module. (Probably for linux-compatibility reasons)

The Intel-branded jobbie costs more, and is available as an option on the Windows-based models.

Wonder if this could account for some of the price differences here too?

UK.gov plans central database for all your communications

Matthew Flint
Stop

*All* emails?

Seems a bit pointless to me, when anyone can circumvent the government's email storage plans by using Gmail (or any other offshore webmail provider) via https, or by running their own offshore IMAP/SMTP machine with SSL.

Duh...

Firefox-Google marriage on shaky ground?

Matthew Flint

Blocking visitors?

Wow, so "Oklahoma-based web developer Danny Carlton has succeeded in rejecting any user who visits his sites with AdBlock Plus installed."

He should realise that web-users aren't a patient bunch. If the average web user isn't granted access to Carlton's website, then they'll go somewhere else and not give it a second thought.

Seems like rather a stupid approach to website development.