Posts by Andrew Baines

UK.gov's love affair with ID cards: Curse or farce?

Re: No ePub?

That's what Calibre's for.

Apple: You thought Google dodged taxes? Get a load of THIS

Re: Only 35% in taxes ?

They're a company, you're an individual. Get over it, or setup a dodgy charity scam and wait for the taxman to knock on your door.

Re: "The market is going to be all over it,"

The debt is more than covered by their overseas assets, so no risk attached to the bonds as far as I can see.

Problem is, what do they do next? At some point they'll have to spend the money they have overseas.

Peak txt: 1.5 billion more chat app msgs sent than SMSes a day

Glad to see the back of them.

I get one valid text per week - from the council telling me which dustbin they're collecting. All the others are 'no win no fee' or insurance scams.

By the time you have email, Skype, BBM, plus other IM, something's got to go.

The Register guide to Windows Server 2012: Hyper-V

>> but classic shell helps

Must be an idiot to start mucking about with stuff like that on a server. Change happens, get over it.

HyperV really is great in the latest release. Just need to get my DC onto Server 2012, but it's a slow process when migrating from SBS - just too much to lose if it goes wrong.

The ten SEXIEST computers of ALL TIME

My 2nd Comptuer was an Apricot

Bit of a shock of a ZX Spectrum - my Dad won one in a trade show. In the end swapped it for a BBC Model B with every piece of software imaginable.

Nice to have played with a proper computer, but my 15 year old self had no idea what to do with it!

The Lynx effect: The story of Camputers' mighty micro

uhm

Maybe that's because the article isn't about IBM?

Who's riddling Windows PCs with gaping holes? It's your crApps

Surely

Isn't it the job of the OS to prevent bugs in applications being security holes?

And for BlackBerry's next trick: Sawing Android, iOS IN HALF

New Novell?

I like my BB, but their strategy sounds very similar to that tried by Novell Netware - offer up services to completing platforms. They soon became irrelevant.

Father of Android Andy Rubin steps down for Chrome OS boss

the integration of Android and Chrome via apps

Android emulator in Chrome?

Must admit, my Nexus 7 is great - really shows up Apple's iOS. Sadly, the whole Google thing gives me the creeps.

O2 pops out vital new feature: Making phone calls from phones

Re: Not working for me

Found it - it's only available on personal pay monthly. No business contracts - yet.

Wish they'd hurry up.

AND

The advantage is the ability to have one number wherever you are. That's it!

Not working for me

I just get told that my account isn't supported. Business monthly contract - who else do they want? Will try again later, but if this works, I'll be staying with O2 instead of switching to Three for their better data service.

Outsourcing your own job much more common than first thought

Right of substitution

Every freelancer/contractor will have a right of substitution clause in their contract. Outsourcing your own work is the perfect way out of an IR35 investigation. Provided there is no security clause they're doing nothing wrong.

Pretty sure employees aren't allowed to though.

LG acquires webOS from HP – but not for mobile kit

Closing apps because

If you don't do a little housekeeping, swapping between applications becomes a chore as the list just gets longer and longer.

Android does a decent job if switching, as does the BB PlayBook/OS10. iOS is horrid for switching.

Ad-titan Google blocks Adblock Plus in Android security tweak

What did you expect to happen?

How many of you really thought that Google released a free OS just to be nice?

BlackBerry bets fans are willing to upgrade skills

BES - not needed so much now

I use BES Express. For me, one of the attractions of BB10 is no longer needing to muck about with BES to get decent email (BB IMAP is awful).

It will happily connect using ActiveSync.

Sadly, I'm 3 months into a 2 year contract, so maybe I'll get BB11?

Microsoft blasts PC makers: It's YOUR fault Windows 8 crash landed

It's no the lack of start that's the problem

I've been using Windows 8 on non-touchscreen PC and laptops for a while now.

Not missing the start button, typing what I need is quicker and made me realise how I'd stopped using the Start button in windows 7, preferring to search.

BIG problem is that the 'modern' apps don't appear in the task bar, so as soon as you're using a mixture of 'modern' and 'proper' apps, switching becomes fiddly.

For me, HyperV was enough of a reason to upgrade, but not convinced many people care about that!

EU-wide mega-Leveson 'needed' to silence Press, bloggers

So much for the referendum

By the time we're allowed to vote to leave, you won't be able to report the campaign.

Does posting on here make me a journalist?

Former CEO John Sculley: Apple must adapt or die

Mercedes & BMW

Haven't noticed Mercedes and BMW having a problem in developing markets.

I'm not an Apple fan, but there's nothing wrong with only selling premium products.

US Immigration service won't drop BlackBerry after all

Read it properly

He says the 'thing against' RIM. That is, he's saying they're not American.

Is this the sleek new BlackBerry mobe that will save RIM jobs?

BB User

OK, I admit it - I'm the one with a PlayBook, so will probably stick with BlackBerry. Once a proper keyboard's been bolted to this, may upgrade from my 9700. Will definitely upgrade if they allow you to disable the touch screen - driving my wife nuts on her 9900 - touch phone to ear, turn on speaker phone.

Top-secret US spaceplane sets off on another classified mission

Food for the secret moon colony

They've been up there since the early '70s so must have nearly run out of food by now.

YES! It's the TARDIS PC!

Does the light flash?

Well, does it?

Re: I have to say..

Just had a similar conversation with my wife - she phoned while I was reading, so just had to mention..

Review: Apple Mac Mini 2012

Re: Quality?

Irrelevant - if it's not ready for release, it shouldn't have been released. If I bought a car with a faulty radio, the car manufacturer would be responsible and fix it.

Looks like it was just rushed for Christmas

A valid use for Windows 8?

License violation

If he had Vista Business from work, it was licensed to his employer, not to him personally. Therefore, he's not allowed to buy just an upgrade. In fact, he shouldn't be using even Vista at home.

Where's FAST when you need them?

Far Cry 3 game review

Do they really play this to review it?

A lot of the screenshots are identical to those on Pocket Lint. Looks like the software co just send out some pictures for journalists to write about.

Oracle de-cloaks JavaScript Nashorn project

Surely anything that extends the use of JavaScript is a bad thing?

Why did Comet fail? Hint: It wasn't just the credit insurers

OpCapita didn't fail

They succeeded in what they set out to do - make a big profit from Comet. Whether that was through successful trading or closing down was irrelevant to them.

iPad Mini: Why is Apple SO SCARED of the Kindle?

Re: iTunes once had DRM but now doesn't?

They don't need DRM on music any more - they have so much of the market, they might as well let you play it elsewhere. There's such a Apple focussed infrastructure in so many houses now, people will continue to buy apple.

Must admit though, 7" seems a far more sensible screen size. My PlayBook fits nicely in a Barbour pocket. iPad's are just too big to carry around, though lots of people seem to manage.

JK Rowling's adult novel arrives on ebook full of FAIL

Re: Tax

It's Luxembourg tax that's paid, not UK. Really annoying if you're a business user as Amazon will neither issue a VAT refund or, more correctly, zero rate the VAT. Apparently, Kindles are not allowed to be used for business use, if you complain, you're breaking the Terms and conditions. They can then delete all your books.

Next time, I'm buying a Kobo.

Microsoft issues IE 10 Flash flaw fix for Windows 8

WSUS

Shame that WSUS before server 2012 won't patch Windows 8.

Download that hot fix.

'Programming on Windows 8 just like playing bingo' - Microsoft VP

Still waiting for a decent Java IDE

Need someone to create a Java IDE as good as Visual Studio. then I can pack in C# and move to Java.

Bit sad really, been using MS development since VB4.

ITU suggests replaceable cables for power supplies

About time

Can we do it today please.

Yahoo! ditches! BlackBerry! for! 'smart! fun!' phones!

Re: BES

Hmm - yes it is - called BIS. In the UK, price for BIS is included in your data plan. My Blackberry Bold connect to my Exchange Server using the free Blackberry Express Server (BESx), also connects to another company's Exchange Server using IMAP. Can also use POP or OWA.

Office to propel Windows tablets past Android in 2015

Re: Haha, what?

Try again, look at the chart - it's a crap chart, should be stacked, but they chose to make the Android line disappear behind the windows line. Android doesn't disappear, just hidden from view on the chart.

Haven't they forgotten

Blackberry PlayBook should get at least 20% by then?

Yes, I have one. It's nice, but doomed - the betamax of tablets.

There is life after the death of Microsoft’s Windows 8 Start button

Re: Waste of my time

I'm sure you said the same when you changed from Wordperfect in DOS to Word in Windows.

Change happens, get used to it.

For what it's worth, not convinced with Windows 8 either, but do like the ribbon in MS Office.

PCs get touchy ahead of Windows 8 launch

Prosthetic arms please

From my chair, I can't reach the screen. Need longer arms.

Dodgy audio connections conceal more than just words

Another reason to use VOIP for outgoing calls. Just need to changed the codec to the really low quality hissy one.

Low sunspot activity linked to rivers freezing: Mini Ice Age on way?

News?

Haven't we known this for donkey's years? River Thames freezing over in periods of low sunspots, etc?

Want a Windows 8 Start Button? Open source to the rescue!

Hmm

Not too worried about the full start menu - rarely use it anyway. most of the time I just type the name of the application into the search box. The way WIndows 8 implements this is really nice - just type and they all appear quickly.

However, I'd install this just to be rid of the metro tiles - if I wanted giant application icons littering the screen, I'd just muck up my display settings.

So long as jump list still work, I may now think about the move to Win 8.

New nuclear fuel source would power human race until 5000AD

we know that nuclear power is safe

That's quite a statement to make!

>> Old enough to remember Cherbonyl

Apple TV: Rubbish, you don't like documentaries – I'll just flick to porn

A new way to argue with the wife -who's preference does it choose?

Windows 8: Microsoft's tablet-desktop still painful to swallow

Sorry MS

This is the first time since ME that I've not installed a new OS on my PC on the day of release. That includes the server versions too.

I fought with it for a couple of weekends on a laptop, then gave up.

Maybe in a month or so?

Optical Express 'ruined my life' gripe site lives on

Most opticians

Wear glasses or contact lenses. A few have good eyesight. I don't know any who've had surgery.

Married to one, since you ask!

Watch the cloud get bigger and change its shape

Alternatively

Follow too many outages, all servers are taken back in-house.

Paris, because even she's given up on cloud.

Upstart DEY touts Facebook-style storage for all and sundry

Just in time

For WIndows Storage Spaces?

Lone config file in Mac OS X SIGNALS DEATH OF THE DVD

Uhm?

Like booting Windows from a USB stick? Why should this mean they're dumping anything?