Recent Posts

4826

Living Room / Re: DOTCOM saga - updates

« Last post by IainB on August 08, 2012, 07:13 PM »

There is an arsTechnica post here: Helicopters, guns, attack dogs: New video shows raid on Dotcom home

In the discussion thread that follows it, some of the readers' comments/points are really rather interesting. For example:

ReaderBot | Ars Tribunus Militum
I don't think even George Orwell foresaw the state using overwhelming force to protect the interests of private corporations that actively resist state oversight of their interests.
We are in Bizzaro Future.
___________________________________
Jon Brodkin | Senior IT reporter |
Story Author

ClownRazer wrote:
If this is the typical journalistic quality of a standard newscast in NZ, I'm impressed. It wasn't edited for an ADHD audience and actually discussed real issues, not what Justin Bieber had for breakfast.

I agree!
If TV news was like this in the US I might actually watch it once in a while.
___________________________________
kkipple | Ars Centurion
So is New Zealand America's 51 state or what?
Someone help me understand how our laws apply over there? Are they just that eager to please?

4827

Living Room / Re: Olympic coverage this year SUCKS!

« Last post by IainB on August 08, 2012, 06:32 PM »

...Sorry for all you people who would like to watch the games and don't have access to the BBC (via Sky) where there is complete coverage live of all the disciplines and no intrusive publicity ... think what you like 

-joiwind (August 06, 2012, 06:07 AM)

I am one of those who "boycotts" the Olympics, and I hardly ever watch TV, but I was interested in this post at The Week: How the BBC crushed NBC and brought Olympics coverage into the future

Until I read that, I had not really appreciated what all the complaints in this discussion thread were about.
Now that I do, I'm surprised you all put up with it. The NBC seems to be a national disgrace. Mind you, some people think the BBC is a national disgrace too, but there you are.

4828

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by IainB on August 08, 2012, 07:14 AM »

A large group of baboons is called "a congress".

-Renegade (August 08, 2012, 06:46 AM)

Ahahaha. Funny. Cruelly ridiculing them. However, I learned at school that it was "a troop".
I must admit, the collective noun "a parliament of owls" would seem a lot better by comparison (I mean, connotations of wisdom and all).
Except it's not true about baboons, apparently - it is troop - and nicely put here:

A congress of baboons?
Posted: Jan. 8, 2012 | 2:14 a.m.

There comes a time when a nation must stand up and say, "Enough is enough. No more degrading political slurs."

Yes, there is such a thing as a pride of lions and a parliament of owls.

But there is absolutely, categorically no such thing as a "congress" of baboons.

We know this because the website Politifact did the research and found that while a group of baboons can sometimes be called a rumpus, the more accepted term of venery is a troop.

A joke email started it all when the anonymous writer asserted that "congress" is not only the right term for a gathering of baboons, it by extension explains quite a lot about Congress. (Nudge-nudge, wink-wink.)

Politifact smelled a plague of rats. So an essay of journalists there delved into this most important political language issue.

Setting the record straight no doubt came much to the relief of baboons everywhere.

Unlike baboons, the reputation of Congress has never been held in lower regard. At the end of last year, Gallup polled the approval rating for Congress at 11 percent.

Think about it -- 11 percent! Public support for legalized marijuana would poll better than 11 percent. Heck, public support for legalized heroin would do better than that.

Besides, what did baboons do to merit comparison to the U.S. Congress?

When baboons gather, they do so for a purpose and actually get things done. Baboon leaders lead the troop to food, water and the pursuit of baboon happiness.

Can Congress do that? Not lately.

Most days last year, Congress did nothing but sit on its collective haunches. And when it actually did something, it made matters worse and the people far less happy.

The House passes bills the Senate won't move on. And the Senate passes bills that the House won't move on. This is normal "activity" for Congress.

House Speaker John Boehner can't control the more conservative part of his majority. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid can't control his own tongue, thus making the men the least effective partnership for the reputation of Congress since Anthony Weiner bought a BlackBerry.

The do-nothing Congress created a supercommittee to do something. It did super nothing. Budgets and other big issues get kicked down the road, 60 days at a time. It's no way to run a country.

It's time for good people to do the right thing and just say no to tarnishing the image of baboons. Baboons are not U.S. senators and representatives. For the sake of future generations of baboons, let's put an end to this unfair linkage.

If we don't, the damage could be immeasurable to baboon culture. For example:

-- An adolescent baboon asks out the good-looking babe-oon in the next tree, only to be taunted as having the social graces and personality of Harry Reid. Would his self-esteem ever recover?

-- A baboon harem harrumphs about their male's flirtatious behavior at the troop holiday party. They tell him they won't be "John Ensigned."

-- Overheard at the morning baboon head-scratching session: "Did you hear about the facial work she had done? It was a disaster." "Was it a Nancy Pelosi disaster or a Shelley Berkley disaster?"

"Way worse than Shelley. It was Joe Biden grotesque. She's going to sue the doctor's ischial callosities off."

So let's get it straight. It's a troop of baboons, a rhumba of rattlesnakes, a bed of oysters, a bloat of hippopotami and a murder of crows. A gathering of congresscritters is a congress.

The other animals don't want to trade.

Sherman Frederick, former publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, writes a column for Stephens Media. Read his blog at www.lvrj.com/blogs/sherm.

That doesn't alter the status of Senators in the public view though. "By their fruits they be known", etc.
I recall that a poll in NZ a while back apparently placed politicians in NZ as a class below the much-despised classes of real estate agents and used-car salesmen...however, I couldn't possibly comment.

4829

Living Room / Re: DOTCOM saga - updates

« Last post by IainB on August 08, 2012, 06:20 AM »

@Renegade: I presume the NZ judiciary and the Government will be doing their best to be open and clearly communicating about this raid, as they should be, for the NZ public. They will also be aware that the world is likely to be watching, and that observers will be drawing their own conclusions where something is otherwise suppressed, concealed, obfuscated or inadequately explained.

Certainly, NZ doesn't want itself to look to the world like a banana republic.

Today: VIDEO: What really happened in the Dotcom raid?
I recommend you watch it all - and Campbell's commentary. Very interesting.
There is more footage - mostly from helicopter views and associated open radio chatter between the operatives - but there is one bit from a Dotcom CCTV security camera mounted in a tree.

Footage in-court shows Dotcom giving his testimony of the raid.
There is also in-court testimony from an anonymous (out-of-camera-view, for security) SS operative, who sounds like he was being evasive in his responses. He was also told off by the barrister questioning him for looking for queues from Queen's Counsel when being questioned - which is rather telling. He presumably knew something that he might blurt out and that could make a mess of the Crown's case, and so he was being minimally helpful and very guarded in what he said.
I think this is what might be called "a hostile witness", but it didn't look as though he was being allowed to get away with it - the court is not staffed with idiots.

It really worries me though, when, in an NZ court of law a police or SS officer is clearly being evasive or economical with the truth - presumably to avoid it messing-up the Crown's case for goodness' sake! Surely the case is not that insubstantial/flaky?
Obvious questions: What's to hide - and why?

Maybe there is a lot that is not being revealed about this case and that might never be revealed.
Who knows?

4830

Living Room / Re: DOTCOM saga - updates

« Last post by IainB on August 08, 2012, 04:32 AM »

At the time of the Dotom raid, the news reports said that there were several operational CCTV security cameras located on the Dotcom's residence and that footage from them - that would have included footage of the raid itself - had been confiscated by the police. I wondered why at the time.
I also noticed this about the Stuff article, where it said:

The Crown is seeking for all images and CCTV footage from the raids to be suppressed.

And I wondered why. If it had all been done right and proper, then there should be nothing to hide.

This point has been picked up in a post by Techdirt, who asked the same question on 2012-08-07:Why Are New Zealand Prosecutors Seeking To Suppress All Images & Video Of Megaupload Raid?

However, on 2012-08-08, this report from the 3News website:

VIDEO: Suppression lifted on Dotcom raid footage
Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:10p.m.

Footage of the raid on Kim Dotcom’s house was being played in court today.

Today Dotcom told the Auckland High Court that if Police had just knocked on his door, he would've let them in.

Instead the Special Tactics group raided Dotcom's Coatesville mansion in January, entering the grounds by helicopter and seizing belongings and computers allegedly being used for illegal activity.

Mr Dotcom told the court that officers used unnecessary force in the operation and claims he was punched and kicked during the raid.

Dotcom is in court as part of a judicial review of a ruling that said the US government had to give Dotcom and his co-accused access to seized evidence.

The CCTV footage of the raid was also seized by police, and is part of the evidence Dotcom wants access to. Footage taken from the police helicopter as it approached Dotcom's house during the raid was shown in court today and the CCTV footage is expected to be shown at some point this week.

The Crown wants the footage and any images from the raids to be suppressed and Chief High Court Judge Helen Winkelmann has ordered interim suppression of the material, NBR reports.

Identities of Special Tactics officers due to give evidence are also suppressed.

The US is trying to extradite Dotcom and his co-accused on charges of racketeering, copyright infringement and money laundering relating to the Megaupload file-sharing website Dotcom founded.

The video shown in the above post is taken from the police helicopter, and shows very little of interest. The interesting stuff will be on the confiscated Dotcom CCTV footage, assuming none of it has been tampered with or deleted.

I won't be the only voting Kiwi who is looking on with keen interest to see how ethically and legitimately this case has been handled. We already have the judiciary coming out with the documented and stunning judgement that the raid was illegal (QED), and it appears that the US side of things was illegal too (QED).

I hope my faith in the judiciary and in the professionalism of the NZ Police/SS will not be shaken any more by unfolding events than it already has been by this business. There is nothing like a Second Amendment in NZ, and none of us want to wake up one morning to find ourselves in the reality of living in a police state run by thugs.

4831

Living Room / Re: Internet freedoms restrained - SOPA/PIPA/OPEN/ACTA/CETA/PrECISE-related updates

« Last post by IainB on August 08, 2012, 02:10 AM »

TorrentFreak has what looks like some good news!
Internet Archive Starts Seeding 1,398,875 Torrents
(Post copied below, sans hyperlinks. Worth a read.)

Spoiler

Internet Archive Starts Seeding 1,398,875 Torrents
    Ernesto -    August 7, 2012

The Internet Archive has just enriched the BitTorrent ecosystem with well over a million torrent files, and that’s just the start of “universal access to all knowledge.” The torrents link to almost a petabyte of data and all files are being seeded by the Archive’s servers. Founder Brewster Kahle told TorrentFreak that turning BitTorrent into a distributed preservation system for the Internet is the next step.

The Internet Archive‘s mission statement is to provide “universal access to all knowledge,” which is not all that different from The Pirate Bay’s ethos.

BitTorrent is the fastest way to share files with large groups of people over the Internet, and this is one of the reasons that prompted the Internet Archive to start seeding well over a million of their files using the popular file-sharing protocol.

Starting today, all new files uploaded to the Archive will also be available via BitTorrent. In addition, a massive collection of older files including concerts from John Mayer, Jack Johnson and Maroon 5 and the Prelinger collection are also being published via torrents.

“I hope this is greeted by the BitTorrent community, as we are loving what they have built and are very glad we can populate the BitTorrent universe with library and archive materials,” Internet Archive founder Brewster Kahle told TorrentFreak.

“There is a great opportunity for symbiosis between the Libraries and Archives world and the BitTorrent communities,” he adds.

At the time of writing the Internet Archive is seeding 1,398,875 torrents, but hundreds of new ones are being added every hour. The Internet Archive recognizes that BitTorrent is now the fastest way to download files.

“BitTorrent is now the fastest way to download items from the Archive, because the BitTorrent client downloads simultaneously from two different Archive servers located in two different datacenters, and from other Archive users who have downloaded these torrents already.”

Interestingly, the Archive’s plans for BitTorrent are not limited to providing an alternative download link for their files. Founder Brewster Kahle says that they are also working on turning it into a storage mechanism.

“The next step is to make BitTorrent a distributed preservation system for content like ours,” Kahle told us. Kahle believes that the Internet Archive and the BitTorrent community can help each other and hopes to get the discussion on the preservation idea started.

“I think this whole thing will be awesome, and possibly very important,” he adds.

In the wake of recent news featuring raids, crackdowns, DDoSes and lawsuits, this announcement from the Internet Archive brings some very welcome positive news about BitTorrent. For those who are interested in tracking how many people are leeching from the archive, here are some fancy graphs.

4832

Living Room / Re: Pepper Spray Cop Interactive

« Last post by IainB on August 08, 2012, 01:20 AM »

...This is a very, very dark path that we're racing down.

-Renegade (August 07, 2012, 11:03 PM)

Well, if it is, then let's give credit where due for this achievement to...
...your elected "Leaders"!

4833

Living Room / Re: Apple's Marketing Mindset

« Last post by IainB on August 08, 2012, 12:59 AM »

...a large proportion of them have absolutely no say in anything - even how to dress!

-Carol Haynes (August 07, 2012, 07:45 PM)

Well, if by this you are referring to a "disadvantaged minority" [What is the English word for a term that is completely the opposite of the truth - would that be "a lie"?] then there's no need to worry. The UN Council on Human Rights looks to have it all under control.

For example, the afternoon of 6 August 2012 was the time that the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee discusses traditional values and human rights.
There, they had a weighty matter to discuss:
Preliminary study on promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms through a better understanding of traditional values of humankind. See working paper here - A/HRC/AC/9/2.

The Council’s Membership is based on equitable geographical distribution. Seats are distributed as follows:

•     African States: 13 seats
•     Asian States: 13 seats
•     Latin American and Caribbean States: 8 seats
•     Western European and other States: 7 seats
•     Eastern European States: 6 seats

Since membership of the UNHRC (UN Human Rights Commission) includes the People's Republic of China, Zimbabwe, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, and the past memberships of Algeria, Syria, Libya, Uganda and Vietnam, then I think you will see that we can all rest easy that the matter of choice of and approved/acceptable standard of dress to align with "traditional values of humankind" will be cleared up for us, pretty soon.
By the way, according to the working paper (above), "traditional values of humankind" is not currently a defined term. Yet they are still using it anyway - odd, that.

I think the thing to note here is that whatever dress standards are stipulated as approved/acceptable, the UN must ensure that no offence is given to any religion, as a separate working group is apparently moving to make that (giving religious offence) a criminal offence, worldwide.
Quite right, and about time too.

4834

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by IainB on August 08, 2012, 12:28 AM »

@Renagade: Sheesh! That picture of those ruddy Martian protesters - they're at itagain!

I saw pictures when they protested at previous American (NASA) Mars rover landings with signs that read "YANKS $%^# OFF" or similar, and one when they once mistakenly protested because they thought the rover had been sent by an Islamic-dominated nation, or something.
They're a racist/sacrilegious bunch aren't they?

4835

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by IainB on August 08, 2012, 12:18 AM »

Sorry, Dutch version of black humor. It's an acquired taste, I know.
However, I always noted that Dutch and British humor lie not that far apart...

-Shades (August 07, 2012, 11:10 AM)

Please don't apologise - if that was addressed to me. I was using litotes.
I thought the lolly idea very jolly.   

4836

Living Room / Re: Curiosity Mars rover - live feed from NASA

« Last post by IainB on August 07, 2012, 11:20 PM »

As per the OP, that live feed I linked to - http://www.scripps.com - feeds into VLC directly or Firefox with the VLC Web Plugin.

I have been watching some of the stuff that the link streams, and it seems to be an admixture of what appears to be genuinely educational video and some religious/political propaganda - the latter presumably put out by organisations with a bias and a belief system that they want to communicate to the viewer and convert the viewer to.
So who is watching this stream?
What/who is the market?

Most of the stuff seems to be basic/simplistic and seems to be aimed either at children or people with limited comprehension/knowledge. If it is aimed at children though, then quite a lot of it could be indoctrination.
Is that legal?

Presumably it can be pushed out in this way because it doesn't have to meet any TV broadcasting or educational standards, but if it is being digested by gullible/malleable minds, then the medium would appear to be being used to pump out deliberate propaganda and to indoctrinate people.

4837

Living Room / Re: Curiosity Mars rover - live feed from NASA

« Last post by IainB on August 07, 2012, 08:36 PM »

@Renegade: ^ So? Your point is?



 Nice find.   

4838

Living Room / Re: Pepper Spray Cop Interactive

« Last post by IainB on August 07, 2012, 09:20 AM »

Looks like I was incorrect about the details here.
According to this post in the Atlantic: The Pepper-Spraying Cop: A Scandalous Footnote

The internal affairs process that looked at Lt. John Pike's decision to douse student protesters found he acted reasonably.

(Post is copied in the spoiler below.)

Spoiler

The Pepper-Spraying Cop: A Scandalous Footnote
By Conor Friedersdorf
Aug 7 2012, 7:35 AM ET

The internal affairs process that looked at Lt. John Pike's decision to douse student protesters found he acted reasonably.



In previous items on Lt. John Pike, the UC Davis policeman who pepper-sprayed nonviolent student protesters on a campus quad, I noted that independent investigations found him among those culpable for the videotaped incident, that the UC Davis students he sprayed weren't breaking the law, and that Pike wasn't authorized to carry the pepper-spray dispersal device he employed. Nevertheless, I noted, he remained on paid leave months later, largely due to the broken process used to adjudicate cases of public employee misconduct in California. One problem is its opaqueness. Disciplinary hearings for state police officers are conducted in secret, and at the end of the process institutions like UC Davis don't even reveal what happened. The only official answer they give is whether the officer in question is still employed.

Last week, when news broke that Lt. Pike was no longer employed, I celebrated the fact that he'll no longer have any opportunity to mistreat students, but lamented that what should have been a straightforward termination took 8 months to adjudicate through the process we've set up. By my calculations, Pike received more than $70,000 in salary between the pepper spray incident and the day when he ceased being employed by UC Davis, though he did no work in that time.

Gratified as I was that the adjudication process had apparently reached the right outcome, I nevertheless thought that it took an absurd amount of time, money, and outside pressure to get there.

As it turns out, however, there is a scandalous footnote to this story.

Someone leaked a copy of the internal affairs investigation into Lt. Pike's actions to The Sacramento Bee:

The internal affairs investigation into last November's pepper-spraying controversy at UC Davis concluded that Lt. John Pike acted reasonably, with a subsequent review concluding he should have faced demotion or a suspension at worst, according to documents obtained by The Bee. Despite those recommendations, Pike was fired Tuesday after UC Davis Police Chief Matthew Carmichael rejected the findings and wrote in a letter to Pike that "the needs of the department do not justify your continued employment," according to the documents.

Think about what that means.

Lt. Pike was caught on video pepper-spraying seated, non-violent protesters in the face, using a device he was not authorized to carry and that he held closer to their bodies than is recommended. Those viewing his actions on the Internet regarded them as needless and abusive in sufficient numbers that he became a figure of national attention. Two independent reports commissioned by UC Davis concluded that he had acted unacceptably that day in numerous ways.

But the internal affairs process used to discipline police officers concluded that he acted reasonably. It is only because new Police Chief Matthew Carmichael overruled its findings, possibly opening UC Davis up to a wrongful termination suit, that Lt. Pike was reportedly terminated. So I ask again. Can there be any doubt that this system prioritizes the job security of campus police officers above the safety and well being of students? Yet there is no move among the Democrats who run the California legislature to reform this state of affairs, because they are allied with the state's public employee unions, who understandably prefer the status quo.

I have e-mailed and called Sam Stanton, the Sacramento Bee reporter responsible for this great scoop, to request that he post the whole 76 page internal affairs document online, but haven't heard back. It would certainly be in the public interest to see a more detailed account of its reasoning.

Seems like a bit of "glasnost" may be needed here...

4839

Living Room / Re: Curiosity Mars rover - live feed from NASA

« Last post by IainB on August 07, 2012, 06:18 AM »

Erich von Daniken, is that you? 

-TaoPhoenix (August 07, 2012, 05:02 AM)

No it is, I - erm, the spirit of L. Ron Hubbard - trying very hard here to provide relief from the past problems caused us by the spirits of space aliens, so that we can realise Operating Thetan. Cursed be Lord Xenu!

...Mmmmmm...Far out, man - this sh*t is goood!

4840

Living Room / Re: Michigan Supreme Court Upholds Right to Insult Meter Maids

« Last post by IainB on August 07, 2012, 02:21 AM »

Amazing.
It could only happen in the USA.

4841

Living Room / Re: Maximizing problems when docking toolbar on left in Windows 7

« Last post by IainB on August 07, 2012, 02:03 AM »

...I just manually restore it back-drag it back to the width I like.

-mitzevo (August 04, 2012, 11:32 PM)

This is tedious. Save yourself some trouble and just restart Windows Explorer.

Open Task Manager
End explorer.exe process
File->New Task and enter explorer.exe

Or, try this: Add Restart Explorer to Context Menu which does the same thing in a more user-friendly manner.

-4wd (August 06, 2012, 10:44 PM)

I usually use Restart Explorer (it's usually quickest).
(You can find RE has been discussed elsewhere in the DC Forum.)

4842

Living Room / Re: Curiosity Mars rover - live feed from NASA

« Last post by IainB on August 06, 2012, 05:07 PM »

@wraith808: Very droll.
Some people might say that the funding's already been cut too - in these hard-pressed times there's so many more fat banks, corporates and politicians starving mouths to feed...though I couldn't possibly comment.

4843

Living Room / Re: silly humor - post 'em here! [warning some NSFW and adult content]

« Last post by IainB on August 06, 2012, 04:51 PM »

It is a good thing they didn´t ¨photoshop¨ a lolly (or other candy) in the hand of prince Charles. That would give the picture a whole different meaning...

-Shades (August 06, 2012, 02:52 PM)

That's unnecessarily unkind - amusing, though.   

4844

Living Room / Re: Curiosity Mars rover - live feed from NASA

« Last post by IainB on August 06, 2012, 12:08 PM »

I missed the live showing, but did see a press conference afterwards.
I shall keep watching it for updates - assuming they make them online also.

4845

General Software Discussion / Re: Outlook.com

« Last post by IainB on August 06, 2012, 11:49 AM »

Since this is brand new, it's hard to search for help on this stuff, all you get is links to the desktop client Outlook, outlook365 or office365 or whatever it is.  Good to know about the official blog.

-daddydave (August 06, 2012, 10:51 AM)

^ +1 from me. I dislike being ill-informed about stuff like this. It's too easy to irrevocably screw things up. We are all in the same boat, it seems.

4846

Living Room / Re: Internet freedoms restrained - SOPA/PIPA/OPEN/ACTA/CETA/PrECISE-related updates

« Last post by IainB on August 06, 2012, 11:41 AM »

Well, I've done my bit of activism in my corners of the net, I'm gonna have to take a break from all this junk for a while. The emotional roller coaster is wearing me out now.

-TaoPhoenix (August 06, 2012, 10:25 AM)

I wonder how many people feel/think the same?
I have a theory that a lot of this nonsense is designed to desensitize people by flooding them with incessant change - you get change-induced fatigue/narcosis and stop fighting it. Even the most stalwart activists could become more malleable, less resistant and more accepting.
This is how Scientology and various other brainwashing cults operate.

4847

Mini-Reviews by Members / Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930 - Mini-Review

« Last post by IainB on August 06, 2012, 11:28 AM »

Original post date:	2012-08-06
Updated:	2016-07-08

Basic Info

Device Name	Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930
Thumbs-Up Rating
Device support URL	http://www.logitech....headsets-phones/7248 All drivers can be downloaded from an Index: ftp://ftp.logitech.com/pub/techsupport/headsets/
Device Version Reviewed	The G930 Headset - one of a range of Logitech audio devices. Headset kit consists of: (see diagrams below for explosion of out-the-box components) Headset, with mic armature and all controls (3 x programmable keys, mic mute button, volume wheel, Stereo/7.1 switch, ON/OFF press toggle) on the LH side earpiece. Base station with input USB cable, output small USB cable, USB slot (for USB Xmitter dongle). USB wireless Xmitter dongle (approx. 2.5" length).
Driver Specs.:	Driver/software: Comes with original purchase, on CD-ROM, but latest versions are downloaded from Logitech support site. Title: Logitech Gaming Software Software Version: I had been using LGS v8.53.154_x64, but it did not work well. Currently using G930_100275 (2011-08-05), though latest version seems to be: G930_100364b
Test System Specs	MS Win7-64 Home Premium, Win8-64, Win8.1-64 and PRO
Supported OSes	Compatible with Win 7, 8 and 8.1 64-bit/32-bit and Windows XP
Support Methods	Driver/software download and support via the above Logitech link. Has a very good FAQ, which also tells you how to use the headset without using the Logitech software. Handbook (US-Eng.) "Getting Started" is here.
Upgrade Policy	Driver/software upgradeable for FREE from above Logitech link. @tomicjr is probably right where he says in the discussion below "Updates seem to be mostly for [new] game compatibility.".
Pricing Scheme	When I initially reviewed the headset, pricing on Amazon varied at US$90 - $100, though people on DC forum have fed back that retail pricing was more typically US$130-$150. Because I wanted to try the headset out before buying, I chose a local NZ retail outlet who would let me do it "on approval", so here's a plug for the excellent folk at roctech.co.nz aka ExtremePC. Pricing on Amazon as at 2014-06-12 varies at US$90 - $160. Pricing at Logitech site on 2015-05-09 is US$188.

Here are some screenshots of the headset GUI: (click to enlarge image, click again to diminish)
           

           

Diagrams from the "Getting Started" handbook (see link above), showing the layout of the controls, and what's in the box:
     

Intro and Overview:
This review follows on from the DCF thread started on 2010-10-20 by @mouser:
 Glowing web review of Logitech G930 wireless headset
I did at first start to update that thread, but then realised that it was a bit old, so I have done this Mini-Review instead.

Becoming fed up with the leads into my laptop being yanked about whenever I stood up wearing my noise-cancelling headphones whilst forgetting that they were plugged in to my laptop, I decided that I really needed a decent wireless Hi-Fi headset - one that included a mic - and so I ended up deciding to trial and buy the G930 (at a reduced price). My decision was largely based on this PC Mag review: Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930.
(Review dated September 26, 2011.)

Short story: (follow the hyperlink for the full review)
Pros
Long range. High-quality audio output. Handy controls on the headset. Can be used while charging.

Cons
Bass isn't particularly powerful.

Bottom Line
The Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930 stands as one of the best wireless gaming headsets you can find, with high-quality audio output, smart design, and an impressive range.

In the above PCMag.com review it was given a great review and made the Editor's Choice.
Wanting to save (not spend) some money, I did try out the smaller Logitech Wireless Headset H600 first, but it was cr*p ( a technical term) and so I returned it to the store the next day and bought the G930 headset - and kept it.

After having used the G930 mic/headphone headset for a couple of months, I was able to say that it provides one of the nicest, most comfortable and good listening headphone experiences that I have ever come across - it has excellent sound, and I found the bass excellent too, contrary to the PCMag review. If you select/adjust the bass or other frequencies in the equaliser, you will be able to get what your ears like.
The switch between Stereo and Surround Sound seems to produce good stereo, and if you are listening to a 5.1 or 7.1 audio track (music or movie), then selecting the 7.1 switch produces an amazingly lifelike surround sound.
Some stereo sounds better (to me) in the 7.1 mode, though my daughter preferred stereo in the stereo mode. "Chip" music tracks seem to sound decidedly wrong in 7.1 and just fine in stereo.
(The headset's stereo function doesn't seem to be called "stereo" anywhere though - which I don't understand.)

The original software and drivers that came on the CD-ROM with the headset seemed a bit buggy, but there have been several online updates issued since I started using this headset, and it all now seems to run sweetly. However, the functionality of the three programmable keys - which were OK initially - does not always stick/persist (I have them set up for Winamp), and this seems to be caused by the driver software.

Operation:

• The headset functionality does not operate via USB cable, only via a USB wireless dongle.
  
  
• The headset is "smart" and detects transmission/reception activity. It automatically switches itself off after a continuous period of time (about 10 minutes) of inactivity in transmission/reception. This is to conserve the battery, which seems to last a long time anyway.
  
  
• The headset can only be switched ON manually. When you do switch it ON, it makes a discernible but faint soft tone, to let you know that it is working, and it makes the same tone when manually switched OFF.
  When it automatically switches itself OFF (no activity or battery going flat), it makes the same tone.
  
  
• The headset needs to be connected to a USB port for charging the battery. I usually connect it to the USB outlet in my laptop's power supply/charger, so charging can take place regardless of whether the laptop is on or off. Charging can take place whilst the headset wireless functionality is in use on the laptop.

Who this headset is designed for:
Seems to be aimed primarily at gamers who would like Dolby audio 7.1 Surround Sound for in-game realism,  and mutated microphone speech in a game (I have tried out but have not needed to use the mutated microphone speech functionality).
However, many music tracks and DVDs come with either Dolby 7.1 sound output as standard, or as a selectable output option. In such cases there is little doubt that Dolby 7.1 can add a whole new dimension to the listening experience. It may also give an edge to monaural recordings, though I have not experimented with this yet.
So this headset could have strong appeal to audiophiles (including me).

The Good:

• Very nice headset all round. Good listening experience. Mic works fine.
• Quality of headset design. Solidly built. Manufacture and functionality is first-rate.
• Good working range from the transmitter.
• High-quality audio output, switchable between normal Stereo and Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound.
• All the controls and the mic armature on the headset are located on the LEFT headphone, so there's no confusion.
• Very handy arrangement of controls on the headset - controls have thoughtful ergonomic design.
• Comfortable fit and can be worn for a long time without discomfort - good ergonomic design.
• Can be used whilst charging.

The needs improvement section:

• The software has "application aware" functionality, but the software/drivers seem to sometimes behave inconsistently between version releases - this is only as regards the 3 programmable function buttons. The functions are not always persistent. I think this may have been fixed in the latest software update.
• There is no slot in the headset to store the USB wireless network xmitter dongle (which is about 2.5" long), when it is not in use. I would have preferred one of those very small/micro USB wireless network xmitter dongles that are virtually unnoticeable.
  However, I have a fix for this: When not in use, the dongle can be stored snugly inside the lefthand headphone, by pushing it in lengthways between the edge of the red plastic casing and the soft ear cushioning pad.
  

Why I think you should use this product:
I think gamers would be very happy with the quality of the Stereo or the Dolby audio 7.1 Surround Sound, and the choice of plain or mutated microphone speech in a game.
Audiophiles could well be very happy with the sound.

How it compares to similar headsets
Though I do not have the experience to compare this headset with other "gamer" headsets, the published reviews on the Internet rate this headset pretty highly.

Conclusions:
I really like this headset.
A very nice headset all round.
After about two years of use:

• Verdict - still excellent headphones.
• Wear and tear: the shiny surface skin of the ear-cushions started to peel off where there had been friction between the cushion and my spectacle frames (which I always wear when using the laptop). By May 2015, it had all peeled off! This is a cosmetic effect rather than functional. In my experience it inevitably happens with my headphones - good and bad - sometimes sooner than two years elapsed time.
• UPDATE 2016-07-08: After quite a long period of being probably roughly handled by me and my kids, the mic boom broke at the "elbow" (a potential weak spot). Fortunately, the fine wires inside did not break, and I was able to fix it by means of some duct tape holding it together around the break. Seems to be quite a robust repair - apparently hasn't weakened after several months of use. I'm glad it's still intact and all working, though I actually seem to hardly ever use the mic now anyway.
  
  Playing Fallout3 and other RPG games with this headset - with the full mixer software and surround-sound switched on - is very realistic, and you can detect noises of movement behind you and to one side.
  
  The headset seems to have a new wear-and-tear problem - the volume thumbwheel on the headset seems to have have worn its friction face inside somewhere, so has little effect. I ended up using the laptop volume keys to adjust volume instead (which is a bit of a bind). I haven't figured out how to open up the headset without breaking it, to see if I can fix the thumbwheel.

Links to other info sources/reviews of this application:
See the PCMag hyperlink above.
                                           

4848

Living Room / Re: Olympic coverage this year SUCKS!

« Last post by IainB on August 06, 2012, 08:08 AM »

Ok, I must admit that I smirked after reading this:
http://www.businessi...totally-empty-2012-8

-Renegade (August 06, 2012, 07:20 AM)

Crikey! Looks like a major business fail for London.
How could that happen?     

4849

General Software Discussion / Re: Activate/deactive a windows service with a script

« Last post by IainB on August 06, 2012, 08:04 AM »

That's interesting. In Win7-64, the "NET" command only has these options - i.e., no RESTART:

-IainB (August 06, 2012, 12:07 AM)

That probably has much to do with my not being a morning person, and it not actually existing.

-Stoic Joker (August 06, 2012, 06:34 AM)

Ahahaha! I see. I thought it was a feature in XP that must have been removed in Win7-64. I was developing "XP-envy"!

4850

Living Room / Curiosity Mars rover - live feed from NASA

« Last post by IainB on August 06, 2012, 07:02 AM »

Useful post from techrepublic:
Watch Curiosity rover land on Mars without Flash

The non-flash link they give is: http://nasa-f.akamai...ublic_h264_700@54826

Seems to work fine as a live feed into VLC itself or Firefox as a VLC display.
The feed seems to be active with occasional updates/comments, and recycles/repeats itself inbetween times.