Posts by Fihart

Ofcom: You like to make CALLS, yeah? Tell us what you want from mobiles

T Mobile gripes

Currently arguing with T Mobile about unexplained £1 deductions from PAYG balance. Feasibly apps have been updating themselves spontaneously -- my annoyance is that this incurs a minimum charge that assumes I want to go online for 24hrs.

Of course that rate is daylight robbery -- and I'm not even aware when it happens, so I'm paying £1 for about 3mins online, about 350mb of data.

Currently, have disabled smartphone, put SIM in an ancient Nokia and will boycott T Mobile until an explanation is forthcoming. If it is apps, the alternative is to cough up £40 p.a. for 500mb a month -- which is not bad, but I'd rather not as I don't really need internet on my phone.

Spanish startup to ship first Mozilla-phones

But will it run Opera ?

(as above)

Microsoft to pump cash into Dell buyout deal?

Then opposite of Victor Kiam.

He loved the Remington razor so much he bought the company.

Dell hated Windows 8 so much Steve Balmer bought that company.

FAA grounds Boeing's 787 after battery fires on plastic planes

Fake batteries ?

Almost every Li-On battery for my phone that I see for sale has a Nokia logo on it but is, suspiciously, a tenth of the price that Nokia's retailers charge.

eBay's festive sales soar, but what's this? Profit DOWN 62%?

the opposite of Better Business

One of the governing principles of a successful business is "leave something in it for the other guy". In other words, be reasonable. ebay seems to me to wring the last penny out of its monopoly and is an unpleasant environment as a result.

Tell Facebook who's the greatest: YOU are!

Browsing Rules !

So right about record retail. Since the Music Exchange in Camden raised its prices - then closed - the best places to browse, and cheap enough to risk new stuff, has been charity shops and car boot sales. As you say, online finds you what you think you already want (Amazon's suggestions are usually well off beam) but nothing beats physical browsing.

If you have CDs gathering dust, pop them into a charity shop or flog em at a car boot.

Though, personally, I don't know why you'd abandon the best sounding/most convenient home music medium yet invented.

Look out, fanbois: One in two nicked mobes is an iPhone - cops

Safer to carry an iPhone ?

As reported somewhere/sometime, mugger disappointed that you only have a 5 year old Nokia will stab you just out of pique.

BT's 'six-month free broadband' offer is a big fat FIB - ads watchdog

Re: Seems to make sense to me

The problem with BOGOFs is not that anyone actually expects to get one free without buying the other. The problem is that they encourage waste, which is why they are banned in some EU countries.

It is particularly galling if you live in London where so many people are in single person households to see that in big supermarkets the cheapest price per kilo for, in example cheese, is to buy not just one very large pack but to then get a second "free". Bound to create waste.

I suspect that the other issue with BOGOF is that, often the price of the paid for item has been increased prior to the offer compared with regular retail, to be reduced again at the expiry of the offer. Result, the second isn't actually free, as you are now paying a premium for the first.

Telcos, the necessary sleight of hand.

As per mobile phone, broadband products are essentially identical (especially as most use BT's lines) but are presented as confusingly as possible to conceal their similarity.

Belgian watchdog barks at Apple: Take care when you flog that warranty

The amazing thing is it's Belgium !

Sent my bro in Bruxelles a link to this story. He responded that Belgium has appalling consumer rights and his experience of Apple was abysmal.

Laptop with Apple Care failed, at first claimed that hard drive was cause (self evidently not true) then that memory was the problem but, as non Apple memory had been fitted (by an Apple dealer), warranty was invalid.

My bro, with experience as a senior bod at UK Dept of Trade and representation to EU, read them the Riot Act and they changed their tune.

Disney World slaps pay-by-bonk stalker cuffs on grown-ups

Creepy. Always has been.

Even as a very young kid I found Disney comics bland and empty of content. When we finally got a TV, the cartoons seemed scary, if anything.

Cisco sued by East Carolina University

It's a slogan, they get copied.

As per:

"Tomorrow's Technology Today" (IBM originally and later nicked all over the place)

"Expect the Unexpected" (Charisma Records for Peter Gabriel album, later used by Barclays Bank).

India's tough hacker crackdown: IT security leaflets with every device

Isn't this why the "Read Me" file was invented.

Any of the devices mentioned could include a multi language readme file. Obviously, cost-free compared with paper, given that no-one will bother to read or heed such warnings, whatever the format.

Facebook testing $100 fee to mail Mark Zuckerberg

Re: What did you expect?

Cat's name on Facebook instead of own -- just to confuse their marketing gits. They dare not expel users with fake names or they'd lose half the membership.

Let's face it, at least 50% of FB posts seem to be pictures of feckin cute kitties and puppies, anyway.

Bad news: PC slump worse than feared. Good news: It's Friday

Re: 352 million PCs

I'm with you on old Dell lappies. My secondhand and chunky 15 inch Latitudes and similar Inspiron have a max of P4 1.8 processors and could not handle Win 7, but are quite solid electrically. So easy to disassemble mechanically that cannibalising several into a couple of working ones was actually fun.

Not so true with newer Dells or any other slimmer models.

Ofcom looks at contract opt-outs as users rage over price hikes

Re: How about...

Of course the telcos won't go along with your business model.

Their present approach relies upon confusion to differentiate between what are, really, identical products.

Answer is EU directive to force separation of hardware sales from airtime so that costs are more transparent and a more efficient market develops, with subsequent savings for consumers -- and landfill created by "free" phone upgrades is reduced.

Rampaging gnu crashes Microsoft Store, hands out literature

@ OffBeatMammal

You are so right.

God, how I would like to shake off all things Microsoft. But experience of Linux was disappointing for exactly the reasons you outline -- and I've owned a PC since 1985.

I don't know how average users are expected to abandon Windows that came with their machine and just works -- and instead opt for something that to them is unproven. And then discover that things like sound circuitry doesn't work and you can't just download a driver from the component manufacturer.

END OF THE WORLD IS NIGH: TalkTalk no longer worst ISP in UK

BT Shameful Waste

Found a BT Infinity kit in the rubbish (Huawei Modem, BT Home Hub3 Router and Hard Disk TV Recorder Box). Irritated to realise that the router is locked down so hard that it is, so far, impossible to re-use with another ISP. More irritated to find that the TV Box has Freeview but that only works when connected to router with a valid account.

This contrasts with Sky whose first generation routers could be recycled to use with other ISPs and whose Sky TV boxes continue to provide Freeview even without a Sky account.

There is really no good reason for BT to lock down their gear unless they actually want it to end up in landfill. Shamefully wasteful.

Incidentally, the router -- which current ads seem to claim has especially good range is -- according to accounts, a very ordinary piece of kit and my tests didn't suggest any extra range.

Facebook T&Cs vote falls 299.5 million short of quorum

Facebook -- drones and clones

I posted a reminder to vote on my (cat's) Facebook page and not one of my (cat's) "Ffriends" responded. I must say I'm getting bored with the pages of sentimental drivel and pix of group-mugging for the camera they all post so their complacency on this issue may lead me to dump Fbook finally.

Review: Samsung Series 9 super slim notebook

Hurry while stocks with outdated OS last !

It's a bad day for Steve 8allmer when users are urged to buy now to avoid the latest version of Windows.

Apple ships 'completely redesigned' iTunes 11

Re: iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii've gone mad!

These iProducts should be renamed meProducts -- as in "It's all about me, me, me"

Re: Best ever?

iTunes 11 still looks like a bleak spreadsheet, but hopefully a little less confusing in Windows than the versions I've used.

Though doubtless regarded as terrible by some purists, Easy CD (aka Roxio) was the first CD ripper I used that worked reliably and logically and, several versions later, remains my first choice.

While I have no problem with the iPod, iTunes stopped me ever buying another.

Heroic Register reader battles EXPLODING COMPUTER

So all PSUs have crap fans ?

I've had a desktop PSU blow up when not running. A friend had the same -- his left a scorch mark on the wall. Safest to switch off at the wall socket or rocker switch on PSU (which some still have).

But my biggest gripe is the 2 pence fans they put in most PSUs. Within 12 months they can start to squeal and oscillate on the bearings so that they run below proper speed. At least you get a warning and replacement is simple and cheap enough -- but why not put in slightly better fans originally ?

Oprah Winfrey too late to save Microsoft's Windows 8

Re: First impressions were not great @David Lawrence

The downvoters are being unfair. Your reaction to 8 is similar to my first encounters with Macs. The difference is that 8 is called Windows -- it's not a different product from a rival company.

The thing that has sold Microsoft products to the corporates is backwards compatibility -- and that includes staff not being bewildered by the latest iteration of Windows.

Re: So long, Mr. Ballmer

Henceforth known as the late 8allmer.

The Sinofsky Letters: Defenestrated Windows overlord corresponds

Re: Windows Explorer @ Sirius Lee

Brill. Didn't know that. Now I do and will use it.

Re: Dinosaurs @hooksie

Apology accepted. Nice to see people still have the courage to admit a mistake.

Re: Dinosaurs @hooksie

I'm the "twat with a 20 year old keyboard" -- and you haven't been reading the posts properly !

While I agree that I'm a "cheap ass" I wasn't blaming anyone for it not having a Windows key (why would it, as it's DOS era product) and I wasn't complaining about not being able to do shortcuts -- I just don't use them.

When a better keyboard comes into my possession, doubtless it will have a Windows key and, quite possibly, I will learn the shortcuts needed to work around problems Microsoft has created by pruning useful features.

Meanwhile, stop littering this otherwise civil series of posts with your childish epithets.

Re: Vote with your feet, people!

You hit the nail on the head. Many people I know have migrated from Windows to Apple. Younger ones who already have iPods and iPhones go straight to a Mac computer. As they come into the workforce, Corporates may find it less traumatic to dump Microsoft.

Re: Windows Explorer, my excuse......@ Khaptain

You're almost right. I certainly used the same keyboard with a 386/40. And, yes, I can almost remember all that HIMEM and UMB stuff. In fact, I bought my first PC in 1985.

Re: Windows Explorer, my excuse......

.....for not using Win key is I don't have one.

Still using IBM PS2 keyboard from 1985 -- unmatched feel and (self-evident) durability.

Windows Explorer

I was shocked when XP demoted Windows Explorer to an Accessory as most veteran users would consider it an essential. I much prefer to use WE than My Computer as the latter starts programs, often when I don't intend to.

Solution is to manually place Windows Explorer back on the Start Menu or create a Desktop shortcut to it.

Windows8 developers not understanding the importance of tiling Windows vertically to most (?) users, demonstrates that there's little hope for Win8 being adopted, except reluctantly.

Windows Phone 8 reboot woe causes outpouring of forum misery

BSOD ?

see above

Freeview to be nudged down to clear 5G bands in 2018

Re: The master plan...

You don't even need a Freesat box, any old Sky box (flea market/car boot sale for a few £) will receive Freeview channels, though obviously you need a dish and have it pointed correctly.

Actually, at present Freeview via a telly aerial works fine if you have it mounted high enough and are in a decent reception area. But the Sky box solution looks like a safer bet for most people.

...he marched them up to the top of the hill

....and he marched them down again.

And when they were up they were up. And when they were down they were down.

And when they were only half way up, they were neither up nor down.

When will this madness stop ? They force everyone on to Freeview to free up frequencies for cellphones, then they put up 4G masts which screw up Freeview.

Now they plan to change Freeview again -- because ? It's all a monumental f*ckup and heads should roll.

Meanwhile, there's so little decent content and so much advertising on TV that many people I know have just quit watching at all.

Sinofsky OFFSKI: Is Windows 9 now codenamed 'Defenestrate'?

I know that face from somewhere.....

....does anyone else think Sinofsky is actually Lee Harvey Oswald ?

Windows boss Steve Sinofsky exits Microsoft

One down, 8almer to go.

see above.

Headaches, delays plague Windows Store, dev claims

"We are committed........

.................to delivering a great experience for our developers."

The sort of Orwellian Newspeak habitual with MS employees. No wonder nothing works.

Apple iPod Touch 5G review

Are they still making these things ???

Surely not, and not at that price.

FTC offers $50,000 bounty for robocall-killing tech

Killing the phone call.

Commercial nuisance callers are bringing landline into disrepute. And the telcos will be the losers in the long run.

I now check caller display every time the phone rings and won't answer numbers I don't recognise and especially UK regional numbers, international, witheld and unavailable.

Sometimes these have been legitimate calls, as revealed when friends text or email me later.

Will they phone my landline again ? Probably not.

Apple iPod Nano 7G review

They still make these ?

Surely anyone who wanted an MP3 player already has one, at least in their phone. Perhaps the remaining market is for Apple users replacing iPods when the battery fails.

And am I alone in owning several MP3 players and seldom using them, except for long journeys ? I generally use a Sony because it's much easier to update. I have an Apple player but Sony's drag and drop loading is infinitely less maddening than iTunes..

HP prosecuted by Australian consumer regulator

The One Year Warranty Mindset

In the USA I gather that the only unpaid for repair/replace is the 1 year mfr warranty. The retailer seems to have no liability. In the USA retail prices are generally lower than in Europe.

In Europe some US firms try to apply US practice, regardless of the higher prices we pay -- and local law. Apple seems to have been a major perpetrator, glad to hear HP is being given a lesson in Oz.

Though it's not entirely straightforward nor universal across Europe, the typical model is that the retailer has responsibility for providing/supporting consumer durables that are actually durable. The warranty is essentially a support agreement from the mfr to the retailer.

Think how long a TV or fridge usually lasts as a guide to how long most substantial electronic goods might last *. Trading Standards used to suggest 6 years and within that period (roughly speaking) the retailer should repair or replace or refund a reasonable proportion of the price based on time.

* Actually, I have European and Japanese hifi gear still going after 35 years without fault.

Protestors target Google over that video

Re: FFS sake

I suspect the reason you get a a high percentage of atheists on a site like this is that we deal with machines. With machines, a problem will have a logical solution of some sort -- it may take time to find the solution but there are few mysteries and no magic.

Bing is the most heavily poisoned search engine, study says

I work in advertising....

...but I really despise the way TV has been destroyed by much longer and more frequent breaks filled with cheaply made ads of little relevance to most people.

The same sort of cynical greed has wrecked the internet.

Remember when Google first appeared, how friends emailed you to tell you about this great new search engine. But recently when my brother looked there for the details of a hotel to stay in near my place he simply could not find it for the blizzard of sponsored rubbish.

Crazed Microsoft robot accuses BBC kids' channel of Win8 piracy

Re: IBM Keyboards ?

Wotttt???? 1990's vintage IBM keyboards have seen me through DOS, Win 3.1, 95, 98, XP and even a glance at W7.

You'd be crazy to swap to an inferior keyboard just to get a Windows key.

eBay frets as right to resell comes under scrutiny

Were the books secondhand ?

If the student was actually selling new imported books as a business then he'd be within the grey market argument that has been used in Europe to bar sales of parallel imports such as Levis at Tesco and famous brand perfumes at Superdrug. The EU upheld the mfrs right to restrict sales to authorised outlets.

Pair face £250k fines for spamming mobes with millions of texts

And landlines !

I'm close to dumping my BT landline because of the quantity of bogus International and Unavailable calls plus daily calls from 084, 032, 029 numbers. The "International" calls (which I assume are Skyped or spoofed) are particularly annoying because I have family abroad.

These phone pirates are speeding the end of landlines and should be removed from both the mobile and landline networks. Spam e-mails are far less intrusive than your phone ringing unnecessarily several times a day.

The rot set in when premium lines were permitted -- this seems to have opened the phone networks to ruthless marketing companies and others who are downright con artists.

iPhone 5: the fab slab to grab

T-Mob Treat Van a scam

Offered 10 picture texts FREE ?

When you sign up for the "freebies" you have to confirm by texting the number 1000.

For which T Mobile charge £1.

Now that's not quite free, is it ?

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

Re: It's a shame this dude was running late for the presentation.

Clearly not a shaver or that ghastly 'tache would have been gone.

Incidentally, don't you just hate those boy-beards the hipsters are currently sporting.