Posts by Scott Mckenzie 706 publicly visible posts • joined 9 Mar 2007
3m is enough for your average person swimming in the sea/pool or who's going snorkelling.
Sure if you're more into it then great, but i'd wager the number of people who can dive to a depth of 3m, swim around a bit and film it is not that high!
Footage isn't that amazing for extreme sports folks anyway, but again is good enough for family usage.
If the footage was any better, that video would have to be classed as NSFW anyway!
"When we have conversations with TV buyers the first thing they ask is how do we access the digital rights,” he said. Sarandos dismissed concerns about piracy, saying that “consumers don’t really want to pirate. What they want is a great service and easy delivery."
Factually accurate statements are a dangerous area in the world of digital rights management....
If you're after a cheaper model... take a look at the Henge Docks. The connectivity can be a little ugly - lots of cables streaming out the back, but it works in the same way, but does do power pass through.
The only slight gripe I have is that it does mark the case a little with repeated docking and undocking. Oh and the laptop has to be on and hibernating/sleeping as you obviously can't power it on with it shut!
I've never once found a machine where the integrated 3G was anything like 'good' - as such all of our remote staff begged to have the plug in USB dongles back. So why not do the same?
Or pair it with your smartphone and use that 3G connection. Or find some WiFi Access Point, they're rather prevalent.
Are you trying to battle with the Mail and Sun for utter fucking bollocks sensationalist headline of the year award? "Royal rugby star bar snog CCTV upload" when in fact she kissed him on the forehead. Forgive me if i'm not 100% accurate on the requirements for a 'snog' but i'd wager a kiss on the head does not fulfil them.
Grow up you fucking school kids.
I opened a video the other day and the last viewed video appeared in exactly the same way... could be a tad embarrassing if you've been having a wafty crank without the misses knowing and the next time she views a video of a fluffy kitten your depravity is revealed.
Thankfully I was just watching videos of fluffy kittens so all was ok.
Fantastic cars... the 160bhp petrol is still the pick of the bunch for me but this one is well worth a look if you value the economy more than the driving - but there isn't that much in it either way!
As for DSG, I agree it doesn't work too well on the lower powered Diesel... but for folks who drive in town a lot, it's a phenomenal option, on the Petrol cars it is the opposite - improving economy and reducing CO2 so much more worthy there!
Not that I can post with direct access, read on other nzb distributor forums.... lots of issues with films not completing and certain broadcasters material not appearing through them.
It may have been a red herring but there was and still is a lot of talk surrounding the issue.
I don't use them as they're expensive though so can't personally comment.
Re-reading my post... i'd like to clarify that in no way to i agree with what's going and am against blocks, but there are cases currently against Giganews, obviously Usenet isn't exactly something that can just be blocked anyway and as such providers that offer services to legit aswell as illegal (unknown to them they'll claim) may be ok.
I was merely saying that there is no point going after the sites like Newzbin for what they're trying to do.
I think it's because Newzbin was so high profile and to be honest so good - Giganews are being investigated and lets be honest that's the root of the issue, Newzbin are in trouble because of how easy it makes it to find the stuff, sub categories of films, in HD, with DTS audio, over 10Gb in size - you don't get that from Giganews, that's the provider doing the work and charging for the service.
It's pointless blocking Newzbin or any of the others as they'll keep popping up.... they need to go after Usenet itself on this one or they're just wasting time and money.
For the accusation of being a simpleton, something somewhat offensive considering you don't know me from adam!
You seem to be missing the major point here, the end user is not the simpleton - the end user pays the same price, wherever they buy the product from. There is no extra charge to the end user. It's a business decision, do you, as a seller of a product, want to have exposure on the largest selling device out there? If so, then you have to accept there is a charge to be considered. You can sell on your site for whatever the hell you like, it's your infrastructure, your marketing, your budget.... but the choice is simple, be on an iOS device, or don't.
As for Amazon etc charging an extra 43% - they can... and a number of people would buy the book as i've said elsewhere. The people who don't trawl the web looking to save £2 on a book. It's their decision, be on the iOS device or don't - do you see my point yet?
Were you this animated when Amazon, BOL etc started selling books on the internet? It was so unfair to my local book store that had been there since the 80's, they didn't have the huge buying power of Amazon and as a result, SHOCK, their books cost more... the pricing model was carefully worked out so they could pay the rent, their staff, some coffee in the staff room - it's not like they knew this internet thing was coming. It is however very easy to get a book, i walk into the store and pay for it. If i wanted to spend the time trawling the web, I could, i may even find the same book for less, including a service charge called delivery - it's not quite as easy though as i have to search, login, remember a password, add my new credit card details, update my delivery address.... it's cheaper though.
You take you choice you pay your money.
They can if they want to, no-one is stopping them doing so - many people probably wouldn't look elsewhere and see they can get it for less so they'd be quids in as a company.
It's a business decision probably best left to the people making the business decisions for the likes of Amazin, B&N etc, who, let's face it, know a shed load more about this than a bunch of us on a forum.
Err not really... more like that Tesco wouldn't let Asda set up a department within their store and sell the same products for less. People are perfectly welcome to go to Asda and possibly pay less for the same product, but if you're already in Tesco and you can buy from the Tesco store or the (slightly bizarre) Asda department that is round the back, through some doors, where you need to sign in and pay separately - which would you do????
But a reasoned argument is pointless as you appear to be somewhat anti Apple, for some reason.
I don't dispute that, but my point still stands - provided the margin is able to cover that 30% they're still making money from people who want an easier life. They are perfectly within their rights and end users are too, to buy direct and i'm sure they'd prefer it to not have the cut taken away....
Sure the etailer may be getting a harder deal but if they weren't making money they'd not do it. The end user (namely us!) doesn't care, we get something for the same price but much more easily.
Like I say, i don't see the big deal.
They're not saying people can't subscribe or buy outside of the App store, but they sure as hell aren't going to publicise it.
I can read magazines from Zinio across all devices, but I ONLY read them on my iPad as it suits the environment so much better - that's a personal choice and it's convenient. For a great many other people that's just it too, it's easier - if i want to download a book, it's easier for me to do it straight from the device I have in my hand rather than bugger off to a separate web page to enter more details, sign in, go through a number of steps etc - for the end user they pay the same price so aren't bothered.
The retailer has a choice to make, sacrifice 30% (but don't have to worry about your own subscription model for the device, don't have to pay transaction fees for the payment etc) and be on the most popular device out there. Or don't. Provided your gross margin is more than 30% it's an absolute no brainer - you're making something, not as much as you could, but something from the sales and you're on loads more devices.
I'm sure the techies will be in uproar about it as they're happy for redirects, clicks etc... but my mum is much happier to tap once, enter a password and have a new book for exactly the same price as going through the other process.
Until i can get the same quality in a download i won't be changing.... at present none of the mass market sources offer high quality options.
A few places buck the trend, Naim, manufacturers of rather high end HiFi now offer 24Bit digital downloads and these are an obvious step UP in quality from CD, sadly it's only for their own label stuff (which won't appeal to everyone) but it's the right direction to head and as soon as we get there i'll wave bye bye to my discs.
...you've clearly not used or seen one. They're incredibly tough little units, what with being made from of aluminium. Sure there is a tiny amount of flex in the screen when compared to the normal Macbooks but they're so much tougher than your average laptop it's unfair for other manufacturers!
...i love the security of Find my Android that is supplied free of charge with Google, all the adverts on the mail and calendar line app get me going just great too.
Some folk just like things to be easy, have a Mac, use MobileMe - it takes very little effort and works great for about £5 a month... each to their own mind.
Huge firmware issues as per the amps, random pauses, restarts, no support for 24p etc....
Oh and the fact, as alluded to above it uses a Broadcom chip as used in many, far cheaper devices.
Impressively it seems to work better when NOT used in an Arcam system... which is useful.
Seriously stick to the Oppo, or a high end Sony/Marantz.... the Arcam should be good for CD playback, but if you need that high a quality CD playback, get a stand alone 2 channel system!
...you have to type in your user name and password to run it.
It's still a million miles from Windows where one click and you're done, without even knowing it.
Most Mac users I know are sensible enough to not run as administrator either so an immediate second defence.
Must be a slow news day...
I wasn't particularly... it was very good for music and probably if that's important it is better than the Japanese models... however for films it wasn't as impressive IMO.
I opted for a Marantz SR7005 in the end as it was more suited to my needs and also doesn't have the abysmal history when it comes to updates.
Were there any issues with firmware or did you not get that far?
I considered an AVR500 and 600 but the problems with firmware meant I just could not risk it... no sound, stuttering playback, random power switching etc is not something you expect from a £3k AV amp - I seriously hope they've cracked it with this or Arcam and AVR will become direct sales only as no store will carry them.
Why don't they look at the public action, which is largely non existent and go, 'you know what, this isn't working let's knock it on the head"
DAB sounds awful, truly awful.... people will tolerate a bit of background hiss when an FM signal goes weak, but when DAB goes, it's an awful mess.
As they all work perfectly for me and what I ask of them.
I've always sold on the old products when i've upgraded and got great money back on them, i'd dearly love to see how much a Xoom (or to be far a Galaxy Tab or whatever else) is worth in 2 years and then compare that to an iPad also.
The rivals can't even compete on price, let alone quality.... look at the sales volumes thus far.
Kinda open and shut for Apple really... but the haters will still wander out and talk about how overpriced and shit it is and what a wanker Steve Jobs is etc etc but nothing will ever change there. Stick with what works for you, be it Linux, Android or Windows - but have some humble pie occasionally and realise that actually Apple products ARE good and AREN'T overpriced... just cos they don't suit you and your application is a different issue.
....i wasn't aware it supported ALAC just yet, it keeps being promised but that delight is presently only reserved for the HDX range. FLAC etc no problem, but ALAC streamed from a NAS is a no go!
As for the Arcam, the absolute best speakers i've found to suit it are the Focal/JM-Lab Chorus 700 series - the 705v a sensible choice.
Please don't group me with the 'we want a World Cup' bit. I am happier than a happy thing that we haven't got it. I utterly despise football and the majority of 'fans' that follow it.
I'm glad we aren't pissing water down the drain to promote the tosh and associated thuggery and binge drinking that accompanies it.
Russia on the other hand, is a very pleasant country and cheap to get to and stay in - so i suggest you get booking your tickets now.
The popcorn does decode DTS on board, but i've never had a single issue with any of the WDTV devices i've tried (the Mini only does 1080i so haven't tried that) they'll play anything you can throw at them - silly high bitrate video can make them stutter, but that turned out to be an issue with a 32Gb MKV rip and it was the external HDD i was using.
Not used the one in this test, but i'd imagine it just improves on the older models as it's all built in.... when you can buy the WDTV Live for £80 from Amazon though, adding any USB drive may be cheaper, though less neat.... the GUI is less impressive but may come in an update.
The Register 
Biting the hand that feeds IT
Copyright. All rights reserved © 1998–2024
