* Posts by samster

34 publicly visible posts • joined 28 Oct 2010

Google can't innovate anymore, exiting programmer laments

samster

Re: Google doesn't innovate?

"Chromecast is just an internet streamer over hdmi" Oh but it's not... the ones before used mirroring. Chromecast didn't enslave your device.

"Chromecast Audio - a copy of the Sonos system" Innovation can be cost focused as well as functionality.

"Android - a copy of ios created to break the apple walled garden." We're talking features now.

"Google photos - ok i havent used so i dont know what you find innovative, but there are dozens of photo apps out there. Does it really have features no other had before Google Photos came out?" Er... Yes! Machine Learning and AI for one. Auto-sorting auto arranging, auto-albums. Bear in mind it did this years ago whereas quite a few might have this now. Every other app has crappy search in comparison, requiring people to scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll...

"Goggle Assistant - hello Siri..." Yes and if you look at tons of independent reviews, Siri is shoite in comparison. Just doesn't have the knowledge or context-relevant prowess.

"Google Pixel 2 - improving the camera is not an innovation" - Oh but when Apple do it, that's ok is it? The Bokah effect you talk about, was it really the first? To achieve the same result with 1 camera when others require two? Yeah.

Tensor Flow - cant comment, dont know enough...

"Innovation is creating something new and ground breaking" I agree, (see example of machine learning combined with AI in Google Photos - no other photos apps were/are anywhere close). Innovation is also when the economics are very different e.g. Cost per KWh of electric batteries.

Based on that, what the most innovative product or service in the last 6 months then?

Does Microsoft have what it takes to topple Google Docs?

samster
WTF?

Re: The world turned upside down!

Strongly disagree!

1. I can open a password protected WORD or Powerpoint doc with Google's viewer but not with Office 363* - ridiculous!

2.. Online collaboration is still clunky (cr*p) with Office 363*. I've had clients who are up and running on Google Doc for realtime collaboration across any device within minutes. To do the same on Office 363 takes a LOT of setup.

3. Google Docs is much more mobile/cross-platform friendly. It just works...

*there's still 2 days of downtime per annum :-)

Why Theresa May’s hard Brexit might be softer than you think

samster

Re: Plausible

37% of the electorate voted for Brexit.

samster

Re: 2 years?

"the UK decided democratically that we were out" 37% of the electorate voted Out. Hardly a resounding democratic mandate.

Most mature referendum-holding countries apply a double majority for decisions of major consequence. We were naive.

Security hardened, pah! Expert doubts Kaymera's mighty Google's Pixel

samster
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Tosh alert

What a load of tosh. If the Pixel was really that insecure then surely these guys could have made a mint taking part in Google's bounty programme.

A year living with the Nexus 5X – the good, the bad, and the Nougat

samster

Re: Hmmm...

Hmmm.. Android 7.1 only gets released today...

IBM says no, non, nein to Brexit

samster

Who do you trust?

The Scum, Daily Heil and Express or...the FT, Indy and Economist?

Putin, Farage and Marine Le Pen's support of Brexit should tell you all you need to know.

HTC 10: Flagship goes full Google – but the hardware's top notch

samster

Why are they still persisting with a physical home button and two capacitive buttons? The thing looks like a Samsung or iPhone with the 'dumbass' physical button.

By adopting Android's soft buttons they could have reduced the height of the phone or made the screen larger for the same form factor.

Good that they are adopting Google Photos though - it really is a no brainer. Our family uses Google Photos across web, iPhone and Android and it really is excellent.

New Nexus 5X, 6P smarties: Google draws a line in the sand

samster

Re: Can't reach with fingers

If you're using for phone for Navigation whilst mounted on your dashboard then it won't be locked anyway.

And in all other cases, you shouldn't be using your phone whilst driving... :)

Fingerprint sensor on the back makes sense for one-handed use. You generally need two hands on a front mounted fingerprint sensor.

samster

Re: These are not the droids I'm looking for...

If you really need to carry several days worth of music around with you, then just buy a OTG cable for a few quid - problem solved.

What would you rather have a SD card slot or be first in line for updates?

SD card slots generally appear on phones where they have somehow contrived to make Android slow and ugly (ok, Touchwiz is a little nicer now but it's still slow compared to stock Android).

samster
WTF?

Holding Google to a higher standard than anyone else

When an iphone is released, you never see 'lack of SD card' in the list of cons. No one complains about it.

I travel a lot, for media consumption, I have a USB OTG cable (it cost £3 - THREE POUNDS PEOPLE!!!) and 32gb USB flash drive. Job done.

Google said the Nexus won't have an SD Card slot years ago. So why are people still bitchin? Stop looking for issues where they don't exist. I have an original Nexus 5 and since installing the new Photos app all my photos and videos over a month old are backed up and then deleted from the device. I have lots of space. What's the problem?

If you're looking for perfection, Nexus isn't for you (in fact no phone is perfect). But if you are looking for the fastest, slickest Android experience at a reasonable price as well as quick updates, then it's the best option out there.

Honey, the satnav app says you're to leave at 6am... Yup. I'll have that coffee off you

samster

Re: Because.....

"Although from my experience the information about the delays tends to come when I'm already stuck in the tailback its warning me about."

In fairness, not with Google Maps... it always tells me when there is traffic ahead and I can re-route. I love surprising my 3 year old with "I bet there is traffic around the corner..., "Wow, how did you know that Dad?!"

samster
Facepalm

Re: Late to the game

zzzzzz.... pointless post Coward. If you use a mobile phone (even a feature phone) and/or have a debit/credit card, then this stuff has been known for DECADES.... have you only just realised this?

Regardless, Google Now is super-useful, probably the best innovation in the mobile space in the last 2 years....

WOW! Google invents the DIGITAL WATCH: What a time to be alive

samster

Um... a little unfair? If their partners want to produce wearables, what do you expect Google to do, say "Nah... the future is Glass!" Of course they're going to provide an OS and common APIs for those wearables.... Otherwise we'd be in the same situation as mobile phones in the mid-2000s where every device had their own OS....

Google RIPS aside curtain, exposes Nexus 5 phone, KitKat Android 4.4 coupling

samster

Re: Well done for the plastic back

Whilst I agree a larger battery option is worthwhile, I don't mind thin. my phone spends a lot of time in my front trouser pocket. Obviously anything less than 10mm is thin. 6 or 7mm at the risk of poorer battery is not for me.

Tech specs wreck: Details of Google's Nexus 5 smartphone leaked over internet

samster

You're right Phil... I don't have one. But I've had the GS2, GS3 and have daily access to the GS4... Touchwiz is 'orrible, compared to stock OS (I'm talking design not features) Also, if you take Samsung's ROm off off and flash a stock Android 4.x ROM, both the S3 and S4 are much quicker and smoother. Samsung must code their overlay in Visual Basic or something.... Plus it's nice to have quick access to Google Now, one of the best software innovations in years, but surprise surprise Samsung make it harder to access.

....What's your problem with 'swipe up' Samsung...?

samster

Re: The sad thing is..

The Nexus 4 has the nicest notification light I've ever seen... simply beautiful (and doesn't light up the entire room at night)

samster

Ah yes the Samsung with Touch-Wiz... "A lesson in how to take a incredibly fast CPU and gorgeous looking n' smooth OS and slow it down and make it butt-ugly"

iPhone 5S: Apple, you're BORING us to DEATH (And you too, Samsung)

samster
Stop

People keep on going on about hardware on this forum. There are already phones with 3 day battery life (Razr MAXX) and phones that are not fragile. The real innovation comes from software however. On this, I agree that iOS7 is fairly yawn-worthy.... Still the same old grid of icons, including one that say 23 degrees and sunny regardless of the weather.... shoite.

Software is where it's at. No one seems to have mentioned Google Now - that is real innovation. Context.

I was at a bus stop today and someone with a iPhone 4s (i think) still went to a website to PULL the 'next bus' info.... that's crazy. Then again, in fairness I know some Android users do the same thing when all they need to do is 'swipe up' and the phone knows where you are and presents the bus timetable.... Software is where it's at.

Apple accused of extortion by rival tablet biz

samster
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Why is el Reg still citing Florian Mueller?

The guy has been found out previously, he's not reliable and is partisan towards his paymasters.

Asus Tegra 3, Android 4 tablet priced up for Brits

samster
Facepalm

It's a good bit faster 9check Anandtech/Toms hardware etc.). And thinner, and the screen is lovely. I've only seen one bad review (and that was from a Apple site!)

All the pre-orders statewide sold out so Asus must be on to something....

EU stalls Googorola anti-competition probe

samster
WTF?

Dear Anonymous Coward (or should that be Little Englander? ;-) I don't think you understand Commercial/Trade Law. A British company in the US has to abide by US regulation. That is proper and correct. The reverse is true. Both companies have large presences in Europe and there could be competition implications here.

I hope the deal goes through actually...

I don't think this is the place to discuss off-topic stuff but please do remember to turn the lights off if you're the last one leaving our 'glorius' former empire....

CamScanner

samster
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C'mon guys GET A PHUCKIN/FREAKIN/FLIPPIN grip!

(see what I did there?)

And that's the problem with your attitude. When American sitcoms say 'freakin' is that ok!?? C'mon we ALL KNOW what they mean right?! Or do you turn the channel?

Anyway, it wasn't the author - it was the example scan he used. Should he not have used the Onion? Should the Onion be banned in your books?

The article is fine. It's 2011 for fu**'s sake (oh sorry - 'for crying out loud I mean)

Samsung Galaxy Nexus Android smartphone

samster

...because we've had cloud-integration for a lot longer.

samster

I do - do this on the commute to work. I have a high cache set up for the odd time network coverage goes. XiiaLive does this very well.

If you think 3 are somehow the only ones who can tell what you're browsing, then I've got news for ya....

Besides they'd be able to tell I've been to Ikea, BBC, Android Authority, Pulse, Checking my shares... whoopy-do!

3 aren't angels - don't get me wrong, their tech support is abysmal. But from the stories I hear from friends about data on o2 and Vodaphone, I'll stick to 3 for the time being.... until that new disruptive 4g entrant comes along ;-)

samster

Poor Camera review

I was on some amateur photography websites over the weekend (as one does) and the native timelapse functionality was well commended.

Also, this takes the prize as the fastest camera on a smartphone, should really get a mention...

samster

Disagree

Things have changed - see my post below. Whilst 'useful' a memory card slot is becoming more and more redundant....

samster
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16GB nowadays is enough

I have a Samsung GS2 and I've barely used the internal memory. All my music is streamed (either from internet or from my NAS box) Yes I'm on a 2gb internet plan from 3 which costs me £19 per month and most months I've used around 1-1.2GB.

I take loads of video but that wirelessly syncs up to G+ and I make a backup copy to my NAS box (over wi-fi)

Some music I cache locally for times I'm on the underground but generally, my internal memory is just for apps.

Electric cars: too pricey until 2030 (or later)

samster
Megaphone

Duh! that's because the environmental costs are not included!!!

...wait until the Carbon tax comes... then you'll see a fairer comparison.

The curse of Google?: Android licensees fail to cash in

samster
Facepalm

Dont' get your facts from this spurios research

Just look at a financial website to look at HTC's revenues over the past 2 years... they ARE making shed-loads of cash through Android. SE are also seeng a turn-around.

samster
Facepalm

How is the Android market a mess?

Even my mother in law can use the Android Market..... it does the job and you can also send programs to your handset from a web browser - which is nice :)

Björk Biophilia

samster
FAIL

What a sell out she is.

Releasing to an Apple only platform.

Ignorning the 50% of the market who don't have Apple products.

When did Bjork and Steve Jobs get into bed?

Official: Microsoft buys Skype for $8.5bn

samster
WTF?

Time to sign up to Google Talk!

Skype's gonna put on weight....

Three is voted the best UK network

samster
Unhappy

3 are great - until there is a problem

I've been on 3 for a couple of years. Originally did it because they didn't charge roaming charges on other 3 networks. (They soon got rid of that! ).

I'm a big user of data. It is 3's data allowance (2GB) that keep me using 3. My only beef with them is their support staff and support policies.

On 3 different handsets I've suddenly lost 3G signal and I need to flip to flight mode a few times to get it back. The support line are abysmal. They wont help me and they are unbelievably patronising at time. Why won't they help me? .... Well my biggest beef is that 3 DO NOT SUPPORT YOU IF THE HANDSET IS NOT '3' BRANDED. I have been buying sim-free handsets from Amazon and Handtec for a number of years for both my partner and family. It's the only way to get decent handsets from HTC rather than waiting AGES for 3 to provide the same handset.

'Frank' from 3 (obviously not his real name) told me that "3 install special software on their handsets to make them compatible' and as a result , unbranded handsets (e.g. those without the 3 logo) can not be supported. What absolute tosh. No amount of reasoning with the clowns on support helps you in this situation.

So, yes 3's network might be OK, but you're on your own if your handset was not purchased through them. You get diddly-squat support. HTC ought to have a word....