Posts by Mat 3

Microsoft discontinues Media Center with Windows 10

So long, but I'd replaced you already

I've used WMC as my main setup for most of the last 8 years. It had several things going for it - it was pretty reliable when it came to recordings, very easy to use for the non-PC literate and I had a hefty htpc running it and serving streams via DVBLink.

However, I recently replaced the htpc with a Chromebox running Openelec/Kodi, and tvheadend doing the backend, and I'm really happy. Kodi's PVR functionality is not exactly intuitive in places (Add Timer??) but it's a cheap, almost silent and lightweight solution that works really well. Though having all the USB tuners plugged into a hub behind the chromebox isn't quite as attractive...

fWHoaR! Researcher crack eternal mystery of what women want in a man

Trick cyclist? I think not.

A Trick Cyclist is slang for a psychiatrist. Ms. Valentine is a psychologist. Psychology and psychiatry are obviously completely different disciplines. It's akin to confusing iOS with Android...

Brit spooks bugged Edward VIII's phones, records reveal

I'll get me coat

Winston - Wine, Stalin - Vodka, Molotov - Cocktails.

Raspberry Pi-powered Tardis blasts off from 'Blighty's Baikonur'

Dimension (singular)

Time and Relative Dimension in Space. Just to be picky.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TARDIS

(though in truth either is justifiable, but if you're going to be a noxious pedant, so will I.)

Dr No, Thunderball, Casino Royale? Vote now for the best Bond film

You've just killed James Bond

Although Diamonds isn't the best - it is my favourite - for the violent fight scene with Bond and Peter Franks - Bond smashing Franks with a fire extinguisher - and then Tiffany Case exclaiming: "My God ..You've just killed James Bond !! "

http://listverse.com/2010/09/10/top-10-badass-james-bond-fights/

As it notes here:

On a sidenote, Joe Robinson, who portrays Franks, was getting off a bus in Cape Town, South Africa in 1998 and was attacked by eight muggers. Robinson has a 6th degree black belt in judo, and used to be a professional weightlifter. They came at him with knives and baseball bats, but the 70-year-old Robinson took out two with leg kicks, karate-chopped another in the chest and broke the arm of a fourth. The rest turned and ran. When Sean Connery heard about this, he sent Robinson a Get Well card that said, “Give this to the muggers, if you can find them. Sean.”

The Professionals set to abseil into cinema

Already been done

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bullshitters

Archos 101 8GB Android tablet

I'll keep my Vega thanks

Having previously bought various PMPS from Archos, IMHO they are always better on paper than in real life. I wish them well now that they've moved into the table arena as their devices are always full of promise - but for me that promise has already been delivered in the form of my Advent Vega (now that it's been custom rom'd of course!).

I didn't think I'd ever write 'fantastic' and 'DSG' or 'Advent' in the same sentence, but maybe once in a lifetime you can be pleasantly surprised!

DC Universe Online

Game Scoring

75% is not the new 25%. It always was. Review scores live in a fabulous netherworld which bear no semblance to gaussian distribution. For the sake of clarity, here's what review scores actually mean:

0 to 75%: Possibly the worst game ever conceived or built.

75% to 85%: Meh

85% to 95%: Quite enjoyable

95% plus: Actually this is really rather good

Generally, I find this rule of thumb can be applied to pretty much any kind of review for films, books etc.

Biometric cash machine lands in Europe

Easier for pensioners?

>>Jagielski said the technology would help guard against losses from scams such as ATM skimming while making it easier for pensioners to withdraw state payments<<

Q: How will this make it easier for pensioners?

A: Becuase they won't have to remember 4 digits - just the one.

If all Polish pensioners are that senile, you think they'll remember to take their card with them? Let alone recall where they bank? Or what town they live in....

And so on.

McKinnon loses judicial review

@Bob Hoskins

>>Well, the next time gov.uk claims that their latest piece of heavy handed 'anti-terror' legislation would never be used against ordinary citizens just say two words: Gary Mckinnon.

Please read that again and spot the Epic Fail in your logic.

M

Microsoft unveils Windows 7 free upgrades and discounts

Just to save a bit of time on the comments...

Linux Lovers: Yes we know Linux is free. We all know you get lots of stuff with it. Just sit there in your slippers feeling smug and content. You're not going to buy this anyway - no need to comment.

OSX Lovers: Yes, we know Mac stuff is just better than everything else and Snow Leopard will be cheaper. That's because you already paid for it when you bought the hardware. Move along please - no need to comment.

XP Lovers - Yes we know XP is faster than Vista and this is just Vista SP3. And why would anyone want an OS with 'whizzy' stuff anyway - you're an IT professional FFS. Nothing to see here - no need to comment.

Seriously, Win7 is an excellent OS - most people I know who've downloaded the RC have been really impressed with it. I was running it on my AAO Netbook quite happily (until I replaced it with Ubuntu Net Remix - short attention span).

IF you like Windows, you may well find you like Win7. And at this price - it's a bargain. IF you like Windows.

PS - Currently running XP, Ubuntu, Mandriva, Vista and Win 7 RC on the various kits in my house. No bias here - well apart from the fact that I think all Apple products are shit.