Posts by sorry, what?

Microsoft's JavaScript challenger nears 1.0, wins Visual Studio love

Developer expectations...

"... will treat TypeScript as a first-class language, complete with ... code refactoring... developers have come to expect from Microsoft's tools."

Made me laugh. Hollowly, of course. The only way to give VS any real refactoring capability (for C# at least) is to buy and install Resharper.

I cried (inside, obviously) when I returned to using VS (2010) after a break of over 10 years. It seemed like it had hardly changed. VS is so far behind IntelliJ IDEA (from JetBrains, the developers of Resharper) it is like returning to stone slabs and chisels after using a word processor.

Yes! New company smartphones! ... But I don't WANT one

Re: Smart, but useless

@DijitulSupport

The Ace _2_ is a "price point" device, yes, and not current generation, but my wife's Galaxy S3 has much the same problem with its virtual keyboard (spoiling an otherwise decent experience). Honestly, the HTC keyboard is *so* much better that Samsung should be ashamed. I haven't seen the S4 implementation so can't comment on the latest and greatest...

Re: Smart, but useless

"I have a Samsung smart-something or other ... Typing on it is a nightmare"

I entirely agree. I have a Sammy Galaxy Ace 2 as my work phone and an HTC Desire (yes, the original 2010 edition). Whilst typing is fine on the HTC, using the HTC Sense virtual keyboard, I loath the Sammy's virtual keyboard. It is really hard to use, doesn't seem able to learn new "words" (at least not easily or obviously), fails to capitalize on the idea of press-and-hold to get secondary character options and is always auto adding spaces when I don't want them.

HTC's much smarter virtual keyboard even has a choice of layout for the portrait version of the keyboard that relies more on XT9 for fat fingered users. I find this works rather well.

Whilst Samsung have captured the market they could certainly still learn a few things from their competitors, especially in this usability area.

As a final point, it's not an Android issue. There are third party virtual keyboards that work far better, if you can muster the required trust implied by their extensive permission requirements.

Samsung and Apple BEWARE: Huawei is coming to eat your lunch

Re: Huawei

I rather like the alternative "who are we". It sums up the average Brit's recognition of the company and also allows for a jingle based on CSI's theme tune (Who Are You by The Who) - "who are we? he he, he he".

Nokia launches Android range: X marks the growing low-cost spot

Dual SIM

The screenshots seem to show two SIM-shapes at the top. I wonder, therefore, if the device supports two SIMs? This is a feature that would be useful even in this country (the UK) but seems to only appear on devices for countries like India.

Give me a moderately high spec Android device, easy replacement of the OS (to strip out Google's data slurp), MicroSD, replaceable battery and dual SIMs and I'd be very happy. Not sure these devices would fit the bill though. Especially with the "Windows Phone" veneer. That would have to get removed immediately after unboxing.

Magnets to stick stuff to tablets: Yup, there's an Apple patent application for that

Re: Confused

What about Android devices that know they have been docked into a car holder, switching to "car mode", based on sensing a magnet in the right position in the dock? Let's extend this - if the device and car use Bluetooth for Media playing and the device attaches to the car using a (partially) magnetic dock that, as a side effect notifies the device it is in car mode, automatically enabling Bluetooth, does that constitute prior art?

I hate the apparent failure to engage any sort of intelligent thought within the US Patent Office prior to the rubber stamping of applications from any US company... twats.

Facebook pays $19bn for WhatsApp. Yep. $45 for YOUR phone book

Personal massaging

Turn on vibrate, discretely position your device and get a mate to send (14, 1, 2) to you over and over again

Broker accuses FAST of scaring users off secondhand software

Pulling a FAST one

Why shouldn't you be able to sell on digital assets that you are no longer using? Why is this anything to do with copyright infringement? Why can software vendors lock you in and disallow transfer of ownership? It's all smelly and covered in wee if you ask me.

Software is no longer alone in this regard. Consider how you can buy a paperback book and sell it on when you're done with it. Now look at your eBook reader and tell me you can do the same (at least assuming you're using a Kindle)...

PayPal 'n' Google's FIDO drops 'simpler, stronger' secure login spec

Re: One fundamental flaw... really?

OK, this is just something said in the article and I cannot verify it myself but:

"The fingerprint or voice print never leaves device. We're not building big database of secrets."

Does that make you feel less troubled?

'No, I CAN'T write code myself,' admits woman in charge of teaching our kids to code

JavaScript is code...

But it isn't the only form and really should not be the language used for teaching because of its strange inconsistencies with scoping.

HTML is not code - it is markup. CSS is similarly not code. Code implies behaviour, logic, execution.

I learned programming first in Basic V on Prime then in RML and BBC Basics. These simple Von Neumann languages teach logic and execution quickly. Once mastered then move on to Object Oriented languages and their specific idiom.

Some managers view things differently

I worked in defence for over 10 years and often had to inflate estimates, a good 40% 'contingency', in order to get around managers who automatically reduced the estimates by that sort of order when communicating with their managers. They seemed to think that it was OK for them to work 9 to 5 but techies were clearly unable to socialise and therefore didn't need time away from the office when they weren't sleeping.

Things were better in the telco and web tech domains - the more technically competent/aware managers I met there were more reasonable in their demands, even though 9 to 5 was a rare luxury.

Yet another Brit mobe tower borg: Three and EE ink network-sharing deal

Re: The footprint is the same

I would still contend that there will be some improvement simply because the masts are not co-located and will therefore complement each other. For example, and I know Vodafone isn't one of the mergees, but I get suckish EE coverage and fair to good Vodafone coverage in my home.

only ... two network coverage footprints to choose from

But the footprints will generally, and points above not withstanding, give better coverage. Which can only be a good thing. We still have the benefit of competition on tariff.

Goodbye 37signals, hello Basecamp

Suckish

I know the idea was "minimum viable product", but my experience with Basecamp left me feeling it was "barely viable 'product'" - it sucked bad and had nasty issues with HTML embedded in the content etc. and 37sig didn't seem to be particularly driven to improve the 'product', preferring instead to start creating something else.

Fortunately for me the requirement to use it in my job evaporated.

Schmidt gets $100m in Google stock on top of his $6m bonus

Bistromathics

Fine, Google's doing reeeally well, taking over the world and all that.

Fine, Google isn't doing anything other corporates aren't doing - CEOs for large corporates are (unfairly, IMHO) all paid disproportionately more than their average serf. I mean, employee.

But, come on. Does he, personally, contribute THAT much to the bottom line in a year? I doubt it.

Second-hand software broker: OK Microsoft – we made a mistake

Seemed unbiased reporting until the last paragraph

Where the journo then implied that the discounter purposefully broke the law. It also appears to be a US law here, which makes it lots more difficult for a small UK company to know about it let alone intentionally flout it... or am I mistaken?

Bangable poster firm Novalia makes printed 'leccy keyboard

... used for a short promotional campaign and then thrown away

Why oh why do we think this way? Can't we be more responsible with our available resources?

I think the use of ink and paper is a great way to replace "nasty" materials such as plastics assuming the ink naturally degrades harmlessly and is itself "clean" in its production processes and companies invest in growing the trees required. I'd be very happy to use such products.

Having said all this, I am applying double standards because I don't avoid use of traditional products. I do grumble about packaging but that's about as far as it gets. On the flip side, I don't tend to "upgrade" anything until the previous device (phone, iron, TV etc.) dies or is literally obsolete. There, I feel better already.

This THREESOME is a HANDFUL: It’s the Asus Transformer Book Trio

Re: Linux

This device is very interesting but sadly too expensive for my wallet. I must disclose that I drooled over the PadFone too and that I actually quite like ASUS kit.

On the Linux in enterprise, I don't know what size organization you're thinking about, but at my last place only the corporate functions used windows or OSX, whilst R&D and Professional Services all used Linux on desktops and laptops. I think that made a 50:300 split.

'Eventful but positive' year for RM as it quits the PC-making world

Nostalgic RML 380 Z

A big metal box with a lockable and illuminated power button and 5 1/4 inch floppy drive running some home grown games including missile command. Those were the days... None of this PC nonsense! Good riddence!

Japanese quantum boffins 'may have the key to TELEPORTATION'

OK, so what are they actually talking about?

It would have been nice if the article gave a bit of clarity as to what possible practical applications this could have... if it's just being done for pure knowledge sake that's fine with me but let's make that clear in the article too!

New Doctor Who's new costume newly REVEALED by Beeb

Good scalp treatment and careful eating required

Otherwise this suit will nicely show up all those flakes and glossop stains...

Something I realized when reading this article - the Doctor doesn't treat his clothes like us humans do. I mean, we tend to change them most days. Why does he have to have one set (a "costume")? Sure, he can have his favourite, but what gives?

Oh, and "where's the IT angle"? Perhaps it is that the cloth has been treated to create a fractal surface in order to repel dirt?

Nokia's Android? It's not for the likes of us…

... many a Reg reader would have opted for a Nokia Android...

+1

Best phone hardware you can get. Add a really good processor, excellent (and more robust than the Lumia) screen, wads of memory, a microSD card slot and Android (well, a branch that removes all that data slurping at least) and you have a winner in my book.

Google's Nest gobble: Soon ALL your HOME are BELONG to US

Re: don't plug in /wifi

@AC from 15:00, move into a Faraday cage then ;-)

Re: people's reaction unexpected?

Google definitely have lost my trust (they aren't the only ones but they are a primary one).

Whilst I like Android as a phone and tablet platform, from a user experience point of view, and like that the devices are sophisticated whilst being relatively well priced, I'm getting really twitchy about all the data they are gathering. Especially since there doesn't really seem any limit on how and to what purpose they use the data. Privacy policy regardless.

The more connected the world the less secure I'm feeling. Sad but true.

Bloke hews plywood Raspberry Pi tablet

Love the hinges

But what happens if it "flops open"? Could mean you get raspberry stains everywhere.

Meta search engines may infringe database rights: EU Court of Justice

The Google angle...?

Google has aspects of its search (such as "shopping results") that will surely be impacted here... or will they just ignore it all again anyway?

Intel and Asus put the dual boot in, offer 2-in-1 lapslab WinDroid

Re: What they don't tell you...

Android apps can have native libraries... e.g. (most if not all?) media players do that for performance reasons.

At different times...?

I'd rather be able to use both at the same time on one device. A bit like having a dual sim phone to avoid taking both work and personal phones everywhere... the BlueStacks stuff sounds more promising. As long as it isn't all emulator and thus power hungry, that is.

Apple, Samsung get a room to settle patent war. Forgive us if we don't hold our breath

Wise up Apple (and the US Patent Office)

It isn't like people who buy Samsung or other Android devices would pay the Apple premium to get an iPhone whether Apple wins or loses. All they are really doing is hardening opinions against them with this bully tactic.

Like MonkeyScrabble said, half (if not more) of what they have patented shouldn't really be patentable, either because of prior art (I wonder if the Star Trek tablets had those rounded corners? Oh look... http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/Tablet_STTNG_The_Bonding.png) or because they are not innovations (those rounded corners again; plenty of old Nokia feature and smart phones had curvy corners and do/did you see them behaving this way?).

Campaign to kick NSA man from crypto standards group fails

Storm in a teacup?

It seems reasonable to take note of his affiliation, but that is (to me) as far as it need go. He's only a co-chair. Are we saying that we don't trust the rest of the group to be considering security and privacy appropriately when listening to what he has to say?

It also seems to me that someone outside the group could just as easily (if not more so, with some anonymity) have "discussions" with the other members of the group and attempt to influence them in some way.

Makes no difference whether he is co-chair or not as far as I can see.

Ten classic electronic calculators from the 1970s and 1980s

Re: FX80 early lesson in marketing?

I think it was the FX-80, black, that had the SD functions and the 5 quid cheaper FX-81, white/cream, that didn't. I had the cheaper one and my friend had the expensive one. He paid for the printed functions above the keys and an LCD that said "SD" in small letters when in SD mode. I didn't have the printing and the LCD said "ERROR" where "SD" should be if you used the key sequence to access SD mode. As you mentioned, it all still worked though!

Laugh? Oh, you bet. As soon as I'd copied down what the functions were on which key ;)

Microsoft tries to trademark 'Mod' in the US

Re: FFS (TM)

@Lost all faith... Oh to be 16 1/2 again! Well... perhaps not.

btw, see @skelband's excellent reply to you.

FFS (TM)

The word "Mod" or "mod" has been used so much in all sorts of scenarios including software modules and software modification I can only assume Microsoft have a new ('humanities' flavour) 16 year old "marketing" person in charge of this...

Ho, ho, HOLY CR*P, ebuyer! Etailer rates staff on returns REJECTED

Re: I feel it in the air

@Goldmember, I once bought a silver Nintendo DS Lite from them, around the time that the DSi came out. It came with an American power adapter, where the official boxing said it was only for sale in North America and some related territories (not the UK), and they had packed a third-party charger too. This was not mentioned in the online description and when I rejected the product on the grounds that it was not as described, along with the way the boxing indicated "not for sale" in the UK, they grudgingly agreed to refund me (they updated the product details to mention the adapter) but I had to pay for return P&P.

This still irritates me when I think about it and has meant I have never used them again. You might say "eBuyer beware".

Apple wants sales ban on Samsung smartphones nobody is selling

sigh

Analogue radio will CONTINUE in Blighty as Minister of Fun dodges D-Day death sentence

“We think it would be great if the BBC made Radio 1 DAB only!”

Me too... and I'll stick with Radio 4 FM.

Is Google prepping an ARMY of WALKING ROBOTS?

I'm guessing some Google exec read the 'bot names and got confused; BigDog and BigData looked so similar they assumed there was some massive corporate overlap. And I'm guessing this follows a previous exec or two who got confused between Android and Robot.

eBay head honcho: Amazon drone delivery plan is 'FANTASY'

Re: Yeah...but...

@Matt, I tend to agree with much of your sentiment (except perhaps that Amazon would really use drones in the end). Without this sort of less-run-of-the-mill thinking you don't get innovation. A definite "Bah, Humbug" from eBay and I say "right back at ya".

Ten top tech toys to interface with a techie’s Christmas stocking

Re: Strange

Um, Sony Xperia Z Ultra...?

Hey, George Clooney. LOST in SPACE... and thirsty? Visit these 5 ALIEN worlds*

Re: Optional

"The gas giant was boiling and seething. It really couldn't stand those smug GPP doors any more than Marvin could."

Bring Your Own Disks: The Synology DS214 network storage box

Hot swap, yay!

I have a 2 disk Buffalo NAS enclosure and was VERY disappointed to discover it didn't support hot swap. But then I don't know if that's even an option on RAID 1. I'd love a system that allows me to just pull a drive out to keep "off site" as a backup, plugging a new drive in (blank) to replace it and have that automatically rebuilt without stopping the NAS from being used.

If this box supports such an idea I think that is the prime "+1" for it...

Regardless, RAID anything (but 0) is a life saver.

How STEVE JOBS saved Apple's bacon with an outstretched ARM

Re: Taking a byte at history

@Dave 126, mal7921 and Richard 22 - I stand educated! Yup it must be an age thing; I'm a decade older than Richard 22, and have a few more years on me than mal7921. This probably explains a lot.

I have one friend (don't stop reading there!) who still has an Archimedes. He used to rave about RiscOS, but I never really got to have a play so can only be guided by your experiences. I grew up with beebs (and got a Master for use at uni). Now the beeb was an excellent machine to learn programming - both in BBC Basic and in 6502 assembler!

Cheers!

Re: Taking a byte at history

@JeeBee, even if the ARM1 was being used in a tube second processor "add-in" (not something I was aware of), it certainly didn't go "into a system that became wildly popular in the UK education market". I never came across anyone using a second processor other than a Z80 one (from Torch) or a 320xx one (Acorn's Pandora)...

Taking a byte at history

@Dave 126, latching on to your comment about the Archimedes, and to focus on the quote in the article:

"Everybody my age in the UK used one of those machines at school," he said – Chris is a middle-aged chap – but "they're long gone now."

I'd say this isn't right - though it may be I'm slightly older than Chris. None of my peers used the Archimedes and its ARM processor - we all used the BBC Micro with its 6502, at home, at school and at university. My recollection was that the Archimedes appeared that little bit too late and the IBM PC stole its place in history.

Romance is dead: Part-time model slings $1.5bn SUEBALL at Match.com

Reflected light

That's all we're talking about here, folks. Surely it isn't for the person in the picture to complain, but rather the person who had the where-with-all to capture it using some optics, a CCD and some other assorted electronics?

Look at how El Reg has been getting away with using Paris's likeness (or is it just a look-a-like?!)...

Meet the BlackBerry wizardry that created its 'better Android than Android'

Re: "If it uses QNX rather than Linux"

I feel compelled to say that, whilst what you say may be essentially correct, Linux started life long enough ago that many of the phones we have in our pockets are actually of a better spec in processor and memory terms than the devices on which Linux was run back in the day. The issue is efficiency and therefore reduced power usage and, I suspect, there won't be a huge amount of difference between the two (said in an uninformed and glib manner).

I have been an Android user for several years now. The thing that I have come to dislike is the way I feel spied on by Google and its continuous slurping of data. For third party apps I never accept certain permission combinations but for those core Googly ones (like gmail and maps) you're basically stuffed because Google can do whatever it wants. On the device or 'in the cloud'. Same applies to the Play Store itself.

Not to say that I'd switch to BB. Mainly because I can't see them surviving. And I hate the Apple premium, so that's a no. Windows Phone? Not a chance; I seriously dislike the UX. So I'm left wondering if there are any decent Android branches that improve the privacy side of things...

Star Wars exec: These ARE THE DROIDS I was LOOKING FOR

Camera position for the photo in the article

I guess the shot was taken by Chewbacca...

Android adware that MUST NOT BE NAMED threatens MILLIONS

Re: What hasn't been mentioned....

Sorry... saying it yet again... Google should look at the model that Symbian had for permissions. A user could permanently, or on a case by case basis (interactively), allow or deny the app permission to perform specific actions and the developers knew this was the case so they wrote their code to handle it. A programmer worth his salt knows how to code 'defensively' and how to pop up a message telling the user that if they disallow feature X then the app can't work...

Down with Unicode! Why 16 bits per character is a right pain in the ASCII

ASCIIart and technological backwaters

Yes, you can write any language you choose (even those that they have on all the Star Trek, Star Wars and Stargate displays) using ASCII as long as you are happy to have one or two characters per page and construct it all as ASCIIart.

I had been a Java bean for over a decade, up until the start of the year when I found a job with an M$ based outfit. Something I rapidly spotted was how backwards so much of the M$ technology is. Don't get me wrong, there are some cool things too, but this discussion about UTF-8 as if it were something new and wonderous, and how tricky it is to use with certain platforms and languages, seems like something from the late 90s, not the 2010s!

French data cops to Google: RIGHT, you had your chance. PUNISHMENT time

Re: Are they splitting hairs?

@Joe Montana, isn't that the point; the French are asking for the Ts & Cs to be more explicit about what is done by Google with the data...? Isn't it really Google's responsibility to provide this information in the form of their contract with the user, so the user can make that educated and informed decision?