Recent Posts

476

General Software Discussion / Re: Video rant against Windows 8

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 21, 2012, 06:17 PM »

That (the original post) is a BRILLIANT summary video of Windows 8 first impressions! Yes he uses hyperbole and it is made to entertain but I actually think his analysis is pretty spot on. OK you can get used to things but USABILTY should be getting better - not having to work on getting used to things!

(By the way the comments someone made earlier about touch interface is a misunderstanding - he wasn't using a touch interface - he was using a mouse - in the form of a touch pad - but some dufus included gestures on the mouse pad that just don';t belong there!)

I just installed Pro on my laptop and Office 2013 (WTF - why is it so HIDEOUSLY UGLY).

Everything requires a lot more clicks - even opening Word 2013 requires an extra click because it doesn't even open with a blank document!

The bloody Metro interface just keeps flipping up all the time when you are doing other things.

I am just so glad I kept an image backup of Windows 7 - I have a feeling it will either be used before too long or the laptop will be in pieces on my drive with a large hole in the window!

477

Living Room / Re: Yet another reason why a Kickstarter project may fail

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 21, 2012, 10:14 AM »

And maybe it's just me, but for what little Kickstarter does, 5% seems like a lot to charge for merely providing web exposure.

-40hz (December 21, 2012, 08:30 AM)

And yet Apple collect 30% for the same thing!

478

Adventures of Baby Cody / Re: A Map of where Baby Cody Visits?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 21, 2012, 07:52 AM »

Hmmm - was just going to try to add a few map updates for Baby Cody - but Plarker doesn't seem to available at the moment.

479

Found Deals and Discounts / Re: Expert PDF 8 Professional

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 21, 2012, 06:08 AM »

Avanquest does keep developing some software they bought - unfortunately it appears that their development cycle is sporadic at best and as far as I can tell seems to involve only updating the version number and distributing it as a paid upgrade. (They may fix a few bugs but you don't see too much in the way of new features). PowerDesk is a case in point - I can't really see many changes since version 6 and here is the latest offering (which I declined, like the last one):

Really - adding breadcrumbs and a couple of minor enhancements is a paid upgrade - again!

480

Living Room / Re: Raspberry Pi's $35 Linux PC

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 21, 2012, 03:43 AM »

I do wish it wasn't pink though.

-4wd (December 21, 2012, 12:33 AM)

Don't you mean raspberry coloured? What colour should raspberry pi be? 

-Carol Haynes (December 21, 2012, 01:56 AM)

Raspberries are darker than that - well the ones I've eaten anyway.

-4wd (December 21, 2012, 03:31 AM)

Next you'll want it covered in pips!!

481

Living Room / Re: Raspberry Pi's $35 Linux PC

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 21, 2012, 01:56 AM »

I do wish it wasn't pink though.

-4wd (December 21, 2012, 12:33 AM)

Don't you mean raspberry coloured? What colour should raspberry pi be? 

482

Living Room / Re: Greatest shipping ripoff ever?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 17, 2012, 09:51 AM »

Nope not kidding - they don't call it Ripoff Britain for nothing 

483

Living Room / Re: Greatest shipping ripoff ever?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 16, 2012, 07:28 AM »

On the other hand, it is a good way to avoid import taxed on the "Value" of the item being shipped.  

-Rover (December 15, 2012, 07:49 PM)

Unfortunately not in the UK - import duties are charged on the value of the package (including shipping costs!). I have been stung by this more than once buying from Amazon.com.

484

Living Room / Re: UN Trying to Hijack YOUR Internet

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 15, 2012, 09:52 AM »

Why would the US sign such a treaty - it would usurp all the lobbying vested interests in the US. Sorry to be negative but, whilst  I don't want the UN to be in charge, I am not sure that Hollywood lobby (now largely owned by the Japanese) is any more agreeable to an open internet.

485

Living Room / Re: Greatest shipping ripoff ever?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 15, 2012, 09:40 AM »

The scam works because if you demand a refund they don't have to refund postage!

I don't understand the Amazon scam - I thought Amazon set the postage costs from most Market Place sellers. Only professional sellers can set their own rates. It might be worth reporting the seller to Amazon because that is a serious abuse of their terms and conditions.

Tony, wouldn't it be easier to go to a local camera shop and get them to order the part?

486

Living Room / Re: Big Brother UK plc - out to get you? Or am I paranoid

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 13, 2012, 06:39 AM »

How about some turn about here?
How about less state secrets?

-Renegade (December 13, 2012, 02:56 AM)

That's why we now have the Freedom of Information Act - which basically acts as a gateway across anything the governemtn doesn't want you to see (yet more double speak).

She's a complete moron to try and peddle off that crap. The entire premise is false.

-Renegade (December 13, 2012, 02:56 AM)

Rest of the sentence is superfluous.

The only person who is more moronic is Michael Gove!

487

Living Room / Re: Apple Maps Flaws 'Life-Threatening,' Australian Police Warn

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 13, 2012, 06:37 AM »

[offtopic]

@Carol - You guys had snow up there yet?  I'm relying on you to tell me if you get some, and if it starts heading south!

[/offtopic]

-Stephen66515 (December 12, 2012, 08:13 PM)

A bit on the highter ground but not much - seems to have had more on the NY Moors and Lake District. Blizzards expected tomorrow - and I am expected to go to a farm in the high moors - might not happen!

Obligatory 'Apple Sucks'

/resume

That news?

Interesting thing on BBC Radio 4 this morning - Apple have allowed Google to offer a GoogleMaps App again on their products.  for Google and  for Apple.

488

Living Room / Re: The REAL reason Valve is developing Steam for Linux?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 12, 2012, 03:30 AM »

It will be interesting to see how well MS's app store does with games given the very restrictive nature of what can be sold (in terms of PEGI rating).

489

Living Room / Re: Be Careful What You Download - Or Go To Jail...

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 12, 2012, 03:19 AM »

And posting links is illegal in the US:

http://rt.com/usa/ne...-credit-barrett-751/

Anonymous-tied hacktivist faces prison for sharing link

Etc. etc.

-Renegade (December 11, 2012, 07:00 PM)

Says a lot about how much time is being sent monitoring chat room conversations.

They must be really worried by some conversations on Steam chatrooms!

490

Living Room / Re: Apple Maps Flaws 'Life-Threatening,' Australian Police Warn

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 12, 2012, 03:16 AM »

True - I agree SatNav does cause brain switch off - and I have even succumbed on a couple of occasions. Having said that anyone relying on mapping software that gets a street location wrong in a town can figure it out - when the town is 70km from where the map says it is a bit of a serious issue!!

With regards to the sign pointing the correct way we have a problem in my area with kids moving the pointers for fun. Not been so bad in recent years but a few years back you pretty much had to ignore many of the road signs and use a map if you aren't sure where you needed to turn!!!

491

Living Room / Big Brother UK plc - out to get you? Or am I paranoid

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 11, 2012, 09:28 AM »

New legislation planned by our 'democratic' government:

The plans in the draft bill include:

• Internet service providers having to store for a year all details of online communication in the UK - such as the time, duration, originator and recipient of a communication and the location of the device from which it was made.
• They would also be having to store for the first time all Britons' web browsing history and details of messages sent on social media, webmail, voice calls over the internet and gaming, in addition to emails and phone calls
• Police not having to seek permission to access details of these communications, if investigating a crime
• Police having to get a warrant from the home secretary to be able to see the actual content of any messages
• Four bodies having access to data: the police, the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, the intelligence agencies and HM Revenue and Customs

I don't think the government (Tory or Labour, take your pick) will be happy until everyone in this country has a GPS implant with wifi connectivity to all the devices you use in daily life!

See http://www.bbc.co.uk...uk-politics-20676284 for full details.

Anyone know any good secure, quick anonymizer-type services that act by proxy?

By the way we already have the Digital Economy Act (passed in 2010) so this is anew level of snooping!

492

Living Room / Re: Be Careful What You Download - Or Go To Jail...

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 11, 2012, 08:47 AM »

-Stephen66515 (December 10, 2012, 07:53 PM)

Hey who sent you my holiday video?

493

Living Room / Re: Apple Maps Flaws 'Life-Threatening,' Australian Police Warn

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 11, 2012, 08:44 AM »

AFAIAC, if you're stupid enough to rely on SatNav you deserve everything that happens to you.

-4wd (December 11, 2012, 05:54 AM)

I think the confusion arises because if you buy a SatNav and it is as bad as Apple Maps you could prosecute the SatNav manufacturer for reckless endangerment! On the other hand Apple products are sold as hand held devices with a maps App - they don't actually claim to be a full SatNav capable device. Neither does Google Maps, incidentally, even though it is much better than Apple Maps.

On my Samsung I have Google Maps which you can use as a SatNav but when you use it it does warn that it is a product in beta stage of development and not guaranteed to work flawelessly.

Having said all that when will some Apple users grow a pair and form a class action against this lunacy!

494

Living Room / Re: Apple Maps Flaws 'Life-Threatening,' Australian Police Warn

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 11, 2012, 03:13 AM »

If it weren't so worrying that would be very funny.

The question is, I suppose, how long before Apple are forced to withdraw the crappy mapping software?

495

Living Room / Re: Facebook seems to be erased from existence?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 10, 2012, 05:19 PM »

Same here

496

Living Room / Re: Be Careful What You Download - Or Go To Jail...

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 10, 2012, 05:44 AM »

OK - if this is the way we are going let's ban science from schools and universities and lock up all current chemistry graduates as they probably know how to make a bomb and therefore could potentially aid terrorists.

If the Telegraph statement is accurate an appeal should be pretty automatic - in British law 'intent' has to be present to allow a judge to convict. Given that the judge stated there was no intent the prison sentence (in fact the conviction)  should be thrown out easily.

Personally I think the judge should be locked up because he done more to encourage terrorism in that statement and sentence than the plaintiff!

497

DC Gamer Club / Re: Saints Row 3rd - Titan Quest ... first come first served

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 10, 2012, 05:05 AM »

Nice to make a couple of people happy but for future reference I think I will restrict any future titles I give away to people who are forum members with some period of involvement (say over 100 posts) rather than people who may have just signed up for a free game.

498

DC Gamer Club / Re: Saints Row 3rd - Titan Quest ... first come first served

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 10, 2012, 03:51 AM »

Sent by PM

499

Living Room / Re: Sir Patrick Moore, astronomer and broadcaster, dies aged 89

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 09, 2012, 05:55 PM »

A truly great and inspiring life.

See http://www.bangunive...com/sirpatrickmoore/ for the official tribute page and a moving tribute from Brian May (of Queen fame) who was with him when he died.

Sir Patrick seemed to be a constant in my life - I am in my 50s now and he has always been there enthusing about science and sharing his zest for life.

Another star shines in the firmament tonight. RIP Patrick.

500

DC Gamer Club / Re: Saints Row 3rd - Titan Quest ... first come first served

« Last post by Carol Haynes on December 09, 2012, 05:52 PM »

Oops - we both sent it!

I still have a Titan Quest key if anyone wants it