Posts by Pan_Handle

Microsoft Edge takes a victory lap with some high-looking usage stats for 2024

Pretty light for Linux

Edge is actually pretty light for low-powered Linux machines vs Firefox. And most of the crap can be disabled. And sync works well. Just sayin'

Email blocklisting: A Christmas gift from Microsoft that Linode can't seem to return

Thought it was just me. Linode support seems to have gone downhill recently as well!

smtp2go seem pretty good as a stopgap - in fact, not sure I need the Linodes now...

No backdoors needed: Apple ditched plans to fully encrypt iCloud backups after heavy pressure from FBI – claim

Re: That would not have gone over well

Agreed. Synology NAS allows local storage of contacts, data with backup to a server in Frankfurt with client side encryption (C2, 6 euros per month for a terabyte) - works well for me

Campaigners cry foul over NHS Digital plans to grant policy wonks and researchers access to patient-level data

Rich?

Rich data... Well ripe for crude abstractions rather than any real insights (by NHS England anyway, who brought you NHS 'Quality Dashboards').

Airlines in Asia, Africa ground Boeing 737 Max 8s after second death crash in four-ish months

Your xml is invalid.

Sure, you can keep Grandpa Windows 7 snug in the old code home – for a price

Re: Don't worry 7,

If you don't know how to export emails, and spell the word 'e-mail', you're clearly going to struggle.

Home users due for a battering with Microsoft 365 subscription stick

Win 10 Pro Essential

To encrypt - or am I wrong? The simples encryption of MacOS has been a strong draw for me for a while.

Why are we disappointed with the best streaming media box on the market?

Re: Lots of hate

I bought Roku Streaming Stick+. It's very quick, and works as advertised. Because it works so well, I take the points in the article about wishing it would take it to the next level.

Comparing it to an enthusiast platform like Openelec makes no sense. Roku is a consumer device.

The boosted wifi is awesome by the way - n coverage in the corner of my house.

Lots of hate

Lots of hate for those of us who just want a usable platform to watch iPlayer, Netflix, PlayStation Video and Amazon, and don't have an enormous archive of illegally downloaded media to play (cue flames but just saying there are a lot of us who just want to stream). I have a Pi 3 running OSMC with a couple of DVB tuners which can get iPlayer but not Netflix or Amazon video or Sony stuff.

The new Roku streaming stick+ has just been released in the UK. Would be interesting to review that as it has a wifi signal booster built into the USB cable which is technically vaguely interesting and it's apparently nippy too.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/roku-streaming-stick-plus

WannaCrypt NHS victim Lanarkshire infected by malware again

Re: Re What exactly do people go to emergency departments for if not emergencies ?

I'm glad for you, but that's not because you aren't in England and Wales,it's because you are lucky.

Windows 10 Anniversary Update is borking boxen everywhere

Re: My only Win 10 laptop is now borked too

Same here! Yoga 3 'Pro'. Lenovo logo, then blue screen (completely blank).

Tried to 'reset' (reinstall Windows, keep data) - no effect.

Grrr.

Robot lung probe wins licence from US authorities

Re: Bronchoscope Procedure -Can Be Interesting

@Buzzword Calm down. He's talking about standard flexible bronchoscopy, performed safely hundreds of times a week in the NHS.

Google asks Unicode to look over 13 new emoji showing professional women

Re: Was this what Unicode was for?

Why did you capitalise the word 'by'?

Surprise! British phone wins Best Product at Mobile World Congress

Re: Want

More effectively than your grammar checker apparently

Linux Mint forums hacked: All users urged to reset passwords

Re: Quite a lot of whiners commenting here.

Charming

Re: Security? We've heard of it!

Oops. Disappointing, and I speak as a fan of Mint and user over several hardware instances.

Oh dear, Microsoft: UK.gov signs deal with LibreOffice

VBA - calm down dear

VBA seems to get a lot of stick. Isn't it just a way in which users can bridge the gap between what they need to do and what the systems they are given to use can do out of the box? I work in the NHS where systems just don't do some things that clinicians urgently need them to do. It would be lovely if IM&T could custom build modules for core systems within a few weeks of identification of a need but they are tied up doing the equivalent of keeping the lights on. I build MS Office based 'solutions' (shudder) for use in restricted scenarios (for which I am the one who is legally responsible), IT leaves me alone. Yes they involve VBA as well as Javascript, PHP/MySQL - I'm a clinical script kiddie, get over it.

If you give people LibreOffice they will just script the hell out of that anyway (less efficiently than with MS Office)

And yes I do know where the power switch for my PC is.

(Paris - because she likes a good script...)

Earth wobbles on axis as Google rebrands

Favicon

The new favicon looks crap.

Let down by a lousy UberX driver? They probably skipped the 'optional $65 customer service training course'

Re: Just one question...

The distinction between hackney carriages (which can pick up passengers from anywhere in their licenced area) and private hire vehicles ('minicabs', which can only carry pre-booked passengers) is UK-wide. A hackney has clearly stated information about how to complain etc - which I have exercised.

In my experience, the difference between UK and USA taxi systems can't be over-emphasised. I would treat Uber like a minicab - i.e. I wouldn't trust or touch them.

EE TV: Network snubs 'Auntie's antique' for mobe-happy set-top box

EE - the nPower of the communications world - can't make an app to track mobile data usage

... and their customer service is from the seventh circle of hell. I have a 4G contract with them, which I will get out of as soon as I can. YouView largely works (Humax box), and includes ITV and Channel 4.

Sod off.

UK claims 'significant lead' in drones after Taranis test flight

Re: It's impressive

I presume your [sic] literate. UK advantage in world science relies on this. IMHO we have world leading scientists but a bit of attention to detail (\LaTeX) re. language is vital. It's what the world expects of the UK.

Yet another Brit mobe tower borg: Three and EE ink network-sharing deal

Re: 2014? Luddite/troll?

Yes - speech is better, and I can now access high speed internet using my 4G phone.

In general, access is improving - to phone/wireless data. People in areas of higher population density benefit first. Some people in our wobbly hilly country who live in high population density areas still haven't got coverage. They will in the end.

Wifi coverage at work is also offering improved access. In the same way, it's not universally immediately available, but it is improving.

Prime Minister David Cameron in Twitter gaffe

Re: Cheap at twice the price

Dam' what?

Re: Thanks for the link

With punctuation like that, your [sic] in good hands

Whoops! Apple drops kimono, flashes 'FREE' GarageBand for iOS7

Do you mean "portmanteau"?

NHS preps spammy mailshots advertising 'BIGGEST medical data grab in HISTORY'

The assumption appears to be that opting out is the safest option. As things are at the moment, doctors in secondary care will essentially know nothing about you when you're admitted to hospital. This problem needs to be addressed. Oh, and good luck with your tin-foil allergies - you may find that your life ends before that particular intolerance becomes an issue.

Tesla unveils battery-swapping tech for fast car charging

Apples and pears

Not a like for like comparison - a full tank of Tesla will get you 300 miles. 87L of petrol (even in a 2.3L engine) will get you a lot further.

It's official: 'tweet' an English word – not just in the avian sense

Re: It's official!!!!

I hope you're (not your) being ironic - "OED is breaking it's own rules"?

Or "OED braking itz own rulez"?

Troll much?

4G in the UK? Why the smart money still says 'Meh'

Axes grinding

Sounds as if author is grinding their axes.

4G on EE is impressively fast (35Mbps down, 20 up, 34ms ping). This leads to a far more pleasant smartphone experience. The coverage in my city is fine. It costs a few quid more than 3G - no more than that - I got 'double data' allowance, kept my Orange loyalty discount and paid £30 up front for the phone. I can tether for the few occasions I need to - and staying within the 2GB limit is not difficult. The iPhone 5 works brilliantly. The battery life is fine.

Relax, dear, it's just a consumer choice, not a religion. Not perfect or right for everyone but great for me and many others.

Carbon fiber MacBooks to appear soon?

Re: But

Rounded corners good, as is not using aluminium. I have been put off buying a Macbook by their oddly cold, sharp edged form (plus the vague tingling due to some earthing problem I really think they should sort out).

Fasthosts officially not the best in UK for virtual servers

Re: S'OK I suppose, unless you need support

linode.

That is all.

Pope's PR says Vatican in grip of WikiLeaks-style scandal

Re: Murky banking deals

Beautifully rigorous logic there

Their clogs?

That is all

Re: KarMa 1 Pope 0

What about the apostrophe transgressions?

Sleep Cycle

> Placebo's are concusively proven to work which is why they have to be allowed for in trials.

Placebos are included in randomised controlled trials because they /don't/ work

New 'plasma lamps' to replace fluorescent bulbs, LEDs

Liver disease?

Apple gives green light to Eton solar cell iPhone case

Errm

Couple days? Did you mean "couple of days"?

Oxford adds woot! to dictionary

See me afterwards

It's crumulEnt, bodoh.

Rescue mission begins for Hitchhiker's Real Guide

Niches

I should have thought that H2G2's niche is somewhat smaller than Melvyn Bragg's.

Ten unlikely iPhone insurance claims

The title is required, and must contain letters and/or digits.

Head up their what?

Apple bars radiation nanny from App Store

read that again

epistemological

Apple's fresh Mac mini stripped naked

Shocking

Yes, how dreadful, I wish Macs were fanless like PCs.

Doctors call for NHS Direct review

It's the same if you're a hospital doctor

It's impossible to get through to GPs to discuss cases with them.

PDF security hole opens can of worms

Something you can do

From http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20001792-245.html:

Update April 6 9:15 a.m. PDT: An Adobe spokeswoman replied Monday night with the same statement above and this: "Users can also turn off this functionality in the Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat Preferences by selecting > Edit > Preferences > Categories > Trust Manager > PDF File Attachments and clearing the box 'Allow opening of non-PDF file attachments with external applications.'"

Lords: Analogue radio must die

Shakespeare reference?

It's "aerial" FFS, not "ariel". I know we're not supposed to discriminate against illiteracy but that one really gets to me.