Posts by Nigel Steward

Lloyds Bank Down 29th August 2017 13:50

Lloyds Bank Down 29th August 2017 13:50

Lloyd Bank is "down" again !

Says "try again later"....

Air, sea drones put through their paces on Solent testing range

Re: UAVs?

Don't forget Solent Airport at Lee-on-theSolent, formerly RNAS Lee-on-Solent, or HMS Daedalus, which dates back to 1917.

http://www.solentairport.co.uk/solent_airport/intro.aspx

Samsung halts production of Galaxy Note 7

A lesson to be learnt

I hope that Samsung will now listen to users of its smart 'phones.

If the Galaxy Note 7 had a removable battery much of the great expense of recall & exchange could have been avoided.

Let's hope the Note 8 is brought forward, and that it has a removable battery & expandable RAM.

In the interim Samsung must move to more to clearly indicate the various versions of the SGN7 - Version 1, Version 2 & presumably now version 3. If they don't owners are likely to find that no version of the SGN7 will be allowed (to be used) on board aircraft, & other forms of public transport.

No-fly zone suggested for Galaxy Note 7

Samsung need to ensure that the "revised" Notes 7's can easily be recognised, so as to ensure that all versions of the Note 7 are not banned by aviation authorities, airlines & the like.

It's essential that the user can demonstrate that his Note 7 is "safe", and not from the initial "problem" batch.

I would love to see them abandon the "built in" battery as part of the solution.

Samsung eyeballs new Note

Fixed battery - disaster - How right I was !

My initial comment:-

"Fixed battery - disaster" has been proven to be correct. Samsung would have found replacing millions of removable batteries quite easy compared with replacing the same number of fixed batteries.

Hopefully Samsung won't repeat this error with the SG Note 8.

NJSS

Fixed battery - disaster

Why don't Samsung listen to their users ?

I have had 4 Notes, and was anticipating buying a 5th.

But a fixed battery is a deal breaker, for me, and I believe many others.

NJSS

Is it time to unplug frail OpenOffice's life support? Apache Project asked to mull it over

WorPerfect

I still use WordPerfect under Windoze 10. It's a shame that LibreOffice has not got round to implementing "Display Codes" as WP does, and also "Format - Make it fit".

NJSS

Is there an Echo in here? An Echo in here? Good, says Sonos. Good

As a long time Sonos user, with 10 speakers I wish they would concentrate on sorting out existing long standing problems like:-

BBC Radio, via TuneIin, dropping out 2 or 3 times a day.

Improving the communication in the Sonos "mesh". 18 months ago all worked perfectly, now I am unable to have speakers in the garden.

Rather than these "enhancements" - get the existing system working properly first please.

NJSS

UK cops trial £250k drone squadron

Here's an August 2012 quotation to a police force in the USA $100k + taxes for a Pro camera:-

http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/threatlevel/2012/12/Aeryon-bid.pdf.pdf

I wonder what their new Police Commissioner will have to say about this.

Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+: 4K-positive fun for ... vloggers?!

No removable battery, No SD Card slot - NO DEAL !

I have had a Note 1, Note 2 & Note 3 - clearly I like the phablet format.

I decided to skip a generation & replace my Note 3 with a Note 5 or possibly S6 when announced rather than buy a Note 4. But no removable battery or SD slot in either means the Note 5 & S6 are not for me, or for many friends & colleagues.

Accordingly I have just signed up for a Note 4, and hope that Samsung will recognise the error of their ways & have a removable battery & SD card on the next generation of their phablets - if not then Samsung have lost my business.

NJSS

Samsung phablet phrenzy brings mobile payments into the age of WIRELESS TAPE

I have just bought a Note 4

I have had a Note 1, Note 2 & Note 3 - clearly I like the format.

I decided to skip a generation & replace my Note 3 with a Note 5 when announced rather than buy a Note 4. But no removable battery or SD slot means the Note 5 is not for me.

Accordingly I have just signed up for a Note 4, and hope that Samsung will recognise the error of their ways & have a removable battery & SD card on the next generation of the Note - if not then Samsung have lost my business.

NJSS

Thunder-faced Mozilla lifts Flash Firefox block after 0-days plugged

An alternative to Flash and/ or Shockwave ?

"what about all the existing installations that require Flash to operate?"

Precisely, it appears that in many cases there is no alternative to Flash and/or Shockwave; is there nothing which can emulate Flash without it vulnerabilities?

The sad song Samsung's sung: SEVENTH quarterly fail in a row

Big mistakes with specification of the S6 !

My last 5 Android devices have been Samsung, 1 tablet & 4 smartphones.

I believe that the S6 didn't sell as well as it might because it is too like a Fruity device, with a fixed battery & no SD Card slot.

I won't change my phone until the SG Note 5 is announced, but if, as I fear it too has a fixed battery & no SD slot then it's goodbye Samsung.

Kobo Glo HD vs Amazon Kindle Paperwhite: Which one's best?

Why buy a dedicated e-Reader ?

I find a Samsung Galaxy Tab with Calibre & Moon+ reader serve my requirements, and more importantly many more.

NJSS

Phabba-dabba-do: Samsung hypes up Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge

No removable battery, No Memory Card = No Sale

I have had every version of the Galaxy Note to date + various other Samsung 'phones (inc S3) & tablets.

I rate the Note 4 very highly; I had thought of trying an S6 pending availability of the Note 5, but in the light of the above I will wait for the Note 5. However if the Note 5 doesn't have an SD card slot & removable battery then I won't be buying it.

With all my Notes I have bought a spare battery & charger/case, and rotated two batteries as I am often in situations where one is travelling light, and cannot access a recharging facility for a day or two.

Likewise I want data stored on a removable card which can be backed up, not on a 'phone which can be lost or damaged.

Does Samsung listen to it customers - it seems not.

'Windows 9' LEAK: Microsoft's playing catchup with Linux

Start Menu

MS really should offer the option of a Start Menu - if they don't I won't be upgrading from Windoze 7 - Android is getting better & better and I may find that I simply don't need a desktop operating system in a year or three.

NJSS

IT MELTDOWN ruins Cyber Monday for RBS, Natwest customers

Systems STILL down on Wednesday 4th December

I despair - I have just tried to access my NatWest account at 02:15 on Wednesday 4th & the system IS STILL DOWN.

I have trying to book international transportation & accommodation for later this month for two days now.

I haven't suffered financial loss, but may find hotels etc.. fully booked by the time the system is restored - what compensation can I expect?

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

Which one ? Windows 8 with luck

Microsoft seem to have totally lost their way.

Windows 8 is a disaster for those who wish to use keyboards & mice - hopefully MS might see the light, but I doubt it.

Windows 7 is stable & acceptable, but reverting from 8 to 7 is not straightforward for the man in the street.

Hopefully vendors will see the light & offer PCs with Windows 7 pre-installed with an option to "upgrade" to Windows 8.

Travel much? DON'T buy a Samsung Galaxy Note 3

My Galaxy Note 3 - from Vodafone arrived a couple of days ago. No warning sticker; and all seems AOK.

Certainly a great 'phone with an excellent display.

Software glitch WIPES OUT listings of 10,000 eBay sellers

Journal based back-up

Would eBay's problem not be solved if the entries were journalled - or am I a dinosaur ?

Nokia HERE today with decent mapping on Apple devices

Amazon - don't pay corporation tax so - NO DEAL

I pay, and have paid, a vast amount of tax in the UK.

I am trying to avoid dealing with those companies which have a substantial turn-over in the UK, and pay no tax.

It appears that Amazon.co.uk, generated sales in excess of £3.3bn in the UK last year but paid no corporation tax on any of the profits from that income.

In these circumstances I will not be dealing with them, or for that matter Starbucks, Google & similar companies who do not pay their fair share of tax.

Naughty-step Apple buries court-ordered apology with JavaScript

Apple's behaviour is in my opinion contemptuous if not “in contempt of court”

I trust & hope that The Rt Hon. Professor Sir Robin Jacob is appraised of this & calls Apple’s solicitors & counsel to appear in front of him with their client’s management to answer what appears to be a prima facie contempt of court.

NJSS

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 review

Note 2 looks excellent

I have had a Note 1 since it's announcement; my first non-Nokia 'phone for many years; I am delighted with it, and consider it was the best available when I made my choice.

Having handled the Note 2 the build quality seems fine, and it will be top of my list when I come to upgrade.

Ten digital radios to suit all budgets

UK DAB is U/S

Put quite simply we are behind the times, but no doubt will catch up.

Put quite simply don't buy a DAB radio that does not support WorldDMB Profile 1 which is needed for DAB+ when it becomes available in the UK.

I have over the years bought 3DAB radios, including ones from Pure & Roberts. They EAT batteries, when you turn them on they take quite a time to "fire up", sound quality is no better than FM, and often worse.

Please press you MP to get the UK to start catching up & adopt a better DAB standard.

In the interim internet radio is however quite good. If you haven't done so listen to Linn Radio broadcasting at 320 kbps MP3. That's better than what you pay for on iTunes and over twice the quality of DAB radio.

http://www.linn.co.uk/music

NJSS

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Android tablet review

MicroSD card

Sorry @what's a handle, I believe you are wrong.

The Note comes with a MicroSD card slot which will take up to 64GB + of course 2 GB of internal RAM & 16/32/64 GB of storage.

Hands on it's very nice & IMHO preferable to the Apple offerings.

NJSS

Behold: First look at Office 2013, with screenshots

Why - Oh Why waste so much money when Open Office & LibreOffice are free?

Why is it that public companies, large PLCs & Public Authorities insist on using Microsoft Office?

Well informed individuals & organisations use either Open Office or LibreOffice and save themselves £££s.

It's like the 1980's when "Nobody was fired for buying IBM".

NJSS

Samsung plunges $500k into Linux Foundation

Good news

That Samsung has donated to Linux, hopefully they might also support LibreOffice.

NJSS

Facebook needs Opera - to rescue it from dependence on Apple

Don't forget Only 35% of those polled trust Facebook !!!

I am slightly repeating what I have said in another comment....

A YouGov poll reported in the Sunday Times yesterday revealed that only 35% of those polled trust Facebook.

Opera own FastMail, one of the best email providers, but if Opera was owned by FB, I and many other FM users would migrate away from FM, as we would not want our data to be in the control of FB.

Mark Zuckerberg's often reported comments on January 9, 2010 that the age of privacy is over are hardly those of someone who is fit to run an email service.

It is also reported that Mark Zuckerberg has views on hacking not shared by the majority.

In my view FB purchasing Opera would be a disaster for Opera users, and more particularly users of FastMail & OperaMail.

NJSS

Facebook phone tagged for 2013 release

Only 35% of those polled trust Facebook !!!

A YouGov poll reported in the Sunday Times yesterday revealed that only 35% of those polled trust Facebook.

HTC would be well advised to consider the acquiring a long spoon before supping with the Devil. I am not sure HTC need FB, and they may well regret any ventures with them.

FB are certainty on the acquisitions trail - no doubt to boost their poor stock price since the IPO.

Ther are suggestions that FB are not only interested in smartphone hardware, but also want to acquire a browser - more particularly Opera.

Opera own FastMail, one of the best email providers, but if Opera was owned by FB, I and many pother FM users would migrate away from FM, as we would not want our date to be in the control of FB.

Mark Zuckerberg's often reported comments on January 9, 2010 that the age of privacy is over are hardly those of someone who is fit to run an email service.

Danah Boyd a Senior Researcher at Microsoft Research commented on this statement, and I can't better what she said here:-

http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/arc...ooks_move.html

It is also reported that Mark Zuckerberg has views on hacking not shared by the majority.

In my view FB purchasing Opera would be a disaster for Opera users, and more particularly users of FastMail & OperaMail.

NJSS

Barclays online banking falls over in outage riddle

Barclays new site is pretty awful

Agreed - BUT which bank has a better site - Lloyds/Bank of Scotland is not too bad but why can't these guys get it right?

The worst is probably Clydesdale - don't even go there!

NJSS

BT outage kills phone lines in Eastbourne and Brighton

What a disaster

BT claim to have fixed this at 20:25 last night - clearly a serious problem, or they were totally crass at fixing it, or probably both.

Do users get a remission of line rental, or compensation - I hope so.

NJSS

Windows XP support ends two years from now

OS/2 - a longer life than XP ?

Don't forget that OS/2 was launched 25 year ago this month; and is still in use in mainstream applications such as:-

New York City which uses it for swiping fare cards

Safewayn which uses it for its supermarket checkouts

Certain ATMs :

http://guyism.com/tech/why-your-atm-uses-os2-a-25-year-old-operating-system.html

and dion't forget that Windows XP certainly, & UI believe Windows 7, include code uplifted from OS/2.

NJSS

Spotify v. Pure Music

320kbps is essential

I play my music through a Sonos multi-room system & in the car through a Harmon Kardon audio system with a dozen spakers.

Anything less than 320kbps sounds very poor.

I am still buying CDs but I don't have to manage them or MP3s any more as I immediately rip them to my VortexBox music server, and save them as FLAC files.

NJSS

Apple orders PC builder to 'choose sides' in laptop battle?

Surely this will fall foul of US Anti-Trust laws ?

This is whay I would never buy from Apple or Microsoft (unless essential).

I like my Xoom Tablet, Open Office Suite, FireFox, Thunderbird etc...

Ten... laptop accessories

The Modern-Tech USB Hub is hardly "modern" - USB2 only.

I only buy USB3 devices now.

Apple's TV killer 'on shelves by summer 2012'

ITV

An interesting name.

Hopefuuly Apple will be at the wrong end of an action by ITV:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITV

for passing off etc...

Google now a serious rival to Microsoft in cloud email

FastMail.FM is top

I too will stick with Fastmail.

I have used it both personally, and for clients, and service & support are excellent.

If you don't know it have a look.

Nigel

Murdoch muscles BBC out of Formula One driving seat

What a stitch up

I pay for my TV licence, and like many others the majority of my viewing is F1, TopGear, and possibly next year an hour or two of the Olympics.

There is no way that I would consider subscribing to Sky, or funding Muddydick in any other way.

We have been let down by the dwarf & the BBC.

Apple orders millions of iPhone 5s for September release

Android with QWERTY keyboard

Android 'phone with hard QWERTY keyboard - Barcelona from Orange, 2.6-inch TFT touch screen:-

http://shop.orange.co.uk/mobile-phones/barcelona-from-orange

Why buy Apple ?

NJSS

School IT quango to be expelled

Excellent news

So many schools are using Microsoft Office, lets hope that we will see Open Office, Firefox, Linux, Thunderbird etc..

The schools should have a £Nil budget for Office software, Browsers, etc.. although I accept that a few devices should run on Windows, maybe not more than 25%.

NJSS