Posts by MN

So you want an office of Apple Macs - here's a survival guide

Re: Linux/Mac - both the same; not enterprise-ready ... but getting there.

I thought Google were supposed to be exclusively using Chrome OS? Or did that one not quite work out?

Linux/Mac - both the same; not enterprise-ready ... but getting there.

In a previous job, almost everyone used Linux. As one of the few people happy with Windows, I ended up becoming the printing bitch, as none of the Linux desktops could connect to our printers.

In this job, we're given a choice between Windows and Mac, and I'm still the printing bitch. We're encouraged not to choose Macs - partly because of the cost, but also because they're currently a nightmare to support / integrate.

Things are getting better - to start with, the Macs couldn't even connect to our wireless network. I'm hoping it's just a transitional thing - choice is a good thing, as long as those choosing are fully informed...

Kia Rio 1.1 CRDi EcoDynamics

That's a BMW, though

Less air resistance due to you probably being 1" from the car in front, and less work for the alternator, due to refusal to use indicators.

iOS 5's iMessage chops carrier SMS routing traffic

cross-platform would work...

...if everyone embraced it. Windows Phone has MSN and Facebook chat integrated into its messaging system, both of which could probably be baked into iOS/Android.

Of course, as I'm the only person I know who has a Windows Phone, the only benefit I get it messaging people who are sat at a computer, or who happen to be in whatever MSN app they use on their phones, but I guess it's a step in the right direction!

HTC outs 'Mango' WinPho 7 smartphones

Yep

I've had a WP7 since launch - and I've said all along that the platform has promise, but tht I wouldn't recommend it, as it was missing far too many features. As a developer, I've had access to 7.5 Mango for a few weeks now, and I can safely say that the only bits that are missing are apps which take advantage of the new APIs in Mango.

Out of the box, the (7.5) phone has a significantly bigger feature set than any other phone out there, but (and this is a big but) once you take apps into consideration, there's still a few bits that are missing - for now. I've not found a decent satnav solution, but I know Navigon are bringing something to the table including offline maps, and now Nokia is embedded into the ecosystem, their Ovi maps might an appearance. I'm also keen to see some SSH clients - in fact, anything which takes advantage of the new sockets API.

Windows Phone has got almost everything right - it's simple, secure and robust, and if they improve their 'visibility' - via advertising, and courting phone sellers, things should look up. I work in an industry which makes use of mobile platforms, and Windows Phone hasn't even appeared on the radar yet, which is disappointing.

If you can wait, I'd see what Nokia have to offer when they bring out their first batch of Windows Phones. Otherwise, you're best considering these two phones.

MS announces Windows Phone 7.1

Microsoft *will* let you remove them from your contacts list.

Settings -> swipe to 'applications' -> people -> 'Only add Facebook information to existing contacts'. No apologetics needed.

Also, I imagine that Bing maps will be replaced by Nokia's, which is widely considered to be the best around.

I don't think Flash/Silverlight will be included in Mango, no.

Microsoft squeezes out Windows Phone Mango details

Fact check time

MS had 5 launch partners with WP7 - Dell, Asus, Samsung, HTC and LG. All but Asus have released phones, and Asus provided the pre-launch devices sent out to the media.

If you're going to troll, at least use something subjective to troll with.

Acer Iconia Tab W500

nice idea, but..

Is there a viable touch interface for Linux out there? Serious question - I don't know...

Windows phones send user location to Microsoft

Yes

It will, assuming you're daft enough to not disable data when roaming via the toggle under settlings->mobile network->data roaming.

If you are that daft, I should probably add that there are 2 choices - 'don't roam' or 'roam'. 'don't roam' is the one you want.

The Microsoft mobile reboot needs rebooting

So confused

I swear most people complaining have the weirdest expectations. Naturally, we always hear more about the negatives than the positives. See iPhone 4 antenna, for starters.

I was an early adopter of WP7, and my experience didn't start well, as the phone I received had an unresponsive screen. Luckily I got a quick replacement, and, having moved from WM6.5 to WP7, it was a complete breath of fresh air.

From an update perspective, I just received the March update today. There are tools out there to force the update, so if you're the sort of person who must have updates immediately, that's an option for you now. For me, the update wasn't urgent - the OS isn't really missing anything that's getting me antsy.

The idea that it's failing, and needs a complete rethink is sensationalistic journalism at its worst. Developers are making money, the vast majority of phones are working as intended, and the unique selling points of WP7 are still just that.

I'll concur that there's a lot of work still to do, that it's in danger of falling behind (next update's not due until Q3/4), and it would make me happy if it happened quicker, but the phone itself works as well as I'd hoped - I have no desire to jump ship.

As it stands, come next April, when my 18-month contract ends, I can see me with a Nokia Windows Phone. If the media stop attempting to destroy it, it doesn't see so unreasonable.

Frankly, Android is worse from an update perspective, and the only thing that could convince me to move to iPhone would be if they made iTunes vaguely usable.

Apple MacBook Pro 15in

Like for Like, not at all. There's more, though.

I made a similar comment on the 13" macbook review, but it bears repeating:

Apple MBP 15", 2.2GHz i7, 4GB RAM, 500GB 7200rpm HDD, 1680x1050 screen, £1929

Dell XPS15, 2.2GHz i7, 4GB RAM, 640GB 7200rpm HDD, 1920x1080 screen, £1149.

I then went on to state that the Macbook has slightly better graphics. Not £800 better graphics, mind.

Having read this article, though, a lot of the concessions I gave the Macbook go out of the window. If it *is* a desktop replacement, the much better battery life, and build quality in the Macbook become pretty much irrelevant.

My original point does still stand, though - Apple residuals are significantly better than pretty much any other hardware vendor. If you can afford to pay 1.66 times the price of the Dell for the similarly specced Macbook, you may get that back a few years down the road when it comes to selling the machine.

Microsoft pushes back cut 'n' paste update

email from SMS works

Vicky, I just had someone SMS me an email address, which gave me three options - either send an email, search contacts, or save as new contact.

The only time I've needed C+P was when I got an email with a tracking number for a parcel, which wasn't hyperlinked, so I had to transcribe it onto the website. Brought back horrible memories of my first ever mobile phone where you couldn't send SMSes to phonebook entries - you had to provide the number.

I have to take the jeers though, as I was one of the people who was laughing at iPhones' lack of c+p when it first came out. Karma's a bitch!

Apple MacBook Pro 13in

It is hard to compare on price

I have this argument repeatedly with friends - and it's tough because while it's easy to spec a non-mac to, or above the specs of macbooks, there are certain things that are hard to quantify.

For example, Dell have just started using Sandy Bridge i7s in their XPS laptops. As they don't do 13" ones, I've had to compare the 15" ones, giving the Dell the edge when direct comparisons aren't possible.

Apple MBP 15", 2.2GHz i7, 4GB RAM, 500GB 7200rpm HDD, 1680x1050 screen, £1929

Dell XPS15, 2.2GHz i7, 4GB RAM, 640GB 7200rpm HDD, 1920x1080 screen, £1149.

Looks like a shoe-in, but this is where it becomes interesting.

The Dell comes with 2GB GT540M graphics, the MBP has dual graphics cards - main one being the 1Gb HD6750M. It looks as if Apple has this one based on cursory glances at benchmark websites.

Another thing it's hard to gauge based on manufacturers details is battery life - Apple are generally at the high end of this benchmark, too.

The main thing, however, is resale value - I'm a PC person, and always have been. Yet when I'm done with a laptop, it goes in the loft. The idea that it has any residual cash value after 2 years is alien to me. Yet I have friends who have even made profits over 6 months when buying Macbooks.

For me, the idea of upgrading every year seems like a colossal waste of time and money, but it's the only way I could justify a mac laptop. I think I may be overanalysing things here, though - despite the ream of figures I'd have created, I'm still susceptible to the "IT'S SO FLUFFY I'M GONNA DIE" sensations.