Posts by SEG

O2 outs liars and philanderers with live status feed

Nice user experiance but data a bit odd.

A site that makes good use of Silverlight (just before it dies). The user experiance is great but when I checked my area the map said there was good outdoors coverage but the text on the left said there was no service in my area (the text is correct).

Google pulls trigger on 'Instant' search engine

And the point is?

Just tried this and it nearly made my eyes fall out. Trying to concentrate on what I'm typing in whilst also looking at the changing result pain is going to give me a headache. I will be using the extra seconds I save for taking some migraine tablets.

Image Search

It doesn't work for image search where it might have actually been useful. I can think of a couple of situations where being able to home in on the image I want before I finish typing could be useful.

UN steps into Blackberry debate

Governments do and should have this right

I see no problem with the government having the right to access telecommunications for legitimate purposes as laid down in that countries legislation. After all, the government does have a duty to keep it's citizens safe and in excpetional circumstances this may require communication interception.

The problems arise when the government goes beyond this legitimate use and how this can be monitored. In some countries the whole idea of a legitimate government can be hard to define but I don't believe that negates the original premise that a legitimate government does have a right to do this.

Microsoft's Flash-challenger Silverlight 3 hits web

The Point Is This

The point is that there are a lot of .Net developers out there that would love to be able to develop really good looking and interactive web apps and without Silverlight there is no easy way for them to do that without having to learn to code in Flash etc. Silverlight allows these developers to use their already existing skills and as a bonus to Microsoft it keeps them tied in to using Microsoft tools etc.

From a user persepctive it will hopefully lead to some decent web sites / apps that look great and have tons of functionality. Installing it is a no brainer for most users (those using windows and IE).

Yes it would be nice if we all used standards that meant anything and everything could be viewed no matter what platform you were using but I suspect world peace and a end to all hunger will arrive long before then. Personally I like a multiplicity of choices, life would be boring if we all did the same thing.

Google polishes Chrome into netbook OS

The end for Ubuntu?

At the moment if the average user is looking for a decent alternative to Windows they jump ship and opt for Linux, normally Ubuntu. If Chrome OS takes off then the Windows jumpers will jump to it rather than Ubuntu. If I was Mr Shuttleworth I would be worried!!

Beeb tech boss seeks to expand TV licence online

No need for a licence at all then

So I only have to buy a license if I watch TV as it is broadcast? So if I only watch stuff that I have recorded onto my DVD / HD recorder then I don't need a licence (after all this is what iPlayer allows me to do but the BBC record the stuff instead of me doing it). So what happens if I use the ability to pause live TV that my recorder has and then start it again 15 seconds later? At that point I am no longer watching as the stuff is being broadcast and I'm watching something that has been recorded onto my player, hence I don't need a licence.

From now on I will watch all my BBC stuff for free.