Posts by NotSmartEnough

Magic Leap's staggering VR goggle technology just got even better!

Not-Quite-Ready Player One?

I'm looking forward to playing Star Citizen on Magic Leap. Wonder if the box the Magic Leap One comes in will fit in the boot of my flying car.

Xbox 180: Microsoft scraps mandatory Kinect policy

Impact on devs?

How will this decision impact developers? I guess they were all told that Kinect was mandatory and would be always-on, and that they should make use of it wherever possible. Either they need to rework to remove the dependency on Kinect for those users who are going to keep it unplugged, or a load of games are going to need it anyway, which would make the announcement meaningless.

I'm not sure how they can maintain the position they've got themselves into where it's a mandatory purchase but not actually required.

Chromecast: You'll pop me in for HOT STREAMS of JOY, hopes Google

I'm sold on this: Panasonic have stopped updating the apps on my smart tv (last year's model), so no integration between YouTube on the tv and tablet/phone.

I'd like to plug one into one of the empty hdmi ports on my non-networked amp to ensmarten it: YouTube and android play music sent to zone 2 controlled via phone sounds good.

Got raspberry pi for same reason, but NotSmartEnough to get it set up to work seamlessly.

Seven snazzy smartphones for seven sorts of shoppers

Re: Yes, but how good are they as phones?

Many thanks! This sounds perfect, just hope it rolls out soon.

Re: Yes, but how good are they as phones?

I've been able to film underwater with my xperia z, got some great video of my kids in the pool, one problem with the xperia z is that the touchscreen randomly activates underwater, so I got a few still photos captured along with the video.

Although it's waterproof I wouldn't describe the z as rugged, so would definitely avoid those rocks!

Logitech launches MEGA-PRICEY 15-in-1 remote

Re: So last decade

Phones are a different use case from remote controls? Thanks for the insight.

You (deliberately?) miss the point: you can use a phone in the dark, but as soon as it's controlling an AV amp's volume only physical buttons will do?

I wasn't making a point to say that phone/tablet apps are innately superior to harmony et al, but I do think that WiFi control has a lot of advantages over one-way IR/RF.

Feel free to disagree. Downvote again and go buy some Logitech shares, we'll see if they're still in the remote control business in a few years.

Re: So last decade

Yes, that's why touchscreen smartphones never caught on.

So last decade

I used to use one of the Philips Pronto universal touchscreen remotes; it took a lot of effort to set up, but worked like a dream for a long time. It's now dead (I blame the kids) and I can't justify replacing it: modern AV amps take a lot of the hassle out of switching AV inputs, SKY+ remotes can be setup so that the volume buttons control the amp, etc.

Phone/tablet WiFi control isn't quite there yet, but soon the Harmony et al will seem like overpriced anachronisms. I'll struggle on with a two-remote setup until then.

Paris; because it's springtime.

Colombian boffins reconstruct flight path of Russian meteor

How fast?

54,000kmph?

Is that kilometres per hour (km/h), or thousand miles per hour (Kmph)? Please let it be 54 meeellion miles per hour.

Sony promises PC-based PlayStation 4 for Christmas

Re: All I need to say is

Fraud?

Bit strong, don't you think? There may be an argument that the next gen consoles represent poor value for money, but I guess we'll need to wait to see how they're priced before passing that judgement.

2012: an epoch-defining year for home entertainment

Re: @Lusty uvvu.com?

I would say that blu-ray has been a lot more successful than mini-disk: all major movie releases come out on BD, mini-disk didn't get close to that level of adoption.

I've had varying results with streamed and downloaded content, video can be good, but in terms of audio I haven't heard anything which comes close to the lossless audio from a BD. Some downloadable stuff has got a DD 5.1 soundtrack, but that's the best you're going to get.

Re: uvvu.com?

What? Blu-ray hasn't been successful? Quick, let's buy HD-DVD players!

Or stream badly compromised 'HD' off the internet. Now which shall I listen to? DTS-HD MA, or a fucking transistor radio?

Get a grip.

Hearts, minds and balls: Microsoft's Windows 8 Surface gamble

Re: Not getting either RT or Surface Pro

Run that past me again?

You go to the pub at lunchtime, therefore you're not a professional? Is that what you're saying?

Good luck with the tribunals when you start sacking people for having a midday pint (but something tells me you're not actually in a position to make that kind of call anyway).

Microsoft: It was never 'Metro,' it was always 'Modern UI'

Modern UI. Outstanding work Microsoft.

Modern compared to what? Does this imply that non-tile based UIs are, like, so last-year?

Regardless of the pros and cons of the OS itself (not used it, won't comment), doesn't this hasty rebranding seem undignified and a bit amateurish? It seems they really have lost their way.

Deadly pussies kill more often than owners think

Re: Bird numbers

What's your point? Are you saying that fouling is ok as long as it's Not In My Back Yard?

Bird numbers

It would be interesting to know how much of the decline in bird numbers is due to an increase in the numbers of domestic cats, rather than, say, destruction of hedgerows or reduction in insect populations due to pesticides, etc.

That would be a bit like doing research, wouldn't it?

On another topic, and in response to the foaming-at-the-mouth 'cat shit in my garden' bunch: I take the kids to the park, guess what I have to clean off shoes/pram wheels far too often: cat shit or dog shit? Go on guess. When was the last time you had to step round some cat shit on the pavement?

ITC denies Apple an emergency ban on ALL HTC PHONES

Conspiracy!

This is another example of a trade war hiding behind a series of increasingly spurious patent disputes:

The US Patent Office grant Apple a patent on something obvious/essential;

Apple defend its patent 'vigorously';

US judges find in favour of Apple and ban imports of infringing tech;

US consumers find they're free to buy from Apple or go without.

Way to enhance your country's balance of trade.

(Adjusts tinfoil hat)