Posts by Paul Barnard

New UK drone laws are on the way – but actual Drones Bill still in limbo

Re: > What is a "drone" when it comes to this legislation? How is one defined?

any unmanned aircraft, other than a balloon or a kite, having a mass of not more than 20kg without its fuel but including any articles or equipment installed in or attached to the aircraft at the commencement of its flight”.

Is a battery fuel or an attachment?

The spies that knew too much about Facebook's advertising network

It might be a bit counter productive for them to do it to themselves, but third parties doing it will certainly hit them where it hurts. That said a higher click through might encourage more spend from gullible advertisers so I wouldn't put it past them...

Apple Watch craze over before it started: Wrist-puter drags market screaming off a cliff

Re: Could be...

Yep they did that yesterday. Half my apps are now not working. I guess the new one is right around the corner.

Microsoft's Windows 10 nagware goes FULL SCREEN in final push

Re: A final throw of the Minty dice before

Just buy them an iPad for Christmas. The most they will probably do is use a browser, email and Facebook. Pretty much all my non techy family members have gone that way and my support effort has completely disappeared.

Health apps and wearables make you nervous, not fit, say boffins

I wear a heart rate monitor when cycling to be able to better plan my training and keep track of improvements. Sure I can do it without but that is far more subjective and less insightful. Wearable tech has a place. Not so sure that someone just living their life needs it tough.

Orange spreads Glasto goofery to t-shirts

Rain powered water wheel

What they really need is a water wheel generator driven by rain. The ideal power source for Glastonbury. It will continue to work even when you are flat on your back comatose from over indulgence of the substance of your choice, unlike the wellies that actually needed you to move.

The forgotten, fat generation of Mac Portables

Ah the SX64

I wrote a lot of software on the SX64. I was writing games software back then and picked up a job teaching computing at Butlins holiday camps. I bought the SX64 so that I could carry on writing code while living in a holiday chalet all summer. Ah those were the days.

I have no idea what happened to my SX64 I don't remember selling it but it has disappeared over the years.

I do still have my PowerBook 140 and it is still a runner.

Hero corduroy overpowers US school gunman

Not so funnily enough

The Daily Mail has an article today saying

"Up to 1,200 needless deaths, patients abused, staff bullied to meet targets... yet a secret inquiry into failing hospital says no one's to blame

Designer draws up digital camera-cum-punchcard printer

Could be a great stencil maker

Punch your image, place against object and spray with the colour of your choice. Now anyone can be a Banksy.

Singapore Airlines docks with Apple

If it's anything like BA system

I often watch movies on my iPhone on long haul BA flights. Having a dock sounds good but if it's anything like the inflight system installed on BA planes (powered by windoze) then it will not work more often than it works. Which is why I often watch movies on my iPhone...

PayPal meltdown wreaks havoc on some ecommerce websites

@ PayPal SchmayPal

What a dick. The whole point of feedback is not retaliation. If you didn't send because paypal didn't notify you then that is NOT the buyers problem. The buyer is quite right to give negative feedback as YOU didn't send the goods. I find it ridiculous that sellers don't give feedback until they have seen the feedback they get. If you get negative feedback its because the buyer isn't happy with the purchase. You can dispute it and say why the problem occurred, but the buyer is just telling it how it is. They kept their end of the bargain. You didn't.

Get real. Feedback isn't for retaliation. I hope I never have need to buy something from you.

BAA boots Vulture from T5 frequent flyer club

2 Bags - catch up people

The one bag limit was dropped ages ago at Heathrow.

You don't even need to take your laptop out of the bag any more.

I fly from Heathrow every couple of weeks and sure its a shit hole but what do you expect? This is England...

I will be flying into T5 next Friday. I'm looking forward to it.