Posts by John Bond

Dre-stic measures: Apple Beats retreat from iTunes brand – report

Re: Marketing madness

"I actually made the effort to refer to it as Consignia during that time and was universally met with confused expressions. Saying things like, "I'll take this parcel down to Consignia and send it off in about half an hour", resulted in, "What? What's Consignia?".

Then you were being ignorant.

Consignia was a corporate brand, not consumer-facing. Neither Royal Mail nor the Post Office lost their names.

Next you'll be telling us that you normally fly with International Airlines Group.

Apple taxpayers swarm to stone-age iPhone 6+ purely for the bigness

Kantar's numbers

Article: "Kantar’s numbers don’t indicate that a major migration over from Android is taking place"

Are you sure?

"Kantar Worldpanel claims that 32.4% of Apple’s new customers in the five big European countries surveyed switched to iOS from Android during the first three months of the year"

from: "Android Switchers Drive iOS Adoption in Europe During First Quarter"

http://www.macrumors.com/2015/05/06/kantar-worldpanel-ios-android-q1-2015/

Just WALK IN and buy an Apple Watch. Are you mad?

Lazy facts

Rather than just parrot someone else's poorly written article, why not check and report on the sales process properly - including the differences that apply pre- and post-launch?

It seems to me that Apple is approaching the watch launch from a customer-focused perspective. Perish the thought that they should help people to buy once and buy right!

Resources:

http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2015/03/09Apple-Watch-Available-in-Nine-Countries-on-April-24.html

http://9to5mac.com/2015/03/29/apple-store-revamp-for-apple-watch-revealed-magical-tables-demo-loops-sales-process/

Pixel mania: Apple 27-inch iMac with 5K Retina display

Re: Value for money?

> "I've just upgraded to a Dell 28" 4K display - £330+VAT."

>> "So £396 then"

The net cost depends on whether Chris - or any other buyer of the same product - is VAT registered. An important consideration that seems to have escaped you.

So potentially £330. Or potentially £396.

Which I expect is precisely why Chris specified net cost + VAT in the first place. He's a helpful chap. Unlike some.

WORLD CUP SHOCK: England declared winner in 2-1 defeat to Italy

Re: More socially needier?

Fair cop. Although I'm not a professional journalist, so perhaps my grammatical crime is less serious than theres :)

More socially needier?

"proved to be much more socially needier" ?

If only there was some kind of software that could check grammar.

Adobe hit by 'sophisticated' mega hack ransack

Creative Cloud protest petition

Not everyone who has signed up to CC has done so willingly. With limited time discount offers, Adobe has effectively forced many customers into signing up now - against their will - rather than risk getting left behind with outdated software. Many subscribers would, I'm sure, leap at the chance to return to boxed products, if only Adobe would reinstate them. This debacle only reinforces the case for customers to be given that option.

There's an online petition here, in case anyone wants to add their voice:

https://www.change.org/petitions/adobe-systems-incorporated-eliminate-the-mandatory-creative-cloud-subscription-model

Gov websites' value not at all clear despite trimming

Website value assessment & EU cookie law

It will be even harder for them to assess the value of those sites once they implement the spectacularly stupid EU cookie law that "we" agreed to!

Byte-dock MacBook Pro port replicator

Bug ugly

"it's not what you'd call polished."

Definitely not. It's what I'd call bug ugly.

What part of "Apple stuff needs to look cool" don't they understand?

It's neither a triumph of functionality (lack of USB hub, messy power connection), nor a must-have piece of Apple eye candy. So it fails on function AND design. Quite some achievement.

Roll on version 2.

Gartner slashes UK PC shipments for 2011

Nearly halved? Did you FAIL maths?

Last time I checked, a change in forecast from 8% to 5% represents a reduction of 37.5%.

That's much closer to a THIRD than it is to HALF.

Blatant exaggeration is irresponsible, not to mention unprofessional. No wonder everyone's obsessed with doom and gloom.

I'd suggest keeping to the facts if you wish to retain any kind of credibility.

Samsung intros 'skinnier than iPad 2' tablets

"iPad to"

So when is the previously unheard of "iPad to" coming out? And what are the specs?

Canon EOS 60D DSLR

60D in perspective

Don't get your knickers in a twist over price - the costs quoted in this (belated) review are HUGELY over-inflated. Amazon is currently selling the 60D for £771 (body only) or £902 (body + 18-55mm). It can also be found MUCH cheaper elsewhere (I got mine from HK with 18-55mm, 55-250mm AND a spare battery all for under £810).

I spent a long time obsessively comparing 60D vs 7D vs Nikon D7000, reading countless reviews and opinions and handling each in shops.

In my opinion, when you consider this camera's FULL spec (and I mean REALLY consider it), the 60D offers a great combination of features for amateur enthusiasts at a very reasonable price. The build quality is also perfectly robust and solid. I actually don't think this reviewer's score does the 60D sufficient justice.