Posts by Confuciousmobil

Don't shoot the Windows Live Messenger, cry IM users

Games

I use Live Messenger to play games all the time. Skype does not have games.

Yet another example of MS taking away what we like and giving us something we don't.

Tim Cook’s 'One more thing': Apple TV rumor-stoker

Last weekend

I just bought a 46" top of the range 3D TV to replace my ageing 32" CRT.

I don't intend buying another TV for another 10 years.

I do hope Apple dont release a game changer....

Motörheadphönes Overkill earphones review

Monsters of Rock

Can these play at the same volume as the Monsters of Rock festival in August 1981? Volume is far more important than quality with Motörhead - and they had it in spades.

IBM drops Lotus brand from next version of Notes

123

Lotus 123 was by far the best spreadsheet until IBM bought Lotus.

HP PC chief: Microsoft's Surface is 'KLUDGEY'. There, I said it

Re: will HP's be any different?

Not noticed anyone complaining about the hardware? Apart from the keyboards falling to pieces.....

Apple forced to cut dealers in to get iPad Mini shifting, says analyst

Re: Seven incher

I keep telling my wife it's 'only' seven inches.

Sorry, what were we talking about?

Smartphone biz shocker: Nokia sells fewer devices than Lenovo

I think....

I'll stick with my iPhone for now, but if I can't get Google Maps back on it by the time I come to upgrade my next phone is likely to be Android, unless, of course, Nokia release a proper high end WinMo phonewhich might be worth a look at, the 920 certainly isn't.

Surface more profitable than iPad

Software?

Doesn't the surface come with office? By the time you add the cost of that (assuming MS charged themselves the same as others) and the OS they probably aren't making much.

I am not qualified to make a comment on the surface as I have yet to see one, but I am hopeful that I will do within a couple of years....

Microsoft shoots Windows Live Messenger, brings in Skype IM

SS

Windows Live Messenger has Solitaire Showdown. It's the only reason I bought a new laptop as its one of the few things I can't do on my iPad.

Google expects Apple to block its not crap iOS maps app

Re: Apple Maps v Google Maps

Ok, I'll correct you. It is a completely different app. While some of the blatantly wrong data is being updated and will, I'm sure, continue to update, the satellite view is appalling - they might be able to improve this over time but StreetView is completely missing.

I use copilot on my phone for navigation and google maps for finding places and looking at places. I 'upgraded' my iPhone 4 to iOS6 but not my iPad. The maps in iOS6 are inferior in just about every way that I use maps.

If Google released a proper maps app, with vector graphics, like they have on Android but was not in the iOS version, and if it is a reasonable price then I will certainly buy it to replace the joke that is Apple maps.

On jailbroken devices it will be possible to make Google Maps thr default maps app so I will never have to use Apple Maps again.

I hope Apple don't block it.

Android: Google's baby ate 75% of smartphones in just 4 years

Worldwide?

It's interesting that in the USA iOS increased market share in the past 12 months and Android decreases. The UK was the only area where both iOS and Android increased market share whereas in every other market Android increased and iOS decreased market share.

Blackberry and Symbian are dying (indeed one has to question wether RIM will survive long enough to release 10) and Windows Phone has yet to gain a foothold.

Windows Phone 8: Everything you need to know at a glance

56 replies?

I was going to say that I didn't realise that there were that many people interested in Windows Phone 8 - but then I realised that some were by the same person, so I guess there aren't.

Apple's iPad Mini released, analysts predict slow burner

My mother

Much as I dislike the idea of an iPad mini I have recommended one to my mother.

She is in her 70s and wants something to Skype my brother in Spain and I had recommended an iPad 2 but she finds full size iPads a bit heavyso the mini, at nearly half the weight, seems ideal. Android may be good, but an iPad will just work without her having to do anything (once I've installed a wifi router and connected it, of course) so, while I am not the target demographic, I believe my mother might be.

MULTICOLOURED TARANTULAS found UP TREES in Brazil

Re: Me too!

They don't have to stay in the tropics, they can go anywhere I don't. I'm not fussy.

Ballmer claims Win 8 sales strong, WinPhone to follow

Re: Ballmer claims Win 8 sales strong, WinPhone to follow

Why do you have monkeys up there in the first place?

400M?

If PC sales remain flat there will be 400M new Win8 devices this year? But there are only 670M Win7 devices? Is it just me or do those figures not seem to stack up? Or are they including a forecast of 300M Win8 phones in the 400M?

Paris because I'm assuming I am having a Paris moment and someone will explain how these figures do stack up.

'We invented Windows 8 Tiles in the 1990s', says firm suing Microsoft

I'm going to patent...

The idea that you can't patent ideas.

Underdone iTunes put back in oven for another month

Cloud

Having all my music in the cloud is great - I hope they can do the same or video.

But I think people hoping the next version will be slimmer, faster and capable of playing more formats are p!ssing in the wind. It is likely to be more bloated and they haven't cared about Windows in the first 10 versions, I can't see that changing any time soon.

I would be happy with a way of removing duplicates, but I have a feeling I am getting caught in the wind as well.

Microsoft: Just swallow this tablet ... the rest will take care of itself

I have learned..

From reading all the comments, I have learned that Apple are crap and so are MicroSoft but no one is slanging of Linux?

This must be the year of Linux....

Apple CEO: Microsoft Surface 'compromised, confusing'

Much as...

I don't think a lot of Tim Cook, I think he is actually right on this one.

Time will tell.

As this is vaguely pro Apple I expect a barrage of thumbs down from all the Apple haters out there.

Surface tablets snapped up on pre-order, but no camping in the street

Not yet convinced...

I just have a feeling that it will be a flop, it seems to be trying to be everything. Someone said a lightweight laptop replacement? The Pro version might be but that's not going to be available for three months.

I hope I am wrong, but if I was after a tablet I would wait a couple of months until we have some real life reviews before jumping in. It's not to late to get the Chrismas market if it is a success but I am surprised that people say they are buying this version for business use rather than waiting for the pro version.

I am not very good at predicting what will be a success so me being sceptical is probably the best sign that Surface will outsell everyone's expectations....

Hackers get 10 MONTHS to pwn victims with 0-days before world+dog finds out

US government crooks?

As the US government are one of the best payers for zero days does that mean you are calling them crooks!

Judge GIVES APPLE THE FINGER in multitouch iDevice patent case

Re: PATENTS MUST BE INVENTIVE and NON OBVIOUS!!!!

If it was so obvious why had no one done it until Apple released the iPhone?

With hindsight everything is obvious.

Apple unveils iPad mini, upgrades its big brother

Bigger screen?

Isn't that what the standard iPad has?

It's nice to see Apple reversing everything that idiot Steve Jobs did. Simplified product range! No way, more is obviously better. No smaller iPad, don't be silly, ditto larger screen on the iPhone. One release a year? No, every few months makes much more sense.

Steve Jobs obviously had it all wrong, just think where Apple could be now had he not gone back? And where they could go now....

Gates: Microsoft will merge Phone and Windows platforms

Re: The Universal OS concept could be true

I know mobile screens are getting bigger, but until you get mobile phones with 27" screens the two are very different.

Jack of all trades....

Amazon's Virginia cloud data center knocked out – again

Re: High 60s

Yes, and the British use Fahrenheit for high temperatures and only use centigrade for cold temperatures.

Obviously.

Apple breaks ground on massive Oregon data center

I hope..

I hope they have enough floppy disks to back up all that data.

Hands on with BB10: Strokey dokey

Core market

It's good to see RIM going after their core market. The 12 - 14 y/o should love this.

Provided RIM can stay in business long enough to release it.

Breaking in to the Smartphone market isn't just about having a good OS (I have no reason to doubt that this is) but they need the marketing clout to get it out their. RIM have an advantage that lots of businesses still use them, I just hope this can revive their fortunes. A third major player in mobile OS's can only be good for consumers - wether that will be Bb10 or Windows I'm not sure. I just hope at least one of them makes it.

Google updates Street View with 250,000 miles of footage

Just checked

Street view round here is quite up to date local Tesco's opened Jan 13th this year and was nearly open in the street view.

I am...

One of the one in the one in ten.

Microsoft really is watching us from above

Apple saved money

They just used VGA res cameras....

Woz labels Apple 'arrogant' over iPhone size inadequacy

While I disagree with Woz on this (you can see why SJ made the marketting decisions) I am appalled by all the people slanging him off here.

Without him there would be no Apple. I also understand that some people might say that would be no bad thing but really?

Analyst warns BlackBerry 10 won't be out until March

Says a lot for Windows 8

If they think RIM can still maintain 3rd place it goes to show just how poor the analysts think Windows 8 is.

But as someone else has said, I'm really not sure RIM can last that long - or that BB10 won't slip again.

iOS 6 Alarms bug hits Australia

Spring forward?

I thought the clocks spring forward in, well, the spring.

And fall back in the, well, autumn.

Am I wrong? Do they spring forward in the "fall" and fall back in the spring?

10 million iPad minis to 'outshine' their big brother this quarter

Steve Jobs said the screen size of the iPhone was ideal. Apple have since increased it.

Steve Jobs said there was no room in Apple's range for an iPad Mini, it now looks like they are going to do it.

Steve Jobs used Google Maps because they gave the best user experience. Apple have now dumped them.

Before Steve Jobs came back and rationalised their range they were in the doldrums, he turned them round. It seems that now he is no longer with us they are determined to undo all his good work.

Shame. It was good while it lasted.

Democrat candidate attacked by GOP for being stabby assassin ORC

Voter fraud?

The Republicans are pressing for all voters to have ID. They are worried about all those WoW characters voting without ID....

Apple: Blue-shirts can fix iOS Maps in their spare time

Exactly..

You are right Tim, people will choose other devices. Apple did have, by far, the best devices but with this crippled map app they have made it far less so.

Google have, at least, responded by adding street view to the web app but it is far slower and less integrated than the google maps we have all come to know and love in iOS4/5

Biggest disappointment ...

Is not just the errors - which can be fixed, but we have been used to Google maps which is great.

Satellite view - try zooming to Brighton, or just about anywhere on the south coast. On Apples maps you can't. You can on Google Maps.

Google Maps has Streetview, although someone earlier said it wasn't available on iOS it has been there since the introduction of iOS4.0 and is great on the iPhone and iPad. That has been taken away from us.

The search facility just doesn't work in Apple Maps. e.g. I had to go to 40 Bank Street the other day. If you type that into Google Maps it takes you to the correct building in Canary Wharf. The same search in Apple Maps suggests 40 Cank Street in Leicester. Nearly all searches fail to locate the correct address yet I have never had a problem with Google Maps.

We all know that Google couldn't license turn-by-turn navigation to Apple but surely anyone who wants turn-by-turn they use a proper Sat Nav app anyway rather than the poor implementation in either Googleor Apple Maps.

It doesn't work properly on the iPhone4 anyway (not sure about the 4S) as, apart from no voice guidance) it fails to stop the screen going blank (it does in the iPhone 5) so they have taken away a lot of functionality, given us inaccurate maps for what?

Apple have seriously dropped the ball on this one.

For those, including Tim Cook, that say we can still use m.google.maps -that lacks Streetview and is nowhere near as usable as the Google Maps app that we have been used to.

IOS6 is major downgrade Apple have released and I would seriously advise anyone who uses maps on their device to not upgrade.

But Apple are already releasing upgrades to their other apps that won't install unless you have iOS6.

I love my Apple devices but this could be a major factor in my next phone being my first non-iPhone for a long time.

Paul Allen: Windows 8 'promising' yet 'puzzling'

Based on....

"Touch seems a natural progression in the evolution of operating systems" -that is one heck of an assumption, which, IMHO is just plain wrong for desktop users.

Windows 8 early-bird users still love Windows 7 more - poll

7.1

If they got rid of Metro (not just the name) Windows 8 would make a very good Windows 7.1

The Register iPhone and Android apps: Maintenance update

Re: iPad too?

Why would you need an iPad app? The main site works fine on the iPad just wondering what you want from an app that you don't already have?

iPad mini to go on sale in one month?

I didn't think Apple would increase the size of the screen on the iPhone. I was wrong.

I didn't think Apple would ever release something as bad as Apple Maps. I was wrong.

I don't think Apple will release an iPad Mini (iPod Touch Maxi?)

Three out of three?

Intel: Behold the TABLETS of our partners, proof of Win8's MIGHT

Not sure...

I couldn't see the point of the iPad when it was released - now I know it is the greatest thing since the wheel.

I can't see what market MS Surface devices are aiming for - hopefully I will be similarly surprised by the success of them.

'Apple's iOS 6 maps app is SHOCKING, rushed and half-baked'

Re: Finally I have a good reason to buy an iPhone

Wow! Your android device is cheaper than an iPhone? And it has maps that work?

Where can I find one of these miracle devices?

Apple's brilliant plan to fix iOS Maps: Get YOU to do it

Re: ADD Locations For Business Owners

How can you run a business without an iPhone? :confused:

Streetview?

As an Apple fanboi I am stunned by how bad Apple Maps are.

I have updated my iPhone 4 to iOS6 and there are some nice updates but Maps certainly isn't one of them - it is the reason my iPad will remain on iOS5.11

The main reason I think Apple Maps is a major downgrade is not the lack of the new features on the iPhone4 (most are only available on the 4s or above) or the lack of detail on the "satellite" view or the astonishing inaccuracies (if TomTom is this inaccurate I am even more pleased I use CoPilot) but one feature I use all the time in Google Maps is StreetView which is completely missing in Apple Maps and no one else seems to have noticed.

Watching people try and defend this on iPhone forums makes me realise just how brainwashed some people are.

Hopefully Google will release their maps in the app store, if not, I will have to wait until it is released in cydia.

This, IMHO, is the biggest cock-up Apple have made to date.

The iPhone5 is still the best phone available but I can imagine many people buying Android or even WM8 (if they can wait that long) devices instead due to this farcical maps implementation.

Hackers claim to have Mitt Romney's tax records

But...

Surely, if he could prove he paid less tax that would only increase his standing among Republicans?

He can afford to buy the presidency and in America that's all that matters....

Google engineer finds British spyware on PCs and smartphones

Re: You wont find it on IOS

If you can 'root' your iPhone just by visiting a website you really should update your OS.

On the other bandwidth a 0 day going for $250k I can't believe people are willing to pay that much without using it for something nefarious.

Low sunspot activity linked to rivers freezing: Mini Ice Age on way?

I agree

..with every comment made so far.

RIM: We can't flog phones, would you like our nuke plant OS instead?

Re: Good stuff

Tell your boss to call BB now.

Then you might still have a company to work for in a couple of years....