Posts by nordwars

Mass Effect: Ten lightweight laptops that won’t bust your back

I'm resorting to stopgap measures

I've been waiting for a successful Windows 2-in1 solution for about 2 years now... they are still too expensive and/or have major problems. Dell XPS 11 (which doesn't really exist yet), Sony flip 13 or Yoga 2 are the closest, but I'm not really interested in £1100+.

To my delight I recently discovered that the new Bay Trail Atom processors are much improved over the previous generation (3-5x faster), and are now able to run full Windows 8.1 without any noticeable slowness, play basic games, battery lasts 10+ hours, and machines with them generally come with Office 2013 for free. I'll probably be getting an Asus Transformer Book T100 this Christmas for £349 (if I can find one).

It will do me at least until vendors sort out the problems with the big expensive machines.

Flash stash on toppa platta: WD's tasty Black² 1TB combo for LAPTOPS

You missed the point

For everyone who is saying it's worse and more expensive than getting two separate drives, you missed the part where the article says it is aimed as an "upgrade option for notebooks, [and] small form-factor PCs with a single drive slot".

Google Translate for Android adds offline translation option

This is good, but overdue.

Just wanted to pop in to support my chosen platform (since we are a bit thin on the ground here, and everyone seems to think that Windows Phone is so lacking) and mention that Bing Translator has provided free offline translation for about a year. It works well (but I'd love to compare the results of the two knowing Google's high quality in the area). TBH I can't believe it wasn't available on Android before now.

Incoming comet will probably miss Mars, says NASA

Good motivation

I actually kind of hope that it does hit, it would be great to study. But more importantly, it would be a spectacular reminder to everyone that this could happen to Earth, and we'd better get cracking re: interstellar life boat development.

Review: Living with Microsoft's new Surface Pro

Re: cooling vent?

That very short battery life figure was the result of the very intense PowerMark 1.2 battery benchmark, which is way less than what you would get with normal use. It would be nice if the review said something more exact about what a normal user can actually expect... but they do say "getting more than a day's business use without the charger is perfectly possible if you're not silly about what you do and use power saving modes"

Nokia chief Elop: 'Android? Hey, anything's possible!'

Re: Elop - Chief Executive Orafice

Nokia stock is up 119% from 6 months ago. Yes, its 19% down from 1 year ago, but it is starting to look like it might be turning around. I'd like to see what happens on Jan 24...

Long-suffering Virgin Media victims see no end to vid PURGATORY

I experience this on VM "National Broadband" (ADSL)

I have the problem on a daily basis. Although my ADSL connection is fast for normal downloads, and gaming pings are acceptable, youtube buffers big time (haven't really tried other video streaming services). So it's apparently not restricted to fibre optic customers.

It's such a PITA to change providers though that I am battling on.

Hobbits enlisted to make punters look at the air-safety vid

Decent

This is the first one of these that I haven't found cringeworthy. Very good.

Microsoft Surface: Join the Windows 8 teardown

Re: This is soooo MSFT

I have a Lumia 800. I never expected to be able to upgrade it to Win8/WP8, an OS that is coming out over a year since I bought the phone. I don't care about this. If it does happen, I will be pleasantly surprised.

There's a good chance that it would run slower and thus do a worse job than WP7 does (which the device specs were designed for) anyway, and I'd lose.

The Register is rocking on Windows Phone 7

Very pretty, very usable, appreciated

Would be nice if there was an indicator as to which you had and hadn't read.

Woz says Windows Phone 'sets the mark' for mobile UI

Re: Usability is king.

This echoes my thoughts almost exactly. I used to have an Android (2.2), but strongly disliked how slow it quickly became and how badly it managed internal vs. SD card storage. Also, I found the look of the OS highly unattractive compared to the competition. I never wanted an iPhone because I'm difficult.

I got a Nokia Lumia 800 mostly because it was really smooth even compared to dual core Androids, and it looked damn sexy. My colleagues thought their new Androids were smooth until they played with the Lumia for a second.

I stayed because after 4 months it's still LOVELY to use (particularly love the curved screen) and every week I'm surprised by the app availability. My expectations were low, but the free Nokia suite of apps is great, there are new major 2K games such as Civilization, and all the time I'm seeing companies start to advertise their apps as available on iPhone, Android AND WP7. As a music player, it lasts all day and seems to have good sounds quality.

Yes there are some odd things still missing such as tethering :(, the ability to change MMS settings, some bluetooth strangeness being three.

I see it as a competitor to non-power Android users rather than Apple fans (as they are more locked into the ecosystem and/or want a status symbol). There are an awful lot of android users who just want a smartphone that works and isn't too expensive. WP7 is a much better (normal) user experience than Android.

Shuttle Enterprise comes home to New York

Looks a bit like an orca in immoral congress with a baleen whale, don't it?

Yes, yes it does. Thanks for that!

Wondershare PowerCam

Not really

Real photographers don't want to do this kind of garbage to their photos.

UK retailers start taking Nokia Lumia 900 orders

Re: I don't understand...

It is a user experience hint that you should swipe that way to see other app pages/panels. Apps are actually a long string of panels next to each other that you swipe through, and long titles can span across more than one.

41-megapixel MONSTER mobe shutters Nokia knockers

Real information

If you'd like to read an explanation about how this will actually work, rather than making bogus comments about huge file sizes (which will not be the case) etc. read this: http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/02/27/Nokia-808-PureView-with-41MP-sensor

The sample images are way better than standard compact camera shots, in detail, colour reproduction and noise, because the sensor is 5x bigger. It really looks amazing for a phone camera. Now we just need to see how it performs when the photos come from someone other than the Nokia marketing department. I hope it performs well.

I can't imagine going for Symbian, being end-of-life... but how bad can it be when I just want an awesome compact camera that can take phone calls, send text messages and browse the internet?

Five ways Microsoft can rescue Windows Phone

First, congrats everyone! I'm so surprised that these comments have been so reasonable.

I upgraded from HTC Desire (I really didn't like that phone) to Lumia 800 about 1.5 months ago.

- The user experience is really good, I love the hardware and software design. The screen is just great - not just the quality, but the curve looks special and it's nice to interact with. Regarding the text flowing off the screen, this is 99% of the time only the headings, and is a user experience design choice to hint to the user that they should scroll across to see more screens. WP7s design is full of these hints, and you really have to use the phone to realise why things are laid out in certain ways.

- It definitely feels like a 1.1 device... no tethering... no VPN connectivity that I can work out, limited multitasking... this is hopefully work in progress...

- Many people - not just in these comments think that the name "Windows" should be dropped. I do see their point. Hopefully the fact that MS is doing a serious marketing department reorg will result in their image improving (can we get some less cringe-worthy ads please).

- Relaxing hardware specs a bit will allow manufacturer innovation. Nokia needs this, although IMO they currently make the only WP phones that aren't totally dull and effectively invisible to potential customers.

If WP gains ground, I think it will be against Android. iPhone people just can't think of anything else, or have Macs at home now. Android users just want a phone that works, and sometimes it doesn't with all the fragmentation. Nokia needs to stick at it for at least 1 more year before things will start to improve I think.

I agree with George 8 that windows everywhere should be MS' target, and I think they are definitely trying to achieve it.

Facebook sheds light on Nokia's Lumia sales

It's not actually bad...

The embedded app is not so bad. It doesn't let you do everything, but provides the ability for things you normally need to do, and is a much nicer interface than the FB app or websites. As it is embedded, you benefit from a unified user experience for your basic/important functionality.

Unfortunately, early adopters are usually techie people, for whom user experience is often not a priority.

The Nokia Lumia 800 is by far better and more enjoyable to use than my previous phone, an Android HTC Desire. Obviously that is much older and slower...

I hope Nokia and WP don't die... what's wrong with a third way?

@j10fighter the writer is talking about the the WP7 embedded functionality, not the downloadable FB app for WP.

Starship Voyager dumped into skip

Awesome house!

Terrible business idea!

Networks nag Nokia to lower Lumia levy

How much lower?

It's a pretty well specced phone for the price, and I know it will run smooth as silk as it is has almost the same internals as the Lumia 800. WP7 doesn't need a dual core CPU, compared to Android (pre ICS) it is much less laggy naturally.

That said, they need a low price to entice people to Windows Phone. Clove's price is typically high, once it actually arrives I'd expect £220-£250 unlocked.

Honda NSX reborn as a hybrid

It's Gawdgus

However, I get the feeling somehow that it might be outside of my price range....

The greatest tech show on Earth

I like

That coke fridge mod is a great idea... looks great, has cooling build in, and means a few bevvies are never more than a metre away!

Asus Eee Pad Slider

Two things I wonder...

Looks interesting to me.

- What is the battery life like?

- Is it possible to run Windows XP or 7 on a Tegra chipset? Or indeed some kind of linux?

Synology DiskStation DS411+ Nas box

@Parax minor correction

Software installation isn't required, and the DSM3.0 (as well as previous recent versions) is fully available via a web browser (preferably, it is also available using an installable manager if you feeling like it). That's how I use it with my DS410j.

Shuttle Discovery set for final liftoff tomorrow at 7:52pm

This makes me sad.

nt

PARIS HAS LANDED!!! Epic supra-atmos flight ends

Are you guys lost?

I guess we can't see locked gates from our satellite view. Cos it definitely looks like you turned around when you were going the right way!

BOFH: Pepper-packing bot plot

Inspired

Has someone found a new muse?

Weekly updates and the best theme I've seen - Robot Wars!

Florida cops tase naked jogger

You want a title? I'll give you a title!

America, **** yeah!

BOFH: Robot wars

The best so far!

Excellent.

Windows Phone 7 up for grabs from 'excited' 3

Smell the prejudice

Can't the hate wait until it actually comes out and we KNOW it's bad?

Might as well give it a chance.

3D TV: Avatar or Ishtar?

I'd use it...

And already do - I have a NVidia 3D Vision capable PC and use it for 3D gaming. It works very well in fact, although the (shutter) glasses could be a bit more comfortable and aren't great if wearing for more than a few hours. Even works in conjuction with prescription glasses. The technology isn't perfect yet, but is bound to get better in time.

Because of the comfort issue, I'd probably use it more for watching movies and playing games than for general TV viewing.

I'm not even the early adopter type - not sure why I was in this case actually, but I'm mostly happy with it.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini

Beebplayer discontinued

Regarding your comment about BeebPlayer not showing in the market place, you can't blame SE for that - it has been discontinued and removed by the developer - http://androidforums.com/android-applications/84573-beeb-player-alternative.html

Clegg promises liberties restoration

Please...

Please let them have the resolve to actually push these through. This, and electoral reform so that next election, they have even more power to act.

Mobile Broadband Best Buys

Thanks

Thanks Alun, there aren't many of these roundups for mobile BB around, very useful. A shame it came 2 days too late for me... I finally decided on a telco and took the plunge on the weekend. Thankfully, my choice (Vodafone) at least comes in as recommended!

Vodafone to introduce out-of-bundle data charges

Lost my business

I was about to sign up for Vodafone on a Desire contract, since Virgin Mobile have screwed up my order so royally (phone delivered to wrong address, order cancelled without telling me, order reprocessing system down for apparently 6 days now, having to go to the store to complete!!!!)

When both of the 2 best options are crap, where does this leave me?

Vote Lib Dem, doom humanity to extinction

Damn you

I finally thought I had a decision, and now you go and force me to rethink. They are some pretty bad points (bad points for the LibDems, good points from you).

What are the options if you don't want to vote for stifled technology, but still like their policies about political reform, and reversing the wave of civil liberty erosion the UK has suffered? Surely these are more central to their party values than their technology policies (being liberal and all). I would hope that they would be more flexible on the technology side of things.

Unfortunately for me, technological development and civil liberties are my top two issues. Why oh why do the Lib Dems have to do so well on one and so poorly on the other?

Hackers crack Ubisoft always-online DRM controls

Ubisoft: Stop killing PC gaming

I specifically didn't buy this the other day because of the DRM horror stories.

PC gaming (the best kind) is having enough trouble surviving without them making it worse. It makes me want to cry slash kick whoever is responsible for this in the nadgers (or female equiv).

MoD pays quadruple in money + blood for Afghan helicopters

Sounds crap...

...what can we do about it?