Posts by Test Man

British 4G mobile data rollout 'will mean NO TELLY for 2m homes'

If you're in a region that doesn't broadcast in the transmission groups C/D and E (like the London region), then I wouldn't worry about it at all - none of the muxes are anywhere near the UHF channels 60+ that would potentially be affected by 4G.

Re: Not

@JohnMurray - To be fair, SCART had been around for yeeeears already before then and completely avoided that problem entirely, although it wasn't massively widespread.

Re: Give me 5

Yeah. In some regions (like the London region), Channel 5 could only be placed at UHF channel 36 (-ish), which is what some external equipment (such as VCRs) were also defaulted to ("broadcasting" down the RF lead). Those needed to be "retuned" (changed to broadcast on another UHF channel) by twiddling a switch thing using a screw or similar implement.

This wouldn't have affected any region where Channel 5 was at a different UHF channel (such as the Yorkshire region, I'm pretty sure that their channel lineup started at around UHF channel 40-something - I remember having to tune my TV back in Bradford Uni in the 90s). It also didn't affect anything (IIRC) connected via SCART or other connection other than the RF lead.

This is different though, as it's not equipment being affected but potentially the actual reception of certain "digital" muxes that broadcast on UHF channels 60-68 and only in certain areas.

That was in areas where the analogue signal used UHF channels that covered UHF channel 36, which was where Channel 5 was roughly. For homes where the TV channels started at UHF channel 40, there would have been no problem

Pfff

From what I remember, the 4G signals will be deployed at a similar frequency to UHF channel 60 and above. So this will likely affect any region that uses transmission group C/D and E, as they cover UHF channels up to UHF channel 68.

Fortunately, the London region use UHF channels 22-30 (transmission group A) so we won't be affected. :p

National Rail Enquiries

Re: UK Trains Times it is...

Actually this app has been available for years already - the whole breakaway from the previously-licenced iOS app wasn't recent. The only change is that the same official £4.99 app is NOW free (but ad-supported).

Re: Alerts

Journey Pro does all this, I believe.

Not sure what the complaint is (about this app). It's free, no one needs to pay £5 to get rid of the ads, especially as the ads aren't exactly in the way.

If you don't want to pay £5, don't pay £5.

Nokia dinged with shareholder lawsuit over poor Lumia sales

Re: N-97

Oh man, this sounds very familiar to me too! I lived and breathed Nokia (from 5246, 3210, 3310, 8310, 7250, 6230, N70) and had a N95 - that was really the best phone for its time. The rot started with the N96, a phone that was massively unresponsive and awful to use, suffice to say I didn't get that. But when the N97 was released, I was one of the first to get it, despite being heavily warned off by two friends who worked for Vodafone. How right they were. The camera much much worse than the N95, the "widgets" were pants, the GPS was worse than the N95 (taking an AAAAGE to lock onto the current location), the fonts were unreadable and the OS itself was buggy as hell - looking like a hastily-modified S60 which wasn't (and still isn't) suited to touch-screen use. After six months of fighting against the awful phone, the last straw was when I dropped it - the touch screen stopped working. So much for the resilience of Nokia phones in general (all my previous phones had been dropped on concrete at least once - all unaffected, this one breaks instantly). I lost it and smashed it to a million pieces. Had to go back to the N95, at least I had a phone that could take good pictures, had much better-sounding and louder speakers, and didn't fight against me.

My next phone was an Android (HTC Desire HD) - the phone the Nokia N97 SHOULD have been. I have never looked back since.

Microsoft kills Windows Live brand

Re: I am not a number I'm a free application!!!

So what? Just use a third-party app, like with every single other OS release.

Re: bring back outlook express

Who said Windows Live Mail is going? Next version will be renamed "Mail". In any case, as usual, there are plenty of third-party apps. Why did you assume that you'll have to use webmail just because of the possibility that ONE e-mail program is discontinued?!

Somebody mentioned the amount of names the software has had. It was first "Internet Mail & News", then "Outlook Express" and now "Windows Live Mail".

Somebody mentioned "Windows Live Desktop" - no such thing. That said, I'm not surprised that person is confused about the name when Microsoft keep on changing it!

Re: Stick to a ruddy name will you

Nah, the messenger from XP (Windows Messenger) was AWFUL and simply caused confusion when there was also the more fully-featured and also-working-on-XP-as-well-as-other-Windows-OS MSN Messenger.

I agree with you about Windows Live Messenger (what MSN Messenger is called now) being a resource hog though.

Now on Freeview HD: Olympic arts channel that's tough to watch

Hmmm... my DigitalStream HD device can receive these weird IP channels and it's connected to my router too. That said, even if it was on channel no. 1 I couldn't care less.

10x power boost for Freeview as London analogue signal cut

Re: I was watching CSI when the change over happened...

I was also watching CSI when it went blank. It was a good episode too. DAMN YOU SWITCHOVER! *shakesfist!*

London wage slaves face hour of Cloud discharge a day - official

Re: Major Stations?

The London Overground (the actual line branded the London Overground), not regular National Rail stations.

Android store spotted in China ... selling iPhones

Re: Meanwhile in China...

Yep, my little cousin had one. But by God it was dog-slow.

Adobe can't penetrate punters' tight wallets: Users holding out for CS6

Re: Whaaaaaa????

Eh? No one is forcing you to upgrade. In fact, seeing as you've just paid for a suite, you don't really need to.

'Fileless' malware installs into RAM

Re: Java?

This would be the Java that you download for both Mac and Windows, although as the article suggests, the latest version offered on the website now is not vulnerable.

Microsoft 'yanked optical drive from Xbox 720'

Re: A Console for the future

Useless.

No matter how quick speeds get (and it won't be quicker for everyone - fact), there'll always be download caps. So it doesn't matter if in 4 years there's 100Mb/s download connection - there'll be a significant amount of people who can't take advantage of this for various reasons.

Microsoft won't go download only on their console, guaranteed.

Re: Of course there won't be an optical drive

LOL 98% having fast-enough broadband. Nope, not even close.

You're making the usual geek mistake of assuming that just because your close circle has the latest tech, virtually everyone else do.

Apple to Google Maps: ‘Get lost’

Re: To be fair

Ah, so effectively "watermarking" their maps.

Smart.

Re: Google is special

Yes, we know that Google buy the maps, however they invite people to tell them about errors on the actual website, so they clearly can do something about it on their own system In fact, I've submitted a few errors or changes and they have done it within 24 hours.

But they don't in some cases and the mislabelling of Welwyn Garden City is one of them.

There's little point in complaining to the map makers they buy it from because the map makers can't do anything about it on the third-party site directly, only indirectly when the third party updates the maps by taking it from them again (which is once in a blue moon).

Pffff.... Google has been known to get their maps wrong too. Currently they've mislabelled the village of "Welwyn" as "Welwyn Garden City" - Welwyn Garden City is actually the town directly north of Hatfield. They acknowledged the mistake in an e-mail but said that it's not easily fixable - I'm sure it IS easily fixable in OSM.

BBC iPlayer boss: smart TVs not sufficiently simple

Re: Different technologies.

Yes, we all know it's bluetooth. You can talk about the technical stuff as much as you like but in the real world, the PS3 Remote works waaaay better than any other remote, especially over IR remotes. There's no need to "generally" point it at a specific area and no need for an "all else fails", it just works, 100% of the time.

Re: Samsung joy

This totally. My PS3 remote is the most responsive thing I have. Works wherever the hell I point it, even if I'm out in the garden. The Samsung remote is AWFUL, only seems to work when perfectly directly pointed at the bottom right of the TV and even then it sometimes doesn't work. And that's with new Duracell batteries inserted.

Blighty's Post Office computer system goes titsup

Again?

Microsoft's Azure cloud down and out for 8 hours

Re: Leap years

Yeah, my Digital Stream has decided to "lose" scheduled recordings for today and tomorrow.

I'm afraid of switching on my PS3 after the last debacle 2 years ago.

Cable thieves wreak havoc for cops, BT punters

I noticed the broadband going after 1930 on Thurs night - the DSL light on the router was on but the Internet light was off. Phone was fine though.

Only found out Fri (from ispreview) that it was down to BT lines being cut. Turned out it was quite the disruption - HSBC branch on WGC was closed as all their cash machines and equipment stopped working as a result.

BT reveals ultra-fast cable blowing plan for homes, biz

If I understand it, trials are ended. Now BT feel it's viable, come middle of next year you will be able to sign up to either FTTC or FTTP (either BT Infinity or reseller version) and anyone who is already on FTTC (again BT Infinity or reseller version) will be able to upgrade to FTTP. All for a price, of course.

Bill Gates' ass slams into iPhone

We all know Bill Gates' stance on copying, so I fully expect his lawyers to be contacting the author of this iOS game soon...

Google Maps takes scenic route

Great suggestion if it wasn't for the fact that some apps only make use of Google Maps.

Ah, that explains where they're getting their data from.

Oh really? I've only ever seen it as "River Lee" myself. In fact, I've been looking at old official maps from early 20s to the 70s and it's only ever been written as "River Lee" there.

http://cashewnut.me.uk/WGCbooks/web-WGC-early-maps.php

Related to recent update?

They recently updated their maps about a month or so ago. However, they seemed to have cocked up a few things, like for example labelling the village of Welwyn "Welwyn Garden City" when the real Welwyn Garden City (which is named after the village is south-east just above Hatfield. The River Lee is also named "River Lea or Lee", for some inexplicable reason.

Channel 5 snubs Freeview HD again

No one is stopping you from buying a 50" set. Just get one - no need to cut off your nose to spite your face ("I'll force myself to watch a smaller screen because I don't want to watch 50" SD footage" a silly thing to say).

At the moment you're watching 37" SD footage. 50" SD footage (although it risks looking blocky but that depends on how good the scaler in your TV set or box is) is clearly better than looking at a smaller screen so just get it!

Yes. Not everyone has time to go watching something later on during the week. Not only that, not all programmes are repeated later on in the week. When you can find the latest episodes of Come Dine With Me, Coach Trip, My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, Strictly Come Dancing, David Attenborough's documentaries or the latest Champions League football match (all examples) shown later on in the week then your point MIGHT be valid.

What a silly comment by "Anonymous Coward" (Deliverying Quality Filth)...

Sorry, I couldn't understand your rant because you refused to use the proper name for the company or names of programmes, instead substituting it for some lame word in the same juvenile way as some people do with Microsoft (M$), Apple (Crapple), Sony ($ony), etc.

But the films on Channel 5 ARE interrupted by celeb gossip.

What really annoys me is that they can't schedule their programmes properly, meaning that if you're using a DVR you constantly miss the beginning and/or end of the programme. It wouldn't be so bad if they changed the now/next info only when the programme is starting, like BBC, ITV and Channel 4 do (which is what DVRs use to know when to start recording) but they don't and as a consequence I usually find that when they do change the now/next info, the programme has already started 3 mins prior.

iOS upgrade swells iPhone battery-suckage grief

Battery problems? Really?

I'd go so far as to say that a lot of the complaints' assertions are completely subjective - they get update that is supposedly better with regards to the battery so they use it more, then act surprised when their battery is caned.

Ryanair ponders in-air mucky movie service

No.

Where did you here they were?

Cops cuff London Apple Store 'scooter raiders'

Listing addresses

Listing addresses of defendants by the police and published by the press have always been public, since for decades (maybe centuries) so The Register (or anyone else) isn't doing anything new here. It's a matter of public record, so has always been available for others to publish freely.

PlayStation 3 sales catch up with Xbox 360 total

So?

There are plenty of people who had an original 360 and had to fork out for another one. They don't see the original 360 as a higher quality product than then PS3.

So what's your point?

He's guessing

Did you not read his post?

Google adds default end-to-end encryption to search

Hotmail

You haven't checked recently then, writer-of-article, because the Microsoft apps that communicate with the Hotmail servers were updated ages ago to work with SSL-enabled accounts.

Winning new UK pylon design may never be used

Good idea...

... but if you had watched the film The Distinguished Gentlemen, you'd know why that is not possible.

Future Firefox to slurp updates silently

Getting round UAC prompts

They could do what Google does... and have the installation completely in the user's User folder.

Java, Adobe vulns blamed for Windows malware mayhem

Yes it is their fault...

... if they put on a known faulty lock on in the first place.

Ofcom begins crackdown on auto-renew telco contracts

I don't think mobile companies do rollover contracts (where unless you specifically call them on a particular date, you get locked-in to another year or two)... unless you can specify specifics.

BT trying for fibre 'monopoly', claims TalkTalk chief

Good points.

Won't happen here, seeing as the government privatised it all.

Virgin

They don't let anyone use their infrastructure at all.

Possibly

They might not like BT Wholesale's prices and are waiting to see if this Fujitsu consortium can come up with something better, if they actually get to set up the fibre network at all.