Posts by Guz

Planning to upgrade your Lumia to Windows 10? NOT SO FAST

Actually MS has to say that now. Because it really isn't up to them as to which devices will get upgraded, especially in the USA.

It's the carriers that have the final say as to which phones will get what updates, either firmware or O/S.

A perfect example is T-Mobile, and the Lumia 810. Right now the L810 is still on the original firmware (Amber), while everyone else is on Black, Cyan, or Denim. T-Mobile points their finger at Nokia (now Microsoft) for not giving them newer firmware, where-as Nokia/Microsoft have said that they gave T-Mobile the updates and it's T-Mobile that is holding it back.

Which company to you believe? Nokia/Microsoft or T-Mobile? Personally, I believe Nokia/Microsoft

Apple Pay is a tidy payday for Apple with 0.15% cut, sources say

15%!?!?!?!?! Are they out of their minds!!!

Holy Crap Batman!!!

That's the worst processing rate I've heard of until now. Discover cards was the highest at my place of business at 10%. Normal credit card (Visa, Master Card, etc) run at 7%, debit cards at 6%.

I know for sure when I tell my boss (the owner) this, he blow a gasket. Heck, he might even get rid of his iPhone (he was talking about getting the 6 the other day).

T-Mobile US cuts overage charges, dares rivals to follow suit

Re: Good or Bad?

I'm on the same plan. I have a bad feeling that they are going to force us up a plan to unlimited voice, text, limited data (throttling).

Microsoft lobs pre-release Windows Phone 8.1 at devs who dare

Rolling back

Actually you can roll back to get rid of the preview, with Nokia phones. Nokia has their Nokia Software Recovery Tool which will restore the phone back to the current supported versions of firmware and O/S via USB (been there, done that).

Personally, after having used iPhones, and Android I REALLY like Windows Phone. It's fast, fluid, and easy to use. Haven't had an issue yet. As for the "lack of apps" argument, I don't see it. The majority of popular apps are there from the originators, and if not, there are third party apps that fill the void. And those that are still missing, they are on the originators roadmap and are in development.

Actor who played Rogue Two in Star Wars dies aged 67

Rocky Horror Picture show?!?!?!?

I thought Barry Bostwick played Brad Majors in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073629/?ref_=nv_sr_1

Julie Larson-Green: Yes, MICROSOFT is going to KILL WINDOWS

Full circle.

NT is slowly coming back to it's original design: Processor independent.

From what I've gathered, Cutler originally wanted NT to be processor independent, meaning only the kernel and some basic low level drivers to compiled for each processor. But everything else above would be compile once, run anywhere. Complete abstraction for programs/applications.

It was abandoned in the beginning because processors weren't fast enough to make it viable, but now things are different. I'm eagerly looking forward to the new "Windows", is it's going to be rather interesting how it works out.

Google's MYSTERY barges floating off US shores: The TRUTH

No one has really noticed that the barges are owned by a shell company named "Buy and Large, LLC", which happens to be the same name of the company that destroyed earth in the movie WALL-E.

Also there are FOUR barges in the works, named "BAL0001", "BAL0010", "BAL0011", "BAL0100" . Which if you notice the numbers are in binary for 1, 2, 3, 4.

Google rolls its eyes, gives Windows Phones five more months to sync

Bloddy carriers

"All of Microsoft's Windows Phone customers worldwide....so....about a few thousand then? I'd almost say that August 31 ought to be doable!"

It really isn't MSFT's fault for not meeting the original deadline. It's the carriers that screw things up. In the USA, users have to wait for the carriers to do their "testing" of any update before it gets rolled out to the devices.

Personally, I think MSFT really should change the update process with their phones. Currently it's:

MSFT --> Manufacturer --> Carrier --> Device

What it SHOULD be, IMHO:

MSFT (O/S updates) --> Device

Manufacturer (Firmware) --> Device

Carrier (Bloatware/Crapware) --> Device

The above mimics the PC world, which most of us are used to.

Ten... ADF-based inkjet all-in-one printers

Re: Does Such a Printer Exist

You would be looking at the following:

HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 Plus e-All-in-One

But it only has a single tray, but you can purchase the extra tray later (pricey)

or,

HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 Premium e-All-in-One

This one comes with the second tray by default.

I have the 8600Plus, and I LOVE it!

It has wired, USB AND wireless 802.11a/b/g/n so you aren't tied to it, and yes you can scan directly to computer, or a server share via wireless Also scan to PDF, email. You can also print to it remotely, by setting up an email address with HP. If you're out and about, you email your document to the HP address (you can restrict who can print this way), and it will printed to your printer.

You can configure the printer via a web browser if it's on the network (just point to it's IP address). You can also update the firmware via it's web interface, or have it automatically check and update.

The touch screen on the printer is nice. But I rarely use it except for scanning when I put in the source docs, and say Scan to my laptop.

You can print borderless on photo-paper, and up to 8.5"x11" paper.

It has several memory card slots for direct printing from them (I haven't used this yet).

Supposedly, these use a newer type of ink, that doesn't dry up or clog as easily as their other inks. The downside is no one refills the cartridges, yet. I haven't had the printer long enough to verify this claim.

Also, the full version of the print drivers/software is NOT bloated and naggy. It's just the drivers, and OCR. I believe this is because this is considered and Office product. To many times I have dealt with their Home printers that install mega bloatware (photo/document editing, sharing, etc). This one is simple and sweet.

The ONE thing I find it lacking, is a single sheet feed tray. I don't like having to remove the tray and swap out the paper for a single photo or envelop.

Also I found that it doesn't like just a single sheet of photo-paper or just one envelop in the tray. It has a hard time picking it up. So I have to put in a stack of what-ever. Once I figured this out, it's been acceptable.

IT staffers on ragged edge of burnout and cynicism

Again it's not just IT Security folks.

They need to widen the field a bit more. I'm currently ex-IT (systems administrator), total burn out. It's because of work stress I was forced to seek psychiatric care, but unfortunately only after I walked out 5 years ago.

The problem is I really do like working on computer systems, I find it very enjoyable, challenging, and rewarding. It's all the other crap that goes with it, PHB's, unrealistic time tables, on call 24x7 (yea they say it's only X days, but it's really 24x7), and all the other shit that goes with it.

I still remember chatting with an ER doctor one night (don't ask how or why), we were comparing work hour, work load, stress, etc. Seriously, we both concluded he had better working conditions than I did.

RIP: Peak Oil - we won't be running out any time soon

Dry wells refilling on their own?

They didn't even mention the weird phenomenon that has the oil industry and geologist baffled, of old "dry wells" refilling on their own.

I first heard about it 12 years ago, while hanging out with some geologists that work for the oil industry. They quietly mentioned that there are old US wells that were believed to have been pumped dry, but when they were required inspect them by EPA (or some other govt agency), they found the wells to be full, and under pressure.

The industry and the govt kept it quiet for a long time. But recently there have some published reports about the phenomenon. Some of the ideas as to why are; Oil has seeped in from deeper sources. Oil is not from "dinosaurs" but a natural byproduct of plate tectonics. Oil is a waste product of some undiscovered micro organism that lives deep in planets crust. (Yea, some ideas are far fetched in my opinion).

But the point is, we haven't even gotten close to exhausting the planets oil supply.

As to why they haven't used the oil in the old wells? Conspiracy theory to inflate oil prices for profit? Environmental regulations? (I don't know).

Fanboi's lament – falling out of love with the iPad

Uncomfortable - no - PAINFUL

"... holding the iPad for any amount of time gets uncomfortable." Nope, it's painful!

I don't have an iPad, but I have been picking it up and playing around with it at several retail locations in the USA. I have to say that holding the iPad in my left hand and taping around with my right hand, the back of my left hand starts to hurt after a few minutes, I do mean HURT!!

I am not sure why exactly, But I think it's because it's thinner at the edges than in the middle. One would think that design feature would eliminate any issues, I guess not, for me.

50 million user Scribd scraps Flash for HTML5

Cult?!?!

"The iPad is controlled by a Silicon Valley cult that has a pathological aversion to Flash"

Damn straight Skippy! But beware of the fanboi backlash.

Men at Work appeal Down Under plagiarism ruling

Closest comaprison I could find

Quick search found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqOIdtKZTG4

It's close, but not quite. FAIL

Windows 7 'genuine' nagware winging its way to OS

When WAT Fails

Microsoft Phone Support: Thank you for calling Microsoft, all calls may be monitored for training purposes and to ensure quality of service. Now, what seems to be the problem ...

Customer: That's right.

*pause*

Microsoft Phone Support: ... ? Sir, you have to give me more information.

Customer: I'll tell you my problem. WAT is my problem.

Microsoft Phone Support: Sir, I don't know the answer to that question, you haven't told me yet.

Customer: I didn't ask you a question.

Microsoft Phone Support: Then why did you call? Why do you need help?

Customer: WAT's wrong. I can't activate Windows 7 but I just bought it!

Microsoft Phone Support: Okay, let's try to diagnose this problem. What's wrong?

Customer: Yes, I already said that, I know WAT is wrong! That is precisely why I called!

Microsoft Phone Support: Wait, why are you calling?

Customer: WAT!

Microsoft Phone Support: I said, why are you calling?!

Customer: WAT! WAT, GODDAMNIT, WAT!!!

Customer: What's your name? I need to talk to your supervisor.

Microsoft Phone Support: Hu.

Customer: (head explodes)

(shamelessly stolen from slashdot)