* Posts by B 9

88 publicly visible posts • joined 10 Jun 2009

Page:

'External force' fractured French iPhones, says Apple

B 9

@shawnfromnh

What are you thinking? Apple specifically chose glass because it was the most resilient to scratches, you know, something else you'd bitch about from your position of ignorance?

Let's face facts folks, the statistically insignificant number of reports of anything like this is unbelievably low. Now we add to the fact that it appears many of the issues were due to external force. It looks like this has been the huge overblown story of the summer that I thought it was all along. Nice FUD play by those who hate Apple, but there is no issue with the iPhone.

Feds break Apple's code of App Store silence

B 9

I'm a Mac lover, but . . .

Sorry, but Apple is wrong to interfere with any apps approval unless it is a security/malware threat, based on fraud or violates a terms of service agreement with the wireless carrier (I don't like the terms either, but you signed the contract and agreed to those terms.) Other than that they need to stop being a gatekeeper of duplicate functionality or morality. Let the customers decide those with their wallets.

I love Apple products and agree that Apple's unconventional approach of having some control of hardware and software does have merit, but Apple has crossed the line with some of its app store behavior.

Hackers serve up pre-release malware to Mac fanboys

B 9

Another uninformed story by an uninformed author

For those of you gloating about Macs getting a virus, you might want to wait a few moments for an education. This is a trojan, NOT a virus. Big difference. Both malware but a virus spreads on it's own, a trojan is given permission to install by the user.

So in conclusion, still no viruses for OS X, a handful of trojans for those dumb enough to install them. Sorry to ruin the day of the haters here, but sometimes facts intrude on your fantasies.

Snow Leopard security - The good, the bad and the missing

B 9

@Mectron

"The number of maleware (sic) running on mac is growing rapidly "

And what malware are you referring to exactly? There are maybe a handful of trojans (the user is the problem) and NO viruses. But hey, don't let reality intrude on your blind hatred of Macs.

Belgian boy's iPhone 'explodes'

B 9

I think you're all going to be eating some crow on this one

I'm with James. 11 phones out of how many? It is far below statisitically insignificant. So does that mean it shouldn't be investigated . . . no. Does it mean that armchair idiots should shut up until the investigation is complete. . . yes!

Why don't we wait until we have something more substantial than "reports". Like a photo. In fact I'd love a photo of this iPhone in this story because it apparently exploded "inside the phone" and still managed to give the kid a headache? Does that even sound real or plausible?

This sounds like knockoff phones or batteries, or outright lies and sensationalism.

Apple to offer own-brand HDTV, claims analyst

B 9

No way this will happen.

Jobs himself has said that they look for markets where they are unhappy with the current offerings and then design it so it works "right". There is upside to Apple getting into this market.

Apple second only to Nokia in Euro smartphone biz

B 9

Time will settle the debate

I'm with Kam and New Handle on this one. Despite the haters continued objections about how the iPhone can't be popular based on price/features/no mms/no ssh/no antigravity/jobs is evil/etc. it somehow still seems to be exploding in sales. Maybe at some point they will pause and realize that the Apple faithful DO have a point. . . .That UI and ease of use counts as much or more than feature lists.

Given the almost religious nature of this argument I won't hold my breath, but I wonder how much of the market Apple will have to get before they change their tune?

EU turns beady eye on flaming iPod menace

B 9

Much hullabaloo about nothing

I think this will end up being the most hyper-inflated story of all time. The flaming iPods "raged across Europe"? This huge raging firestorm consisting of 4 or 5 incidents? If this is raging across Europe then the Black Death probably only consisted of a single family getting a cold one winter.

I may end up being wrong, but this seems like another FUD inspired story. Even if these few incidents are true it comes out to be like one hundred thousandth of one percent. Statistically it's a non-issue based on those numbers, and is more likely a user caused issue. If it was a hardware related issue I'd expect to find a much higher percentage of incidents.

Palm slams Apple, hoodwinks iTunes

B 9

@Adam Williamson 1

Based on your reply you might want to add yourself to the idiot list. . .

"The problem is that Apple has abused its dominance in the _hardware_ music player market (iPods) to create an effective monopoly in the _software_ music player market."

- Wrong. Apple created a music player and the software to synch music to that player. They have NOT abused it as you stated. iTunes and the iPod grew their markets together, it was an integrated product offering. One was not dominant and then forced people to adopt the other. You characterization is either ignorant of the history of both products or an outright lie.

"since Apple do their damnedest to stop the iPod working with any other application, to preserve this monopoly situation"

- Wrong again. Apple does NOT have a monopoly. Please look up what a monopoly means. They have a large share of the market in this area, but not a monopoly. They also did not "stop the iPod from working with any other app". They desgined it to work seamlessly with iTunes. They are under no obligation to make the iPod work with any other app. In fact it would be stupid to do so from a competition reason as well as a waste of company resources.

"the Pre is at a clear disadvantage compared to the iPod"

- Only because Palm was too lazy to write their own synching app with the Apple supplied SDK.

"Because of Apple's artificially created dominance of the software music player domain"

- Not artificial. How is it artificial? They competed and they won.

" Wow, that's just wrong on every level. The whole point is that Palm initially shipped the Pre set up such that it worked fine with iTunes without _having_ to fake any USB IDs. "

- Wow, THAT is just wrong on every level. Palm originally had the Pre falsely identified as an iPod to synch.

"But Apple can do no wrong, apparently."

- Wrong again. Apple can do wrong, but your assertions above are completely untrue. Apple does lots of stuff wrong (app approvals for one) but Palm is the culprit in this case. They were either too lazy to write their own software, or they hoped to keep their mediocre product in the limelight for as long as possible by artificially creating (your words) a fake conflict like this for the press. Either way Palm does a disservice to its customers and from the sales numbers I've seen they are getting their just rewards.

B 9

@Rob 103

"if I get a Pre I wont be able to use the music management system I have on my PC (iTunes) to copy it all over. Screw it, I'll get the iPhone.

This is anti-competitive. This is the entire point. Please can everyone stop talking about this now."

- Well you could use the Pre if they had bothered to write their own synching software, but they were too lazy and didn't do it. It's not Apple's job to make Palm look good.

It is NOT anticompetitive. Your expectations are unrealistic for any company. Can you please stop talking about it now?

Is Apple plotting a search of its own?

B 9

Look at what Apple does

They look at areas where people are not satisfied, and they try to build a better mousetrap (with varying degrees of success). iPhone, iPods, Time Machine, Time Capsule, etc. Those are all areas where no one was doing anything particularly well and Apple engineered a more user friendly solution. I don't see this being the same with search. I never hear (outside of snooty technical circles, which don't count) consumers complaining about search. Most are very happy with Google or Yahoo. There is no nitch to fill here. It's the same with the once popular idea (among brainless tech "analysts") of an Apple branded TV with a built in media center. The TV has been done to death, and there is no real upside to trying to compete in that market.

No, there will be no Apple search. They will continue to use Google for the default engine in Safari and they won't give it a second thought, since there is no need to. . .

FCC barks at Apple for silencing Google Voice

B 9

@AC

"Hope this is obly the beginning of the trouble for Apple and their monopoly on certain items."

- What items do they have a monopoly on? I can't see any monopoly anywhere. A majority market share does not equal a monopoly.

I have an iPod touch and a MacBook Pro yet Apples policies are so restrictive and prices are so outrageous that I wouldnt recommend them for anyone short of graphic artist or something. And yes before you say Apple dont have a monopoly why dont you rethink that and consider what they 'dont' have a monopoly on."

- What exactly is restrictive? You are big on generalities, but short on specifics. And stop with the pricing BS, Apple kit is usually within $100 of similarly spec'd Windows machines. It's been shown time and time again.

Your last sentence I can't make sense out of at all. Are you asking me to consider what Apple doesn't have a monopoly on and use that as an argument that they have a monopoly on something? Soooo, they don't have a monopoly on chewing gum, but that means they have a monopoly on iPods? I honestly don't get what intricate train of logic you were trying to drive there, but it failed badly.

Apple tablet spooks world of PCs

B 9

@DavCrav

"No other company has such restrictions on the uses of their devices,"

- Specifics please? I'm a heavy user of Apple products and I don't find it restrictive at all. Maybe you have some other specific experience you could share beyond that general statement?

B 9

@AC

"no software, premium support prices and lock-in. no thanks. been there and sold it."

Bull! Tons of software for the Mac, industry leading AppleCare support with your product purchase price (you have the OPTION to purchase more after your first year is up) and there is NO lock in. If you actually sold it then you are the world most ignorant salesman because you didn't know your own product. Personally I don't think you sold it at all because the rest of your post was so full of lies. I'm assuming you lied about the salesman part too.

Ads watchdog bows to iPhone's might

B 9

Wow, does anyone have common sense over there?

Some of the objections on this thread (and the original one submitted to the ASA) seem pretty nitpicky and lame. If you're going to get that picky then just outlaw all advertising because it's all BS.

Hackintosher aims 'blazin' guns' at Apple

B 9

@AC

"Or, buy 3 PC's for the same money......."

Annnnd what? Get 150K+ viruses for free? No, wait, I see what you mean, you have spare PCs to use when the others are compromised? Have registry lock? Are being scanned for spyware/viruses?

Sage advice. Buy 3 crappy machines. On an ironic note, the difference between man and monkey was that man was supposed to be able to learn from his mistakes. It appears you belong to the monkey genus?

B 9

@Corrine

"Few companies support the OS beyond 'here's a re-imaging tool' and you certainley don't get free support from MS anymore."

- May I introduce you to AppleCare? I guess that makes Apple one of the "few" that you mentioned?

Greenpeace unleashes Captain Kirk on HP

B 9

@ Mike Gravgaard

"Is this the same Apple which build non replaceable batteries into their products - clearly they are thinking of the environment."

- Did you think this through before you posted? What does user replaceable vs non-replaceable batteries have to do with the environment? Now rechargeable batteries are more friendly of course, and Apple has done that. But your argument that a non-replaceable battery is somehow not enviromentally friendly boggles the mind and defies all logic. Why didn't you just be honest and say that when you saw the word Apple you lost your mind and decided to post something anti-Apple because you hate them? At least it would have been an honest opinion instead of a factually incorrect slam on a company you hated.

iTablet suppliers named

B 9

@Jim Coleman

BAD analogy on your part. Apple runs on the same roads (network/internet), uses the same petrol (electricity) and has the same basic features. In short, Seania's point was well made, why are the bitching, but yours was full of errors.

Apple iTablet a (virtual) certainty

B 9

@Nordrick

Riiiigghhhht, and then MS will try and produce a carbon copy of the idea about 10 years too late because (as it turned out) it WAS wildly successful and did influence how computers were made.

B 9

Oh come on!

"Saying that, the iPhone when released was technically unimpressive (I mean the damn thing couldn't MMS or cut-and-paste, was GPRS and had a really crap camera- as well as other stuff that was missing/rubbish) but still sold thanks to marketing and style."

- If the extent of your understanding of why the iPhone has been so popular is "marketing and style" then you truly don't have a clue. The iPhone didn't have to be cutting edge in a feature list. It is the first easily USABLE phone ever produced. I use my iPhone 20x more than any other phone I've ever had because it's easy and convenient. I instinctively knew (when it was first demonstrated) that this was the phone I always wished I'd had. THAT is why people lined up for it on day 1.

Apple-apeing Microsoft spins out retail store prototype

B 9

@AC at 14:09 GMT

The only thing I'll enjoy more than going to an Apple Store is going to the MS one next door and using my iPhone as a walk around. Your suggestion of asking them for free WiFi access for your iPhone is icing on the cake. I can't wait to do that and see the look on their face.

Apple profits up 15 per cent (again)

B 9

@Tawakalna

GTF out of here with that silliness. It wasn't Apple's fault. It was the school where he got his engineering degree. They must have taught them to kill themselves if they lost anything. Let's all go and protest that university!!

US Senate halts F-22 Raptor production

B 9

Huh?

@ Ian 11

"this means any jamming signals would need to come from above the drones between the sat link and the drone"

- No, that is not correct. That is not how jamming works. Jamming is simply flooding parts of the RF spectrum with enough noise to drown out communications between two parties. I can guarantee this can be done from the ground, it does not require the jammer to physically be in between the two parties since this is communications via RF, not laser or line of sight.

Apple's panties in bunch over Microsoft ads

B 9

@Dustin 1

What you don't get is the integration of the software and hardware, the total experience. You get a half baked attempt at a Mac at best. As I said before, you just don't get it.

B 9

@Ben Lambert

"vista isn't THAT bad of a product"

- Nothing speaks to the Windows Stockholm Syndome more than your quote above. Thanks for clarifying that we should all tolerate something that is not THAT bad.

B 9

@Geoffrey W

You might want to take a quick look in the mirror at your own sense of smug superiority. No Mac user I know is smug about using a Mac. They just realize that they once were like you too. Blinded by MS FUD and innacurate price comparisons, choosing a computer solely based on initial sticker price while ignoring the TCO, too blind to see that constant upkeep and care of a Windows machine is a unnecessary waste of their time, etc. What you misinterpret as smugness is the Mac user trying to open your overly sensitive ego up to the concept that there is a better way. It's much like a parent trying to teach a child a lesson to save them years of pain, and trying so hard that it makes the child angry. Is the parent smug? No. They are only trying to help. But, as they say, you can lead a horse to water. . . .

B 9
Thumb Up

@ Dustin 1

And Macs have OS X and your bargain basement machine runs Windows? You still don't get it do you?

Apple ends Palm Pre's iTunes charade

B 9

Yes really

@Rob Crawford

"f Apple would allow me to sync MY content with MY device with the app of MY choice "

-Well then you should be happy because they DO allow that. There are many media players that synch with iTunes besides the iPod, so you have choice there. You can take any other media player and find another compatible piece of software and synch it, so you have choice there. I believe there are even ways to synch an iPod with 3rd party software, so you have choice there. I think the thing you really want is to be able to take any device, any music (DRM encumbered) and any music software and put them together. That does not happen with ANY vendor and it unlikely to ever happen.

"It's not the aac format but the DRM that people where having foisted upon them."

- The iTunes store is DRM free now. You can upgrade any old DRM tracks to DRM free versions. Problem solved. And just for the record it was the record labels that mandated the DRM, not Apple. Put the blame where it really lies.

"Everytime iTunes upgrades it pisses all over my machine and insists on forcing Quicktime as my media player"

- I would say your experience is the exception and not the rule. I know of no other friends who have that issue. I'm sure some people might experience it, but how do you know it's not your computer config and not iTunes? If iTunes was at fault I would assume everyone, or at least a vast majority, had the same issue. I don't see that happening, so it's possible YOU might be the real problem.

B 9

iTunes DOES work with other players just fine

For those of you living in fantasy land and who think that Apple is protecting a monopoly with this move then I have a few realities to share.

1. iTunes does support many other media players. The list found using a simple Google search (it's like magic!) can be found at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2172. Thus ending the protectionist falsehoods that abound in these comments.

2. This update does have a very practical side. iTunes is used to update firmware on the iPod. If it sees a device that identifies itself as an iPod it may attempt to install a firmware update. A device that FALSELY identifies itself as an iPod runs the risk of being damaged if iTunes attempts to run a firmware update and the user (one of the ignorant masses who bought a Pre) grants permission. In this case the Pre (or other device) could be damaged and people would blame Apple (incorrectly) when they should instead blame Palm. This iTunes update is definitely covering Apple's rear end from a legal and PR standpoint.

In short Palm could have worked for true interopibility but they instead chose the hacker route. They set themselves up for this in the poorly thought out business approach. And the comparisons to MS on this board are ridiculous. Apple allows many media players to connect to iTunes, but they have to do it correctly and not falsely pretend to be iPods.

Google polishes Chrome into netbook OS

B 9

@ChrisInBelgium

"(and no, I don't want to order one online from some other country)"

So you are only willing to buy Linux based netbooks that have been manufactured in Belgium? Good luck with that.

Apple wins right to continue Hackintosh beating

B 9

What is happening here!!

I don't think I've ever seen an Apple related article on The Reg with so many comments supportive of Apple. This is obviously a trap of some sort designed to lure Apple supporters into a "meeting" in the park, where they will be bludgeoned by the real Register readers!

No way you're getting me, I'm already safely in my bunker and I'm about to take my "black capsule" to avoid you inhuman monsters!

Microsofties lose their iPhones

B 9

@Turk3y

Maybe YOU should have ready Dr Richard 's post before commenting. He used his WinMobile device as the tether so he could have access on his iPod touch. Now that he'll have an iPhone 3GS he won't need the tether at all because he'll have internet access built in.

A shame that you couldn't shelve your disdain long enough to read his post accurately before commenting. .. .

B 9

Damn you Jonny F!

How dare you interject reality into the Apple basher's day!! They have drunk the kool-aid that iPhones are so expensive, who are you to wake them from their stupor.

iPhone owners are superior beings, says survey

B 9

It just occurred to me

I just realized that there are several forms of kool-aid being served. Some say there is kool-aid being served by Cupertino. Although I agree they advertise to sell their products and make them as attractive to the market as they can, isn't that what they're supposed to do?

The real kool-aid seems to be the kind served to fools who think that anything with the Apple moniker is just bought by status seeking yuppies who are more concerned with trendiness than substance. Maybe those kool-aid drinkers should take the blinders off and realize that they are not drinking kool-aid, but eating a sh!t sandwich served up by their own inexperience with the Apple products they rip on.

I'm sure you enjoy playing the role of a common sense driven buyer, but at least be quiet until you've used an iPhone for any length of time. Your enjoyment at using crappy phones and suffering through their horrifying user interfaces boggles my mind.

B 9

Can the comments section be divided into demographics too?

One section of comments for those who are smart enough to get the big picture and see that despite narrow minded feature list comparisons that only tell half the tale, the iPhone is darned good phone that has changed the game.

The other section can be the idiots whose indignant use of words like "shiny" and "toy" and accusations of iPhone owner elitism show them to be the very definition of irony. Rather than the iPhone owners being the elitist snobs, these commenters seem to revel in the fact that they like phones that are a pain in the arse to use and whose manufacturers haven't had an ounce of innovation in the past ten years.

Wallow in your Nokia with a 5mp camera as you delve 18 menus deep to find a way to turn it on! I'll be over here on the side enjoying the best phone I have ever used and one that, ironically, every manufacturer is trying to mimic now. Although they publicly attempt to look down on the iPhone, manufacturers such as Nokia, Blackberry, Palm, HTC, etc. are all busy performing the sincerest form of flattery, IMITATION!

Apple security is 'struggling,' researcher says

B 9

@Chronos

"do remind me which was the first OS to fall in the last "Pwn2Own" contest"

If you are basing your analysis of OS security on one contest and ignoring a YEARS of MS incompetence in this area then your powers of observation are suspect at best. Wake me when Macs even have a 1000th of the malware issues that MS has and then you might have a point.

Are we done with this debate now or, as the French would say, shall I taunt YOU a second time?

Palm Pre's inner iPhone revealed

B 9

@ac 10:33gmt

"Honestly, ignore the user interface and compare the features of a new iPhone with a years old N95 and you'll see what I mean."

My reply to that is ignore the features of the N95 and compare the user interfaces instead and your point becomes even less valid, doesn't it? . . . You can't just "ignore this feature and then do the comparison". That's not really a valid comparison is it? It's just a way to rig the competition so your point of view comes out on top.

The reality is everyone is using the iPhone as the gold standard because right now it IS the gold standard. It has shortcomings to be sure, and missing features that some people would like, but on the whole it appears to be head and shoulders above the crappy phones that we've been served by other manufacturers.

As for feature list comparisons, take a step back and realize that they are only beginning their 3rd year of making a revolutionary phone, mobile OS, UI, and experience. You can either hold the product until every possible feature is complete and then release it, or release the features high on your priority list and then build on it year over year. Apple has taken the second approach, as have all other phone/computer/electronics manufacturers (including your precious Nokia). Try applying the same standard of judgement to everyone instead of just being the anti-fanboi.

Page: