* Posts by Miffo

109 publicly visible posts • joined 23 Jun 2010

View 21 IPTV Freeview+HD DVR review

Miffo

Re: Second screen options

Yes - shame they didn't use DLNA so I could use my non i devices with it at least for the streaming. I hope to get a Humax soon unless I find anything better. I understand there are modified versions of the firmware to get around the HD streaming and copying limitations. And the remote acts as a universal remote so that's a nice bonus.

Man charged over alleged April Jones Facebook trolling

Miffo

Re: So how come

"Anonymity or education of course, you have to be somewhat of an idiot to attack a paediatrician instead of a paedophile."

No - I think it's still Anonymity unless you're saying it's acceptable that people go round attacking offenders based on the crimes they've committed.

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

Miffo

Wasn't it Tomtom data?

Didn't they get the data from Tomtom and then wangle it in some way? I thought their fix was going to be to fix the map wangling program they must have ran so that it doesn't bugger up the Tomtom data which I presume is correct.

What's the story? How did they mess up the Tomtom data? Or is it not a case of that?

Microsoft's Bing bods exploit fanbois' Apple maps misery

Miffo

Bing allowed on Apple Appstore?

I'm confused - I thought Google would not be allowed to put a maps app on the Apple store even if it wanted to due to Apples rule about duplicating functionality built-in. So how come you can get a Bing app for the iPhone?

Google's Nexus 7 tabs 'can't perform' if flash RAM crammed

Miffo

"And if you plan on using the thing for more than a year then you will just accumulate junk. The average user knows how to add things but rarely deletes things (probably out of fear of breaking something) so if this problem is real then google needs to do something."

Er right - so if they fix it then suddenly people will start deleting things? The 2GB (or whatever it is) that they lost isn't going to see them through to old age is it?

Miffo

Re: You get what you pay for

Yeah - that's why I have no issues with the 8GB model!

Deadly pussies kill more often than owners think

Miffo

"keeping the mice levels down and from infesting the house"

Not in my experience. The little rascals bring their victims in to torture them in comfort and then lose them behind something so we end up with mice where we didn't previously have them!

Google Nexus 7 shipping cock-up enrages fandroids

Miffo

US county named 'area of outstanding natural stupidity'

Miffo

Re: Agreed

> the second cop to turn up managed to shoot another cop who had already arrived at the house

Upvoted for comedy value - even better if it's true?

O2, GiffGaff network goes titsup for unlucky punters

Miffo

Giffgaff?

Why mention Giffgaff? Anything on the O2 network - Tesco for example. Someone at work is having this issue with his Tesco SIM.

Google Nexus 7 Android tablet

Miffo

Re: HDMI / Docking connector

"What if someone already owns" ... long list of expensive toys.

What if you don't? Or at least - don't own a box that can stream media you've bought on the web to a TV. I've got a blu-ray player with internet access but I can't rent a film off Google Play, Netflix or Lovefilm and play it on that as it's not the latest model. (the internet access is almost useless - youtube, picasa and weather!)

Would have been nice to have the option to plug the Nexus 7 into a TV but not essential for me as I'm happy with the Lovefilm postal service - or I would have got a different tablet. But that doesn't mean it isn't a pointless feature - we don't all have loads of spare cash to buy multiple toys.

Miffo

Re: Forgive my ignorance, I know nothing about Android

>Which browser? Is there more than one?

Comes with Google Chrome but you can usually get others like Firefox or Opera for Android.

>movie playback

Built in player on my Android 2.3 doesn't cope with DivX but there are a few free ones available on the market that do.

>eBook reading

You can install the Kindle app and I bet there are others - not something I've looked at.

Welcome to the world of choice!

Miffo

Re: HDMI / Docking connector

> Surely people would want to play their films on the TV?

Yeah - sounded mad to me until someone pointed out the good old licensing issues with the film studios. They'll make the film available for devices with no HDMI out as then it's only going to the mobile market. Someone said that some Sky TV app is only available on devices without HDMI output for that reason - I've not verified it. Anyway - I reckon it's to do with something like that.

YouView: The long march to... er, where exactly?

Miffo

4od + iplayer + the other catch ups

Same here - I never thought it was anything more than combining the existing services from various sources into one box. Currently I can use the iPlayer on my Wii but if I miss something on Channel 4 then I have to plug the laptop in as 4OD isn't on Wii.

Is it supposed to do something more then? Must admit - I wasn't expecting to shell out for another hardware box - hoping for a Wii app or Humax add-on (or whatever they call them) but I guess that's optimistic!

Second win for Apple as Galaxy Nexus sales banned in US

Miffo

Evidence for loss of sales?

How can Apple claim that they'll lose significant sales when they are dominating the market (certainly in tablets) to such an extent. These Samsung products have already been out for some time and I can't see Apple sweating much. If the Galaxy Nexus was going to make a big impact then it would have done so by now.

Nexus 7 and Surface: A bonanza for landfill miners

Miffo

"Google is relying on the increasingly bare public internet for "stuff", of which nothing is exclusive to Google"

They seem to have mentioned something called "Google Play" about 2 gazilion times during their presentation. Maybe they're thinking of using that in some way with the Nexus 7?

Whether that'll work or not is another matter but odd not to mention it in the "article".

Blighty laid bare as historic aerial snaps archive goes online

Miffo

Can someone please draw some parallels with Google's and that other one's spy plane stuff (can't remember the story now) and what happened in the 1930's in an amusing way? Thanks.

'Unbreakable' Samsung Galaxy Note II to take on iPhone 5

Miffo

Re: "By the time it hits shelves, ..."

It's true you can get some custom ROM for most devices - I've got my Defy running 2.3 (I'm so ahead of the curve) thanks to CM 7.1. I'm sure I could put ICS on there with a nightly build of CM9.

But - most people are not going to do this.

Then again - if people want an iPhone experience in terms of updates then you have to compare like with like. If you buy the phone and the OS from the manufacturer when you buy Apple, do the same for Android and get a Google Nexus phone. Then you'll get updates just as quick.

Of course - my suggestion doesn't work for tablets. Yet...

Samsung Galaxy S III

Miffo

Re: It's just like the HTC One X...

"Why do all the Android manufacturers seem to think that everyone wants a handset half the size of Wales?"

Research. There was some survey that found people want big screens. They want to sell phones so they give people what they want.

Besides - name one Android manufacturer that only makes large screen phones - you don't make any sense.

What's copying your music really worth to you?

Miffo

Re: Economic harm?

The authors point is that what we all do is illegal and perhaps we should attempt to do something so that we are not breaking the law. Some people are like that. :-)

Ten... freeware gems for new PCs

Miffo

Re: Good list

I've got GIMP and Irfan view on my PC. By the time GIMP has started up, I can do a quick crop and lossless rotation in Irfan view! So for your ebay changes you might want to try it. Obviously very basic compared to GIMP which I only roll out for the big jobs!

Actually, I recently (1 year ago) started using Picasa - That's great for organising your photos and I like the straightening tool (I must be holding my camera wonky!) and the "I'm feeling lucky" adjuster that just sorts out the colour balance etc. nicely.

I guess they only had 10 slots to fill though!

Nokia's 41Mp cameraphone shoots towards retail

Miffo

Re: Thanks for the Flickr link Kristian

I'm not sure but I believe the resolutions available are very limited as Symbian only supports certain resolutions.

Ten... two-bay Nas boxes

Miffo

Re: These are just for the lazy and technical illiterates.

for "the lazy and technical illiterates" - not exactly a niche market then! What percentage of the population can make their own NAS?

I was lucky - I got a 1TB Buffalo LinkStation Duo 1TB (refurbished) for £73 delivered almost a year ago - pretty close the the cost of 1TB of USB external drive. Fine for storing my videos on (no need for RAID for my usage). They're £90 from ebuyer now.

I think they have their place but I agree that at these prices - not so sure.

Google Drive stalls on LAUNCH DAY

Miffo

Re: same here

True - it's like the author thinks he's being picked on because he has a mac. Maybe someone who's a member of a racial minority who can't access the drive will say Google are racist! :-)

I've been waiting for my e-mail to let me know it's available. I tried using it on my Android phone first and (as if it matters) am now using a PC.

HTC One X Android smartphone

Miffo

Re: Re Standby

I've got a feeling that if we could resist fiddling with our phones, they would last a long time! My wife isn't using her ZTE Blade at the moment. It's on 3g and syncing mail reading the odd text message. It was down to about 10% after 6.5 days!

I think the weedy CPU helps.

Miffo

Battery life - vote with your cash.

I can just about cope with the idea of no SD card - I never fill up my 8GB one and USB on the go would provide extra storage if I was on a long trip but I like having a spare battery that I can swap in. I keep a spare in my motorbike jacket so if I get stuck somewhere I know I have a good battery. I don't think the reviewer mentioned this downside.

I read the comments about why aren't manufacturers making the battery last longer or not providing SD card slots. I guess we have to vote with our feet. Quite tempted by the Motorola Razr with its amazing battery life and I think that has an SD card slot - but you can't replace the battery! (something that killed off my Archos 5). I chose a Motorola Defy because it has better than average battery life (still only about 2 days though) and was fairly cheap. The Motorola's seem good on battery life generally.

It will be interesting to see what the Galaxy SIII is like.

Runtastic Push Up

Miffo

Proximity sensor

How do they work at night? Shouldn't my phone be hiding the phone dialler straight away as there's no light? Not that I've experimented - maybe it does!

CD: The indestructible music format that REFUSES TO DIE

Miffo

Re: @Stuart Haliday - Well said!

True - everyone to their own but I wonder how many people are kidding themselves? When I first started ripping I wondered what quality to use. So I ripped a song at 3 different kbps (all at 128 or above using LAME) then burnt each one twice in a random order back to audio CD. I also did that with the original wav file so I had 8 songs on there, 2 original quality and 6 at varying qualities. I could not tell the difference on my Hi-Fi and neither could my younger friend (about 30 at the time I think).

A guy at work had much better hearing than us - or was better at spotting common mp3 artifacts and almost picked out each one correctly but still rated one of the originals as being from mp3.

So yes - everyone to their own and some people certainly have better ears but I think its worth doing a blind test on yourself with the best equipment available and then picking a quality maybe one higher than you think you can hear. It's easy to kid yourself that you can hear a difference when you know one should be better - just human nature.

Thinking about storage space on the mobile!

Dijit

Miffo

Price

Sounded quite interesting but the hardware needs to be about £20 for me personally. £50 pushes it into proper money!

Apple New iPad 3 Wi-Fi + 4G

Miffo

Re: That's not Herbie

Was there anyone in it at the time?

Finders of lost mobes can't resist staring at privates

Miffo

More than you think! If there's 850,000 activations per day (that's just Android) then there may be one or two without password - mine included!

New iPad 4G data connection will only work in America

Miffo
Happy

Re: Plug-in

Trying to figure out if this is an ironic joke or not considering you can't change the battery easily on Apple stuff!

Ereader sales to slump as punters snap up cheap slabs – report

Miffo

Re: Market share slump

By that reasoning, it already should have happened when iPad 1 was reduced on iPad 2 launch?

Ten... top Android games

Miffo
WTF?

Sprinkler & android 2.3

I can't install Sprinkler as the market says it's not compatible with my phone. The text says it works on 2.3 or later. I have CM 7.1 which is based on Android 2.3.something so I should be OK. Am I wrong?

Court rejects Tesla’s latest libel spat with Top Gear

Miffo

Spin.

Well that's how they told the story. They're not exactly known for embracing electric cars so it's a bit odd that they started out so positive - unless they were trying to make a good story? And that's what Top Gear's about - a good story and people should be happy with that. Blame the stupid investors for taking Top Gear's information as factual! :-)

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

Miffo

Dead or delayed?

"...this[PO] is premature." .... "...Peak Oil is dead:"

Which is it? Through the rest of the article it's dead but near the start it's just "premature". Of course, it will happen one day. The fact that we might replace it with something that isn't too disruptive to our society a bit later than anticipated is neither her nor there.

Still - interesting information but a bit hyped up.

Ten... sub-£100 mono laser printers

Miffo

Re: Perhaps sub £250

I got a cheapo Smasung laser printer about 7 years ago to get the wife through university. It cost £59 including VAT and delivery. Handy with only one wage coming in. I saved money by refilling the cartridge and it saw a *lot* of work - she likes printing! It's still in use though it has an easier life now.

So not useless at all. Duplex would have been nice but you can get that under £100 now.

Apple demands US ban on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus

Miffo

Don't give them another idea!

They'll be suing them for their innovative - "Taking the mick out of the competitors in an advert." concept. We call it an iAdvert and we invited it. Thanks.

March release for Samsung Galaxy S II Android 4.0 update

Miffo

All I know is what it says on a recent blog posting where it doesn't sound very much released - http://www.cyanogenmod.com/blog/progress-on-cm9

Virtual Nazi-code-cracking Colossus in fundraising appeal

Miffo

You could even pop along and visit - that'll help their fund raising a little and could be fun. I've been once and enjoyed seeing the old 80's home computers (sorry - a bit low brow!).

Avast! Mobile Security

Miffo

Other stuff.

Interesting post about anti virus! I've got AVG on my android phone for the other stuff - the stuff you use if the phone is lost or stolen.

Eight... HD camera smartphones

Miffo

No sd card.

Similar to the posting about the complaint of requiring software for the Nokia but no mention of that lack on the iPhone. The iPhone has no replaceable sd card (OK - you can get bigger internal memory but then increase the price) and neither does the Nokia but it's only mentioned on the Nokia page.

Maybe you should have complained at the lack of an easily replaceable battery for those festival weekends to complete the set! :-)

Is it just because we can assume that everyone knows about the iPhones shortcomings? (i.e. iTunes software, fixed battery and no SD card)

Nokia's future phone sees red when you do

Miffo
Happy

Show some imagination.

Poor old Nokia. They can't compete with imaginative innovations from Apple such as welding the battery, memory and SIM into the phone so you can't take them out.

Bog builder pushes out poo-powered motorbike

Miffo
Happy

Another great invention -

They appear to have pioneered the 3 wheel motorbike. Some people might have gone for a trike in that situation.

Google offers opt-out from Wi-Fi router location database

Miffo
FAIL

Didn't work for me

My MAC address was not found - not sure why as I have Android Google maps app and have had the router for about a year.

Miffo
Unhappy

MAC to location website

I tried finding the website mentioned and I'm surprised The Register rejected the link. Here's an article from the register about it -

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/05/geo_location_stealing_hack/

Some of the comments say it doesn't work - some say it does I'll have to dig out my MAC address when I get home and give it a try.

So I'll have to concede the situation with a mad, but knowledgeable, ex partner figuring out how to track you could be in issue (still very rare I would have thought) but still can't see the concern over a dodgy government suddenly managing to locate someone for reasons mentioned earlier.

Miffo

Really - I'm off the grid but now Google put me back on?

"If you happened to be a dissident in a country with no democracy and a poor record on human rights and justice, you might be quite disconcerted that databases of Google, Skyhook, etc. could be used to determine your location"

So I've got a house, broadband connection, bank, phone, pay bills, have a car etc. etc. but the only way the government can find me is because I foolishly wrote to them to let them know my MAC address and they asked Google where it was?

If I was in that situation I certainly wouldn't have a WiFi router broadcasting my location (assuming someone has my MAC address).

Someone said that there was/might have been a website that might have done something. Sure - maybe 1 in a million this would happen but given all the other ways to locate someone - it's a "horse bolted" situation.

Unless you're living in a cash only world anonymously in some squat without a mobile phone but, for some reason, with a WiFi router that you've registered with the government - I'm not sure what the issue is!

Miffo

How does this give away my location?

There's a post up there about being tracked by someone via google somehow. Other than the general principle of privacy (which I'm not dismissing), this is the only objection and I don't get it. If my MAC address is on a Google server somewhere, how does Joe Public get hold of my location? Do they hack into secure servers at Google HQ? If they're that clever than I'm sure they can get into DVLA, council computers etc.

I mean - if I told you my routers MAC address, could you tell me where I am? I'm sure Google have it.

Perhaps I'm missing something - I'm no expert.

Secondly though, if I'm broadcasting a unique identifier that I think someone might have to half the street and the complain that someone might find me - aren't I being a bit of an idiot even without Google? It'd be a bit like having a large sign outside your house with your name on it.

Thirdly - presumably the people opting out will also not have a mobile phone on the grounds that their service providers will know where their phone is.

PowerAmp

Miffo

Only decent app my wife has bought!

The wife's not a geek but she needed to play wma files so we bought this app and were impressed at the other features. You can set it so it pauses the music when you remove the headphones. She loves the album art download. The only other app she's bought is some quiz - I don't think that'll be winning the coveted Register award!

Microsoft man riles update-hungry Windows Phone 7 users

Miffo

Vocal minority

I don't think Microsoft has misjudged the mood of its customers. I'll bet that the majority are not bothered about a 24 hour delay. The ones that are bothered are the sort that will be making comments on the internet. My wife doesn't even know what version of Android she's on - never mind that it's a whole year out of date - that's a typical user (she's not thick!).