Posts by Keep Refrigerated

Apple and Google ramp up proxy war

Just me...

Or did anyone else read the last line of TFA with John Williams' Duel of Fates in their head (from The Phantom Menace)?

Apple loses ground to Android in tablet biz

Forkin' Hell

Yes you are somewhat correct. Technically, the Android name, and associated Google ecosystem are Android. The OS/distro itself is referred to as Android (a fork, or sort of modified Linux), but it's open source so anyone can use it.

What Amazon have done is created another fork and called it Kindle Fire - therefore Amazon is using Kindle Fire distro and they'll now have to maintain it as a separate branch.

They could merge new changes from the open source part of Android but I suspect that aside from bug fixes they may not bother to introduce new features; they certainly don't seem to be bothering with code names or version numbers. More likely they'll release a new Kindle with new features when the time comes but I could be wrong.

BBC's images of murdered infant did not breach privacy, copyright

The Public Interest

Somehow I'm pretty sure if this case involved a significant other media empire or a rich public figure and it was an image belonging them being used in such a trial, the BBC wouldn't have such an easy time with the courts.

Also, I find the appeal to public interest to be an interesting one. If we ignore the actual ruling about copyright infringement and simply apply the principle to all court proceedings; then it's staggering how inconsistent the courts can be about public interest.

For example, the use of super-injunctions and the naming and shaming of those who use them: Public figures and corporations can advertise their good reputation, which in turn influences the public to back them in campaigns or buy products they promote. If that public figure or corp is using a super-injunction to hide their dirty secrets then I'd argue that it's of greater public expediency and urgency to know than some pictures of a dead child.

Presumably from this ruling, with the public interest in mind, El Reg is free to publish relevant photos used in this court case (as long as they don't seed them):

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01/12/amp_bittorrent_injunction/

New Euro IP law promises artists torpedoes to sink pirates

Re-arranging deckchairs on the Titanic

Just keep the music playing boys, whilst we try to prevent lifeboats from being deployed.

MPAA threat sparks White House petition for bribery probe

Corporations are People too!

So perhaps, like people, they should simply be given one vote and go along to the polling station like everyone else and vote with their ONE vote. Perhaps then there would be a fairer representation.

All lobby money should then be pooled into one big lump sum and distributed evenly between running parties. It's a case of then, rather than buying specific politicians to favour and ram through your cause, you have to decide which party is most aligned to your goals - but accept that individual politicians who are not aligned will still get a share.

Perhaps they could go one step further - your lobby money can only be used to fund your own party = net benefit to all. Citizens would get a truly diverse and representative government with many voting options (as opposed to right/far right) and the MPAA, Bank, Insurance parties get a minor share of the votes and minimal influence on government.

Facebook, MySpace, Twitter expose Google's 'evil'

@AC

You're confusing the premise.

* Google pays browser and phone vendors to use Google as the default search engine.

* Google does not pay browser and phone vendors NOT to use other search engines.

Therefore you get Google by default, but you are still given the option to choose a different SE for default instead.

Similar for social networks. Google releases spiders that index any content you throw at it (or that others link to). Farcebook and Twatter are free to open the gates to their gardens and allow the spiders in - and would probably get higher rankings than G+.

However, they don't want to let the spiders into their walled gardens (instead they want the spiders to pay a fee at the gate), therefore Google doesn't index them - at their request. Simples.

There may be a narrow anti-trust case for Google preventing vendors from choosing alternate pre-loaded crap (such as Skyhook - if this accusation is true). However as a consumer, I'm glad they do that; if I want a specific app I'll get it myself from the market thank-you very much.

In any case, it's only the Android name they control, if someone wants to take Android OS and bundle a bunch of crap with it for their devices they are welcome - just don't call it Android - I think that's fair and helps the consumer as much as anything to know just what they are buying.

Juror jailed for looking up rape defendant on Google

Odd from a US perspective

I bet a lot of this seems odd from a US perspective...

Consider, if this alleged rapist had allegedly committed the offence in the US, then he could have simply run a negative media campaign against the victim's character before the trial started and got away without ever having to set foot in a courtroom.

In Russ^WUnited States, victim becomes defendant.

Ouija Boards

Well if it's a murder trial, that could prejudice the jury a little bit...

Node.js sees Windows compatibility as key to success

“Cross-platform support future-proofs applications"

This guy works for Microsoft, you know, that huge IT company that have gotten successful by making sure their software works on all platforms and providing official support for said platforms.

Redmond campaigns for gay marriage rights

If I was gay i'd be very worried about now...

After all Microsoft have already 'embraced' gay marriage, they are now seeking to 'extend' state law, what will be their next step if they succeed?

Windows Phone to overtake iOS in 2015

Typical Deniers

Commentards on this article are typical deniers.

The model clearly shows that the Microsoft trend is that it's going to beat iOS by 2015, I don't understand why anyone would disagree with this when the evidence is right there!

Microsoft blames poor Windows sales on PC slump

Anecdotal but...

In addition to Vic's experience, I've noticed a trend of people my age and up (30+) much more open to embracing alternatives to Windows and giving Linux a try, whereas when I speak to young people they come across fairly indoctrinated into the 'Windows as a superior OS' meme.

I really thought it would be the opposite, young people embracing alternative, edgy, smart ideas and tech, old people being stubborn and sticking to legacy. But as I've grown older I've noticed the exact opposite; young people seem to be very easily indoctrinated into bad practices, dumb ideas and lock-in.

I don't quite know if this is something specific to the X and Y generation, or if it's always been that way and I've only just noticed as I've got older.

Oh, and... get off my lawn!

Kodak's moment: Camera biz files for bankruptcy

Clearly the problem here...

...is they didn't lobby congress hard enough.

There should have been tough laws enacted to prevent these photogra^pirates from using digital cameras to upload their own photo content to the web without using film. People using digital cameras to sidestep the use of film have stolen jobs from hardworking Americans!

SOPA is dead. Are you happy now?

"nuanced, technically-informed, respectful" discussion...

What, like this Matt?

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/12/internet-inventors-warn-against-sopa-and-pipa

Or this?

http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/01/trent-reznor-mgmt-write-open-letter-to-congress-in-opposition-of-sopapipa/

Or maybe this?

https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Perhaps this?

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%252F!/petition/veto-sopa-bill-and-any-other-future-bills-threaten-diminish-free-flow-information/g3W1BscR

A lot of reasonable discussion and petitioning was taking place long before yesterdays blackout - except congress couldn't hear past the great wads of cash being quietly thrown at them by lobbying media companies - http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/money

And when congressman are not dismissing technology experts as "nerds", what happens when neutral (or 180 turn) politicians try to set up a meeting of both sides?

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120118/01464317448/disney-refused-invitation-senator-feinstein-to-meet-with-tech-companies-over-pipasopa.shtml

http://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/oe3mf/these_61_senators_are_refusing_to_meet_with_their/

Tech companies had to shout, they had to do something (not even close to) drastic to get congress to actually stop in their tracks. The immature one's here, are the one's who throw their rattle when they find all that money they spent is about to be burned (the same one's who refused to hear reasoned arguments from the "nerds"):

http://gizmodo.com/5877143/riaa-reminds-us-why-we-hate-them-with-obnoxious-smartass-tweet

http://blog.mpaa.org/BlogOS/post/2012/01/17/Senator-Dodd-On-Troubling-Developments-of-Blackout-Day-.aspx

Apologies for all the links, just didn't want to come across as some shouty, raving, conspiratorial loon who didn't have any strong evidence to back them up.

This article is a complete disappointment from you Matt - I expect better as in the past I've felt you've written some fairly balanced and informed ones. Tut-tutting about the fact that there is some noise, snark and joviality from the sidelines is a bit rich for someone who writes articles on The Register of all places.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Android Tablet

Booting

I have to say, if it's anything like the TF101 which is dual core, it will be a real dog booting up. Thankfully you rarely do need to reboot.

Oddly it was quite fast at booting till the first update came through - but on delivering updates Asus have been superb so far so hard to complain.

Not sure why you got the downvote.

Windows 8 hardware rules 'derail user-friendly Linux'

@Miek

Considering 2 of those devices were installed with Linux when I was just exploring and figuring it out - I wasn't aware of such consumer rights and all the issues surrounding technology at the time - far too long and receipts are lost.

Regarding new devices, 1 is a work laptop and the other I suppose I just don't have the time or motivation, but if I was more of an activist I would. Instead, I've committed myself in future to seeking out tech that is not pre-tainted^Winstalled with Microsoft tat.

Would it not be ironic, though...

If this ultimately had a negative impact on Windows sales. Bare with me..

Let's assume that currently most Lusers pay the Windows tax and buy popular hardware because it's open and supported; they also run multiple devices and recommend hardware to their friends and family - say an average of 5 Windows devices (wiped and Linux installed) per 2 Windows devices purchased by average consumer.

If Microsoft go ahead with this, then I certainly intend to purchase only from vendors that pre-install Linux. If most other Lusers went the same way, and fled from mainstream locked-down consumer electronics, Microsoft might take a significant hit.

Even with f+f recommendations (it's very easy to spread FUD about how locked down that Packard-Bell computer is they want to buy and how they should buy this cheaper option and purchase the Windows OS separately). I get asked a lot, I even get asked to buy hardware for people as it's all too technical for them.

It might even bring some clarity to the statistics for a change. For years Microsoft has been able to claim the number of Windows licenses sold (excluding downgrades and wipes). We might get to see what the true figure is after you remove the number of Windows that are wiped and replaced by Linux - which I suspect is far higher than website visitor counts.

=== TL;DR ===

By drawing a line in the sand, Microsoft could unintentionally cause a statistical surge in Linux popularity; as multi-PC Lusers flee and buy Linux pre-installed vendors. Thus revealing the hidden percentages of those who pay the Windows tax but wipe and install Linux.

I have 4 devices with Linux installed for which Windows tax was paid. I'm not proud of that fact.

The Register to publish other sites' blacked-out content in SOPA protest

Had a glance at the Beeb article

That fine gentleman Mr Orlowski is name-checked I see!

Apple wants to OWN YOUR VERY SOLE

You don't *own* music, why should you *own* clothes?

"In Cupertino style, users would be prevented from putting their sensors on unauthorised clothing. The patent application complained that people were in the habit of removing spy circuits from authorised trainers and putting them in unofficial items. Apple doesn't like that."

Obviously this is preparing us for the next logical step:- Apple, Microsoft et al are going to start licensing us clothing. Anyone caught wearing unauthorised clothing will be stripped immediately and denied access to all clothing stores. Forget hand-me-downs. Hand-me-downs is piracy: you are not permitted to transfer ownership of our licensed clothes.

Also, if you want to buy a t-shirt from Microsoft then you can't wear jeans from Apple as they're incompatible, and definitely not make a pair of your own to wear - the t-shirt will fall apart on when you try to put on your home-made jeans. You can buy a t-shirt from Apple, but it's called a straight-jacket, when you put it on they effectively achieve lock-in as you are then unable to free your hands to put on anything else.

George Lucas: 'No more Star Wars'

Wrong audience

The problem was that he was creating the prequels for the wrong audience. The kids of the 80's that loved the originals and played with the toys are all grown up. They remember the fantasy that ignited their imaginations - but no longer needed the toys.

Lucas should have been focusing on creating gritty prequels, catering to a more mature audience. No we don't need to see Jedi sex scenes, but we do need something more intelligent than Jar Jar Binks and a terrible poorly contrived romance.

One of my all-time favourite RPGs was KOTOR. You pretty much knew which side you wanted to be so the trick was if you want to be Dark Side you simple go around treating everyone like an asshat - even if it didn't seem like a natural response - just so you could max your DS points.

In the same way, Hayden Christensen must have reasoned to himself - "Hey, my character is going to go DS", and so basically acted every scene in the same way. Sadly what works for a highly playable game, doesn't always translate to the big screen - especially if you try to keep these types of game dynamics.

Imagine if Batman Begins and the Dark Knight was followed up with Batman and Robin... that's what you have here. No depth to the characters, no tension - just massive reliance on special effects to make up for inexcusable lack of story and poor script.

Trevor explores Microsoft virtual training

Today I read an article on the Register...

I've spent 2 minutes reading the article. Putting aside the content of the article, I think we should discuss the webpage itself. The article is there to read. It's obvious what you need to do - read it.

As is fairly standard with any modern news website, a browser is needed to read it. Lack of a browser is going to make it difficult to read at all. Each article can take 2-5 minutes to read, the comments take a bit longer, you can read and comment on a tablet too but the text box doesn't lend itself well to a virtual keyboard.

Looking at all the Register articles. El Reg has decided to go red top. Lots of ads too. The front page shows all current articles "at a glance".

I am not a content creator. I am not a journalist I'm a content consumer . I need to pick carefully which articles I want to read, or I might end up reading some rehashed press release or puff-piece for Register partners. In this context the article doesn't work well.

There's a ratings bar, showing 3 votes - I just gave it a downvote. Also I'd like to point out other mundane things like - you can tweet this article, and there's some text that tells you how many comments it has. Simple things. But these are exactly the "simple things" that when combined actually provide a helpful and usable experience.

Compare this to Slashdot. No, actually don't.

So here we have an article I've now spent more time commenting on than consuming. But I enjoyed creating this comment far more than the 2 minutes reading the article.

I am not yet sold on this article, I think I could find better one's written by BBC technology reporting.

Microsoftie takes over HP's strategy

Not only WebOS

What about Andoid integration? Linux support? I have a HP Envy 115 printer with a modified version of Android - shite for apps - but superb for networking and internet. HP have also been one of the best supporters of Open Source Linux drivers - even if there is not a driver for your specific model, the driver for the product range usually works just as well.

Let's just say if HP had produced a printer with Win CE or a stripped down version of Win XP - I would not have bought one of their printers. Ditto if they kill the Linux driver support - no more printer recommendations from me.

Yahoo! cofounder! Jerry! Yang! quits!

Yahoo! was! my! first!

Yahoo! took my search virginity... then I started dating AltaVista. I flirted with MSN Search but we never went out. Excite failed to excite... I let them all toolbar my browser... but it was Google who stole my heart... the bastard!

Fresh Apple lawsuits target 15 Samsung gadgets

Apple obviously don't read El Reg forums...

Or they would have sued by now over the nice shiny new buttons with rounded edges.

Woz praises Android, blasts iPhone limitations

"single use case"

Umm... which 'single use case' are you referring to?

The one where someone's tech-illiterate wife is able you use Android with ease, or the one where your tech-(il)?literate girlfriend's phone hardware appears to be defective?

Child labour, lost wages uncloaked by Apple factories audit

Look at the big picture

Just to be clear, I am not in any way condoning child labour, but those jumping to condemn it need to look at the societal and economic picture...

Child labour in certain 2nd and 3rd would countries exists not just because of lax laws and demand for cheap goods. It also comes down to that countries economic policy - particularly healthcare provision and minimum wage. For many families, the children need to work to make up enough income for everyone to eat, let alone when one or both parents are either dead, or incapacitated (through disease or accident). In those cases the child or children are the main income earners.

In some ways, if job conditions were improved, made safer and workers treated well, including education made readily available, child labour could even be seen as a positive. However, for child labour to really be put out of business - those governments need to truly invest in looking after their people. Minimum wages and free healthcare would be start. It would prevent many diseases that incapacitate or kill parents, it would also allow parents to become breadwinners, rather than merely contributors to overall household income.

As I said, not condoning it, but the whole system needs to be challenged. Simply telling a factory to fire it's child workers and not hire anymore may cause many to starve.

That said, under those conditions it amazes me that the US economy manages to function without having child labour - due to lack of public healthcare and basic minimum worker protections.

Experts: We're stuck with passwords – and maybe they're best

2-Part Authentication

Biometric data should only really be used to complement the password authentication.

So ideally something like this: You walk up to the ATM and the screen reads, "Hello and welcome back! Your last name begins with "R" and your first name contains the letter "E", is this correct? Then there could be 3 names to choose from for you to select, then enter your password. This could then be used for panic mode... the delay in answering the questions about your identity serve to keep the mugger in the same spot whilst security arrive.

Rather than using facial recognition though, a much more secure and simpler implementation, would be combining methods to identify if more than one person was present at the ATM. So have the customer stand on a pressure pad that calculates the weight, along with a camera that identifies number of bods present. You could also have a rotating screen slide around the ATM which only has room for one person.

I've actually seen this kind of thing (weight + sliding screen door) implemented in a security door in Austria. It occasionally refused you access and you had to step out and in again - but this is something the hoi polloi is already conditioned to deal with in other areas.

And those bloody meaningless secure meters...

Choose your password - must contain at least 8 characters:

"Try h@cking this 5uckaz!!! &" Secure Meter: []

***Special chars not allowed!***

"Try hacking this 5uckaz" Secure Meter: []

***Spaces not allowed!***

"Tryhackingthis5uckaz" Secure Meter: [][][]

***Too long!***

"passw0rd" Secure Meter: [][][][][] OGMZ SO SECURE!

*** This is good - Proceed! ***

Kenyan startup claims Google 'scalped' its data after staging a STING

Forget *whinge* *whinge* my website doesnt appear first...

If this is true, then the book really needs to be thrown at Google.

How ironic though, at a time when Google is being used as a punching bag by congress; planning to introduce a bill to 'protect American jobs from foreign websites', yet the subject of their ire is stealing jobs from a foreign territory.

Yet you won't hear congress discussing American companies stealing foreign jobs, oh no! Keep kicking Google over bullshit search results and bullshit protectionism, ignore the real crimes!

UK student faces extradition to US after piracy case ruling

Joke needs updating

On the other hand, if he gets KIA - his body will be urinated on.

Raspberry Pi Linux micro machine enters mass production

Can't wait to order one

As other posters have said, so many things this could be used for. The fact it comes without a case only makes it more useful - think about plugging in sensors to record temperature, pressure, light, movement.

Then you can start building programmable heated coffee mugs, toasters, remote control toys, lamps, blinds... basically think of any piece of furniture or dumb gadget you have and how it could be improved if you were able to add a computer, or program it with some complex instructions - without having to buy an expensive off-the-shelf solution.

This could spur a whole new generation of inventors... the only danger is becoming a generation of bankrupts who got sued for some kind of patent infringement for doing something obvious *with a computer*.

ICANN snubs critics, opens domain extension floodgates

You were saying...?

Appreciate your reply but...

"Federal law enforcement agents have arrested members of two cyber-crime gangs who may have netted more than $74 million by infecting user computers with scareware and then charging for fake antivirus software." - http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Midmarket/FBI-Busts-Two-Scareware-Fake-AV-Gangs-in-Global-Operation-187749/

I think that's more than enough to cover the fees to register a few misspelled domains - remember they're not trying to fool the bank or the authorities - just enough of the type of people who click on banner ads that warn "Your Computer is Infected!"

The fact that online scams and typo squatters exist is a testiment to the fact that ICAN'T will not be able to catch them all. "Hello, my name is Ben Nigel King, I would like to register the domain .BNKing here is my $185k fee. Also, I am planning a new social media network and would like to purchase .updates - here's another $185k."

Now you have:

https://www.barclays.internet.bnking/abcxyz/account/

http://www.microsoft.updates/windows/viruses/urgent/install.now

This is just off the top of my head with little thought or planning. The criminal enterprises that do this everyday will have much better ingenuity.

Also remember, like premium rate phone scammers, many of these operations are fly-by-night; a small time-window is all they need to capture some credit card info, or upload a virus then close up shop and the registered company is found to be false.

To assume this is not possible is either extremely naive or disingenuous.

www.ripe.opportunities

The "brand protection" scam for .xxx domains was bad enough (the idea of .xxx is having a tld that can be seperated entirely from the rest of the internet for porn filters; now diluted by company brands "protecting' their mark and therefore making .xxx pointless).

So why not register the following and make a quick money grab from the vulnerable:

Just substitute any email, bank or high street shop name in front of the dot:

.account; .youraccount; .acc; .accont

.banking; .ukbanking; .ukbank; .trusted; .secure

.hbsc; .hsbcbanking; .hbscbanking; .hbsbcanking

.email; .youremail;

.jlewis;. jonlewis; .johnlwis; .john.lewis

.wh.smiths; .whsmths; .smiths

<email>

Dear Mr Refrigerated,

Halifax has recently updated their Terms & Conditions resulting in some reason for you to visit our website and log on to check your account. If you have any questions then simply log on to https://www.halifax.secure.itssafe.trustme/honest and send us a message from the secure messaging panel in your account.

Kind regards,

Your Bank Manager

www.halifax.trustme

</email>

What's really scary, some banks would not surprise me in the least if they picked a stupid domain such as .trustme

The possibilities are endless for someone who has a lot of funds from previous criminal exploits....

Bomb threat lobbed at Finnish anti-piracy squad

I'm Brian...

And so is my wife!

Ceglia fined for failing to show evidence of Facebook ownership

Does this set a precedent?

So a person or entity with personhood asserts IP rights over a work that someone else has produced; provides no evidence to back up the claim and has been fined $5000.

I for one would like to see this rare outbreak of good judgement applied to similar cases in an automated fashion.

Suicidal Foxconn workers talked down from factory roof

Victorian England

Except Victorian England was one of, if not the, worlds superpowers, whereby it got to travel the globe, dictate trade agreements, set the price of tea and other exotic goods. One thing that Victorian England didn't have was a manipulative global collective of corporations and territories with vested interests in making sure that Victorian England stayed Victorian enough for them to make significant technological advance for low cost.

Look at the state of some parts of the Middle East. Is that really because humanity has failed to progress there, or is it because every 20 years some American President comes along and wants to bomb the shit out of the place?

Why do 3rd world citizens earn so little and lack autonomy? Because we dictate market prices by sourcing many countries and many suppliers. We ensure our currencies are worth so much more than theirs, that it is a huge expense for them to leave their country as opposed to relatively little we pay to leave ours.

Victorian England progressed because she did not have to compete with anyone other than herself and her own best interests.

GiffGaff boots freetards off mobile network

@Nichomach

The problem with using an arbitrary percentage to determine who are infringing on others rights, is that the underlying number constantly shifts. That's aside from it being an interestering percentage point for GiffGaff to pick (perhaps an attempt to create some loose connections in people's imagination to... oh... I don't know).

Rally against the "less than 1%" of GiffGaff users if you must, kick them off the network... keep doing it and before long, you will find yourself crossing over into the "less than 1%". What will you say then? But I only use it for email synching, web browsing, social networking, occasional youtube use... "That's too much!" - the mob will scream! Far better to have some actual usage statistics so you can hold your service provider to account and ensure they're not just downsizing.

Of course, I expect the next rally cry to be against the 1% of people in rural locations being subsidised by the 99% for the letters and parcels they get to send at the same rate as everyone else - it's completely unfair!

Google attacks Twitter's search bias claim

@Phoenix50

For your analogies to be correct reality would need to substituted for the following:

Bundling IE with Windows:

Google search comes bundled and integrated with %Default% Browser. You cannot uninstall Google search completely (%Default% browser would not work if you did), furthermore Google do not provide search for any other browser but %Default%. If you don't want Google search, you'd have to download and install an alternative browser - however some search results would no longer work as they did with Google search (the browser would most certainly be better though). Since most people use %Default% Browser, they mostly stick to Google search, even though another search is available.

Google+ vs Twitter:

Microsoft allows any browser to be installed on it's Windows platform - Windows comes preloaded with a list of the most popular browsers for you to click on and install. Most people use Netscape, Mosaic and a few other obscure ones. Microsoft has a deal where they pay Netscape $30m to Netscape to allow them to pre-install the browser on Windows (because Netscape won't let them list and provide it for free). Microsoft builds their own browser, which is not as popular as Mosaic or Netscape, then decide they're no longer going to pay $30m to Netscape to pre-install Netscapes browser. Netscape gripes that this is no longer good for people, publishers, news organizations and Netscape users.

Googles' search monopoly:

In 1995 switching operating systems was, and still is, insanely easy; just type in which OS you want to run, click OK and it switches you to that desktop. All the apps you use not only run, they're also found all in the same place as you installed them on Other OS - no re-installs or unavailable apps because apps are all standards compliant and executable by every OS. Sure Microsoft can bundle Office and IE, but with a click of the mouse you can simply be browsing with Firefox and typing office dox on LibreOffice. Plus Windows can see Other OS and share documents with ease.

Extraterrestrial explanation, because you must be living on another planet... :)

NASA halts 'naut flogging Apollo 13 notebook

Mission related IP

There's no reason this can't be amicably worked out between the two parties...

Clearly NASA owns the IP of the work done on the job - i.e. the calculations. Therefore Lovell should turn over the calculations... the notebook however, is used stationary that is of no use to the company - he can keep. Simples.

Either that or I'm going to start selling all my post-it notes to art galleries that state things like "Meeting - 1pm".

French court fines Google $65k over search suggestion

Yes, but you can't google the term...

http://www.makeuseof.com/tech-fun/search-google-for-french-military-victories/

We joke about it but...

I've often wondered if Google and other services should just strip results from vexacious litigants altogether. People, particularly people in goverments, seem to not understand how the internet works - how search works.

It's like suing the publisher of a word processor because autocomplete didn't provide the correct word you were thinking of. Back in college we used to liven up an otherwise boring class by subtely replacing common autocorrect words whilst people weren't looking. Should someone have become offended - would Microsoft be responsible if it was Word for example?

HMV faces the music after crap Christmas

@Jon

So you've never heard of ThinkGeek, or passed a novelty/gadget shop on the high street then? There are plenty of real-life cases...

I assume you're a fanboi since you took umbrance at my iPhad word combination (iPad + iPhone)... so does Apple ring a bell - teetering on the brink of bancruptcy about 15 years ago? How about Continental Airlines? Priceline.com? Land Rover (was MG Rover owned)? Jaguar? Just to name a few.

OK so HMV would probably have to restructure, maybe rebrand, perhaps even eject or sell some of their core business streams or launch profitable areas as seperate business - many companies have done this and survived even in a niche market as the Apple or Land Rover for example.

$250m debt, yes you have a point there but that in no way warrants the tone of you reply.

It's getting the right gadgets

If they just go for the bog-standard Currys-In-Airport-Lounge type gadgets e.g. iPhones, iPads, iPhad accessories wall to wall with iPhad styluses, iPhad chargers and iPhad cases with a few DSLrs and laptops thrown in for good measure... yes... they will lose.

If however, they choose to source gadgets that are only usually available online, quirky, thinkgeek type stuff; whilst not going full Maplins, but cater to a diverse group of geeky niches; they may find themselves eating a large chunk of a considerably tasty but neglected pie.

A smart CEO would take a risk and go for the latter, I suspect that HMV will end up going for the former.

Apple patent stashes passwords in chargers

I patent...

Putting a touchscreen on the power adapter - HOWZAT!

Did Vatican commit Cardinal sin over Wikipedia bios?

Under what jurisdiction?

Depends on whether the government of the state where the copyright violation took place actually recognises international copyright as a legal or civil tort. Last time I check the government of Vatican City was... umm... Vatican City!

I wonder if the US has trade agreements with the Vatican? Perhaps they should put the screws on the Vatican to introduce some kind of legislation... they could call it POPE-A!

'Mainstream media' mute in SOPA piracy debate

Better get a move on then

Microsoft/NBC have already got pro SOPA ads running on their news channel encouraging Americans to contact their congressperson and express their support... the hook? Protecting American jobs.

Microsoft's master stroke: Pay store staff per WinPhone sold

Now where have I seen this before...?

Bing!

The circle is almost complete

Heh, shouldn't Microsoft be paying for grunts to shift Android phones, in order for their chosen business model to continue to make any money?