Posts by carl 10

Coming soon to a theme park near you: Shocking ANTI-PIRACY NAG ADS

Re: Nagging

I wish I could convince my wife of this....

UK government says no to turbo e-bike

Great! This will enable kids to speed along the pavement before cutting in front of my car without looking at even greater speed! Just as well these bikes are not at teenager/parent - friendly prices!

BBC iPlayer boss: smart TVs not sufficiently simple

Re: Simplicity

Shoot me down if you will but I actually quite like the remote - for use with a smart TV at least.

I have a 37" and a 40" Sony KDLEX403 in my house and I am quite happy with them - I liked the bedroom one so much I bought another for the dining room!* The only downfall is when using Youtube having to use the number keys to type in search terms like you would when texting on a mobile phone a few years ago - annoying and slow! This type of remote makes sense for a smart TV doesn't it?

Or have I missed something here?

*By the way, no I do not work for have any connection with Sony!

Shakira attacked by sea lion who mistook BlackBerry for a 'fish'

Surely....

Surely Apple has a patent somewhere on "erroneous attacks on celebrities by wildlife with food recognition issues" and will soon be blocking sales of RIM devices?

FilmOn

Great app but doesn't seem to be possible to view full-screen? When I click on the full-screen icon it prompts me to log in then takes me back to the list of channels.

Sony Tablet P split-screen Android fondleslab

Or how about....

Or how about a keyboard on one half and a screen on the other?.... Yes, I'm leaving.

Iran displays video footage of captured US spy drone

"they are like all arabs"

"they are like all arabs" - except the Iranians are not actually arabs and are ethnically distinct.

007's car outdrives iPhone in battle of the brands

Ssssshhhh!

Don't let Apple's lawyers hear that, I expect they already have a patent for "world's coolest car"?

2009 game footage appears in ITV show as 1988 IRA vid

ITV? Well I for one am shocked

I'm just amazed to know that ITV shows anything vaguely factual/serious (I don't count so-called "reality" shows in that category).

Last time I looked (which admittedly was probably about the time they stopped showing the A-Team, i.e. many years ago) all they showed was soaps, reality shows, tacky dramas with ex-Eastenders characters and Ant and Dec.

Internet fails to dethrone TV news (so far)

Whilst we're on the subject....

Similarly to you Steve, I frequently listen to Radio 4 or the World Service whilst busy with DIY/gardening/driving. (God how old does that make me feel to say that!)

When in my car my stereo is pretty much permanently tuned to Radio 4 as most music-based radio around here is not to my taste and I prefer to just play my own music or perhaps even stream internet radio if music is what I'm after. A lot of Radio 4's non-news/current affairs output is often pretty dire however (I'm thinking of Libby Purves's touchy-feely-fest "Midweek" and some of the 6.30 so-called "comedy" shows).

Seems strange to me that we do not have a 24 hour FM news station in this country. Would it not be possible to broadcast the excellent World Service over FM?

Facebook security profiling doesn't like African log-ins

What do you actually know about Kenya?

"Fraud is Nigeria's third largest source of foreign exchange, after oil and coffee. Same with Kenya"

Wrong. Kenya's largest sources of foreign exchange are: Tourism, cut flowers, tea, coffee, other agricultural produce. Fraud does not feature in there. Yes it exists, yes it's a significant problem, not in the form you imply - as a source of foreign exchange, but as Kenyan MP's and other bigwigs fleecing other Kenyans.

411 type fraud typically but not exclusively originates -if we are talking about Africa- in Nigeria and other West African countries. Kenya does NOT have a particular reputation for this type of fraud any more than, say, The Netherlands.

You seem to think all African countries are the same. Er, yes they're both in Africa. A bit like UK and Ukraine both being in Europe. Most similarities end there.

HTC knocks out the Beats

I feel your pain, but...

...Let's be honest if the kids at the back of the bus are going to be belting out crappy "music" at the maximum volume their phone allows, it sounds a whole lot worse when blasted through a tinny single speaker.

I actually value having decent built-in speakers (note - in the plural) for example, for when I want to listen to internet radio whilst doing DIY jobs about the house or sorting out the garden. Many phones are simply inaudible as soon as you start making the slightest background noise! If I do want to listen to music or a video on my phone (unobtrusively, whether at home or elsewhere) why do I have to carry/use headphones if I want half-decent sound quality?

I'm puzzled as to why the speakers in smartphones are one aspect that apart from not improving have actually gone backwards in quality in the last few years. The only answer I have come to is that they have lost out to the somewhat ridiculous quest for a phone with the thickness of a sheet of paper.

Not for use on public transport but...

Why still the same HTC tinpan sound speakers? Nokias of 3/4 years ago (I'm thinking 5800 Xpress Music, Communicator E90) had impressive stereo speakers built in, sadly this no longer seems a priority for manufacturers (or consumers?) today.

Chinese gov demands less news in internet channels

And here is the news sponsored by Grand Theft Auto....

Going off on a bit of a tangent here but why don't they try what their cousins across the water do and liven up the news with CGI animations like this epic Taiwanese depiction of Gordon Brown's allegedly violent rages that popped up last year....

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

Amidst the chinese voiceover, LOL at 1:20.

I think we could do with some of that here. As a self-confessed news junkie I think it would be amazing!

Ten... Premium Android smartphones

Desire Z ---> Galaxy S2

I have just upgraded from a Desire Z to a Galaxy S2 and I have to say my heart said go with the HTC Sensation but in the end I had to go with the Galaxy S2. The two things that bug me with HTC phones (very good as they might be) are:

A. The cameras. In my experience and on phones of friends that I have tried out they are never poor quality as such but usually somewhat mediocre. On my HTC Desire Z you really had to fiddle with settings in order to get a decent shot and fiddle again every time the conditions changed. In a smartphone for spontaneous snapping it does irritate! It seemed to have particular difficulty taking decent face images of people with darker complexions in bright light rendering my holiday photos from Kenya a series of "guess who" silhouettes and earning my HTC the (joke)- title of "my racist phone". The camera was always a pleasure to use in terms of the UI but the results were often lacking. Shame.

B. The speakers. Or that should be speaker. The loudness/quality of the speaker/s on a phone is important to me (not to blare it out at the back of the bus) but as I like to listen to online radio/podcasts whilst doing jobs around the house/garden - without headphones or a mini speaker although on occasions I do use both of these. As is common with most phones these days since Nokia lost the plot a few years ago they only have one speaker, which may not be unreasonable - but the sound quality -when compared against, for example, my previous Nokia E90 or 5800 XpressMusic- is universally mediocre through the speaker on all the HTC phones I have tried out! They seem to have managed a decent speaker on the HTC Surround - why not on their Android handsets? The Galaxy S2 is quite loud and quality acceptable (quite a bit better than the Desire Z) but still could be better/louder and nowhere near older Nokias.

What I do miss from the Deisre Z is Sense and the overall "look" of the UI. I'm getting used to the Galaxy S2, but I have to say if HTC could improve on the above my next phone would be an HTC once again. Battery life on the Galaxy S2 so far does seem pretty good in comparison.

Just my two penneth....

How languages can live together without killing each other

Andaluces, Extremeños, Murcianos.....

"Also, only Castellans will call themselves Spaniards (Españoles) as well"

In my experience Andalucians, Murcians and Extremadurans do label themselves Spanish not only Castillians.

Icon: Jarra de Cruzcampo!

Mobile industry looks forward to spanking Apple

CBOSS Stand

I always love passing the CBOSS stand for obvious aesthetic reasons, but can't help cringing at the blatant drooling of the saddos just hanging around there taking photos like they'd never seen a hot woman before.*

*Accepted that your photo was purely for journalistic purposes, obviously! :-)

Icon = visually impaired man on blue background, as apparently you'll go blind if you spend too long enjoying your photos of the CBOSS stand.

I’m not a Trojan horse: Nokia’s Elop hits back at neigh sayers

N900

Avatar of They makes some very valid points.

I think the line should have read "If it is a shit like the N900".....

I had one and found it buggy, unfinished and like they'd rushed to get it out to the market regardless of what state it was in (in fact, that's probably about the size of it). Soon after I got myself an HTC Desire Z which does basically everything the N900 did (bar the N900's FM transmitter) and does it all in a far more polished and bug-free way and now wonder why I held out for Nokia to do something good for so long!

In short, the N900 seemed like a reference design rather than a flagship device as Nokia seemed to frame it on its release. They couldn't even get the phone part of the device up to scratch! It wasn't good enough.

As Avatar says - Nokia seriously are deluded.

Nokia's problem with consumers is that it was arrogant in its treatment of them and rested on its laurels with the attitude that simply being Nokia was enough whilst the world around them moved on. Releasing handsets (N900, N97 etc) that are really buggy and incomplete at launch and expecting users to wait months for firmware updates (if they ever come at all!) is why their once respected name at the forefront of high-end mobile/smartphone development is now mud!

Having been at this week's Mobile World Congress I can say that with the likes of HTC, Samsung and LG (to name but a few) releasing exciting new smartphones Nokia will not really be missed from the fray. Never thought I'd say that....

HTC Desire Z Android Qwerty smartphone

N900 vs Desire Z

I replaced my N900 with the Desire Z beginning of December. Definitely the right decision. Useability compared to the N900 is miles ahead and it "just works" unlike Nokia's recent buggy offerings.

The keyboard is far superior (although slide-out mechanism feels less solid) and the screen although technically only marginally bigger feels significantly larger. The touchscreen implementation is on another level. Overall it just feels like HTC have really worked on the detail unlike the N900 which Nokia seemed to casually throw out seemingly unrefined.

The only features I missed from the N900 were the built in 32GB memory, FM transmitter (although a rarely used gimmick for me) and the camera on the N900 is probably a bit better, although slower. I suspect the N900 was a little bit more willing to play a wider selection of DIVX/AVI files but then the Rockplayer app seems to solve this when compared to the built in video player.

For web use, e-mail, mp3/media play, gallery and of course the ridiculous amount of apps available on Android (compared to the N900's fairly small set of largely "work in progress" apps) the Desire Z is a joy to use and the touchscreen is far more enjoyable to use than the "keep stabbing your finger til it registers" N900 version.

The N900 was probably the last Nokia I will own after several happy years with a (much-loved) E90. Nokia seem to have really lost their way, but anyway... You won't regret switching from the N900.

BBC rebuilds Civilisation in HD

David Attenborough

He also wrote and presented The Tribal Eye which was an excellent series studying tribal art and its meaning around the world.

Although originally broadcast well before my time, I recently watched it on DVD (re-released as a box set) and it is very good indeed.

Standard smartphone charger to dominate in two years

N900 for instance....

I know it was only a "for instance" but, it would have to be the only feature important to you for you to go for the N900. With the possible exception of the camera (although "only" 5 megapixel) everything else on the N900 was half-finished or poorly implemented (I previously owned one) and the fairly thin number of apps available to fill the gaps only helps a bit. Shame, because in some ways (32GB internal memory, TV out, FM transmitter) the N900 was pretty hot but the basic features of the phone were poor - if Nokia couldn't make the N900 actual phone features themselves easy and pleasant to use then they really are lost!

As a long-term Nokia "fan" I was sad to go elsewhere, but the HTC Desire Z I replaced the N900 beats Nokia's recent half-baked, buggy offerings in every area (except for the camera maybe).

Sorry, as a disappointed ex-N900 owner had to get that off my chest!

National Identity Card holding chumps have buyer's remorse

Another argument.....

There was NOTHING that could be done with these cards that could not have been done using a passport or other ID such as a UK driving licence.

Therefore as these cards were neither essential nor unavoidable they were something that presumably only those that could afford to throw money away on one would have spent out on. Nobody who spent £30 on one deprived their family of food to get one.

If they are willing to throw their money away on this they don't deserve their £30 back. A fool and his money and all that... As others have said, their willingness to sign up for this idiotic scheme has cost this country far more than what they as individuals have lost.

Queen set to outlaw ID cards today

I wish that was true.....

....but sadly based on recent nannying governMENTAL behaviour, i.e. "nudging" etc - meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Identity & Passport Service in suicide bid?

Not needed in Spain

I spent a few months in the Netherlands and never had any problem with being hassled for ID, however this was some years back now so am not really qualified to comment on NL.

As a former resident of Spain I can tell you that you do NOT need a UK ID card to carry out card transactions. If you have a photo driving licence this is accepted everywhere (I think most people just take it for granted it must be an ID card).

Also if you live in Spain you are supposed to apply for and be issued a tarjeta de extranjero, this is basically a Spanish ID card for non-Spanish residents (by the way, in Spain, coming from the EU rather than a former colony doesn't make you a better class of immigrant and get you off the hook on this like it does in Britain -rightly so I say, but that's another story).

My local Policia Nacional were really slow/disinterested in arranging a tarjeta de extranjero for me and never pushed it. In the end I didn't bother pushing to get one and it didn't matter at all.

I really don't think you need a UK ID card to travel/work/live in EU countries. As for getting the £30 back, I would say that is the least of your worries where UK ID cards are concerned.