* Posts by Afflicted.John

130 publicly visible posts • joined 13 Jun 2011

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BlackBerry Key2: Clickier, nippier, but how many people still want a QWERTY?

Afflicted.John

Price Nonesense

I'm looking at those pics thinking "crap. I have new phone envy already and only 2 weeks into my oneplus 6"

But at that price? No. I'll keep my hub+ subscription though.

Screw luxury fridges, you can now run webOS on your Raspberry Pi

Afflicted.John

Re: Web OS TV

Plex for WebOS has it's moments too. Despite the TV being more than capable of processing DTS streams, the app doesn't recognise this and forces a transcode. I was wondering for weeks why my Lord of the Rings blu-rips didn't work and there was the answer. The native TV DLNA client has no such problem...

Six things I learned from using the iPad Pro for Real Work™

Afflicted.John
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I hate Apple but the Pro is pretty neat

I hate them. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate them. So the opportunity to get an iPad for work came up and I said “No, get me a Surface Pro”. That’s the first snag. Surface is a Windows device and IT support would have to image and manage it. NHS you see.

I looked at all the options and the only one that fit was the iPad. But I wanted a stylus and a big screen for wire framing/design work as well as portability so the Pro then became the only option. And what and expensive package that turned out to be. But we’ll ignore that.

The interesting thing is that when dependant on a Microsoft stack, the iPad Pro is a very useful bit of kit. My files are on OneDrive for Buisness. My email is handles via Office 365 and I have access through Enterprise Mobility & Security. I have virtually everything I need, with good apps and none of the Mobile Iron crap. Start writing a document in Word on the train on the iPad, then seamlessly pick it up on the desktop when I hit the office. It’s there in my Word documents list, smiling at me. Sure Word is cut down a bit but even for academic types there’s a great Mendely app - no need for that linked EndNote from where I sit.

Ironic thing? EM&S disables copy and paste between controlled and non-controlled applications. So it doesn’t matter that Apple have fudged the implementation as I cannot really use it when using a proper browser like Firefox.

Second problem is that the wire framing / software prototyping ecosystem is very Mac orientated. Adobe XD had a lot of promise but Windows reliance in the Health sector was always going to go against me.

Only time will tell if this is a true replacement for pen and paper for wire framing.

Afflicted.John

Re: Other keyboards are available

Totally concur. I went into the Apple store for the very first time to test the official keyboard after I had reservations with it. I will wholeheatedly disagree with Andrew there: the official keyboard is a spunky mess and overpriced tat. Why people like it is because it is a very good design adding little bulk to the device.

Funny thing is that I need a keyboard TO FUCKING TYPE ON. The Logitech is such a keyboard with great action and just enough key travel. The downside? It doubles the thickness of the iPad Pro but when I’m using the 13” version it is already stupidly sized and doesn’t matter. Plus, Logi kit is usually available much cheaper that the Apple official stuff. Angle adjustment it there but the hinge does not know how to fully handle the larger Pro and so does need some wedging on some angles to avoid collapsing. I’d recommend it regardless - it’s fantastic.

Interesting that I was pushed into the Apple keyboard by the PFY on the Geniu$ bar and I had to plainly tell him that the official iPad Pro keyboard was not up to scratch. He wasn’t sure how to “handle” that information...

Cash-happy BlackBerry slurps one-time rival Good for $425m

Afflicted.John

This has literally made my day Gooder... it certainly laughs in the face of "I thought BlackBerry were dead" management types around here. Hooray! Maybe we can all be happily BIL2 secure in the near future.

Roku 3: Probably the best streaming player on the market ... for now, at least

Afflicted.John

Re: UK

A recent Reddit AMA with the ROKU CEO had several comments like this. General consensus was "We need to look into this" but clearly he didn't know about the Now TV issues...which is worrying. I like in hope that we get Prime in the UK.

Nokia may tell struggling HERE Maps division to get lost – report

Afflicted.John
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Go on BlackBerry...

My Passport needs a decent mapping app and no matter what tricks I pull I cannot get Here working.

TV Idol star's keyboard upstart idolizes our gear too much – BlackBerry

Afflicted.John

Re: Pathetic

Why would you heat a bog?

You probably would also be aware of the significant differences between Nokia's keyboard efforts and those of RIM...all of which has nothing to do with BrackBerry being a fringe business. If their products were so out of date...why is Typo even in business?

This could be a case for Mulder and Scully: Fox 'in talks' to bring back The X-Files

Afflicted.John

Re: I'd rather see another Chris Carter series

Hang on there ecofeco....that was AFTER Fringe became the next X-Files...

Tesco tosses loss-making Blinkbox into TalkTalk's basket

Afflicted.John

Re: And there goes the market for VoD to Amazon...

Yes. And they ARE TERRIBLE. You shouldn't really support rubbish just because they are British. Now if PlusNet bought them that would be a different thing...

In terms of TalkTalk, I supported their install into my Mother's house when she saw an advert fro TV, broadband and phone for about £2 per month (plus line rental). She was promised 9mb and got 3mb which is by an large not enough for an On Demand TV service. The contract was 18 months and they did nothing but pass to foreign call centres and blame BT. While the house is far form an exchange, the resulting speeds literally crippled the service she was paying for and they offered no refund or gestures of good will. She also had 12month Love Film subscription thrown in which no one could activate for her, or knew anything about despite it being on a welcome email. Regardless...the ADSL was not fast enough to provide it.

And I suggested that this was good value....

Afflicted.John
Unhappy

And there goes the market for VoD to Amazon...

The thought about my VoD streaming through Talk Talk infrastructure fills me with dread. I haven't spent much money on BlinkBox aside form the odd rental but always held that they were home grown, and offered a great alternative to Amazon and iTunes. This basically means the last opposition to them two is heading down the swanny.

I just responded their their "We're excited!" email to customers with just as much. I feel better about the prospect of throwing money at Amazon now. No "support the locals" philosophy in me any-more...

Blade Runner sequel might actually be good. Harrison Ford is in it

Afflicted.John

Please David Fincher....please. Please. Please please.

Look. Give it a damned chance people. Sorry that Promethius wasn't the prequel everyone wanted but it was still interesting and overall very good IMHO. Preconceptions are not the same as bad film making and Scott knows how to put films together. The fact that Fancher is involved is encouraging as the original script was good. The bickering by the studio turned it into a different beast, but we are in a different world now. The budget etc will not be as much of an issue, and the creative freedom (double edged sword) may give them the chance to make an even bigger film. The team is good, let's have some faith.

Afflicted.John

Re: "It's too bad she won't live. But then again, who does?"

I don't know whether to approve of this "crossing the streams". Will think about it...

BlackBerry chief vows: We'll focus on 'core devices' and on, er, not losing money

Afflicted.John

Re: They have lost their advantages

What backend server are you talking about? BB10 doesn't need any back end server? How can so many people comment about something they know nothing about?

And you think an in-house development platform for anyone to use is somehow SECURE? Google BES10/12 and then come back as your information is at least 2 years out of date....

Afflicted.John

Re: Jes.e

And AC, you clearly are a doofus. All Jes.E stated is how they find the phone but are are right, in a very short space of time they became an evangelist. And what is wrong with that? I went from running an Android review and tech blog, being an extremely pro Android fan to devout BB user (thanks to Phones4u sending me a review Z10). I have had a somewhat protracted "hallelujah" moment and find the concept of going back to Android or jumping to iOS/WP anathema.

The BB contact architecture is good. Try it and then complain but there is nothing wrong with someone "not getting" a platform. Blackberry surprisingly works for a lot of people, but the stigma that oiks like you seem to perpetuate stops many from giving the latest BB10 devices a go. I might say that said people need to grow a pair but regardless, some people want to be cool like you.

I personally think all the gasps of horror at my Passport are pretty fun...

Afflicted.John

Re: What's the need they're trying to fill?

I think BB lost their way due to bad managers too...difference is they seem to have found a good one in John Chen.

Vulture takes BlackBerry's Passport through customs

Afflicted.John

This fone is...

...funked up and I must simply have it. Must. Must. Must.

I am off to clap like Michael Sheen in the 3rd Twiglet film...

Apple blacklists tech journo following explicit BENDY iPhone vid

Afflicted.John

What? With their reinforced glass housing. People can throw stones though...

Afflicted.John

Re: Apple, there's really no need for you to get all bent out of shape over this.

Personally I would bend over backwards to get that kind of access to Apple tech.

Phones 4u slips into administration after EE cuts ties with Brit mobe retailer

Afflicted.John

Why don't they get a relationship with HANDSET MAKERS?

If they don't want to be squeezed out, but provide the service then maybe they should give the consumer the choice of handsets and then the SIM is round two; they pick the network they want.

I am fairly sure that if they say look at a different model and forgo the cut (or as much of a cut) from the networks they can instead focus on providing popular handsets, on the highstreet and duke it out with CPW.

Imagine a kiosk where they can order a Moto X customised and delivered to the store on behalf of the customer allowing them to then add the value added bits of setup, training etc to the customer.

If tech savvy punters like us don't give a hoot about hand holding, then fine - but we're not needing that service. My mother on the other hand does...

Why Apple had to craft a pocket-busting 5.5in Plus-sized iPhone 6 (thank LG, Samsung etc)

Afflicted.John

Re: It's all about the screen size

Since when was the 10" HP Touchpad a 7" device? Therefore that leaves your "crashed and burned" argument with the BB PlayBook. Fine.

Just don't mention the Hudl, Galaxy Tab 3/4 and that Nexus 7 thingy....

The market has clearly spoken despite your fandom, and given a variety of different devices. "Choice" if you will...something that Apple is now only realising it needs to deliver because they cannot dictate to every sector of the market and just expect to shift units because they are "Apple".

Will It Blend? Maybe. BlackBerry’s secret comeback weapon

Afflicted.John

Re: Really, good looking???

No, it just doesn't have to be worse. And what features are we talking about? If camera is the most important factor then no, Z30 is not your device etc... But then again a cehap and powerful Nexus won't be either.

Afflicted.John

What it is for....

Seemingly not in the article so here goes:

Blend is as Simulacra75 points out Bridge on Steroids. The idea is that the content on your phone is accessible to the computer. So what you may ask?... Well the clever bit is that the thin client on the PC/Mac is accessing all the data from your phone and nowhere else. Your PC becomes a glorified input device, and your monitor a larger screen.

But while geeks may hook up a HDMI cable and USB on the go peripherals, Blend makes full use of the screen real estate by formatting appropriately. The "secure" connection is reliant on a good old fashioned cable - USB no less. No funky Bluetoothing needed. And no need for your monitor and keyboard to be connected to the web either. This is a tunnel only to the BB.

It will be interesting how CESG look at this, but purely for those who want to work on their phones, but cannot deal with the overly cramped screen real estate, this can offer your emails and contact all in one place. I am not sure if the office suite is also available.

Why now and not since the 90's? Well the smartphone has certainly evolved hasn't it? Now that I have virtually everything I need to get by on a daily basis on my phone, it has become the working computer, but no matter how much larger phones get, I would still prefer a nicely sized monitor and keyboard when serious tying is called for.

Afflicted.John

Re: Really, good looking???

The Z30 is every bit as good as a top end Android - try one and you might be surprised.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4: 4G Android tablet is easy to swallow

Afflicted.John

Re: Fed up with charging my Mk1 every night

Sounds like a trip to http://get.cm is in order...

Star Wars: These are the 'unknown' actors we were looking for

Afflicted.John

Damn midiclorians...

I don't care how that was spelled either.

WORLD CUP TRAUMA? Just Streaming Stick a Roku in it

Afflicted.John

Re: Now TV hack closed now

Why not just pay the extra £15 for a Roku LT? These cheapskates...

Question is how does it compare iwth the Roku 3? I just took delivery of both and haven't used them enough to say if one was better than the other, but the Roku 3 does seem faster all round. But certainly the Stick is no slouch.

Maybe £20 more than the Chromecast but worth every penny.

Afflicted.John

Re: Me too

I think you answered his question perfectly. The point of the Roku Stick is you don't need to arse around with connections and fiddling. The thing just works and has a lot more content that a Chromestick.

BlackBerry bottoms out: Vows to wow with new Berries

Afflicted.John

Re: Currently BB10 can run Android binaries impressively...

Audible does not work no matter how you side load it....but now that Amazon are in on it there are rumours of a Prime VoD app and the Amazon MP3 going BB "native". If so Audible will be coming sooner than you think.

I don't trust Amazon - they are trojan horse scum bags but in this case I may well welcome to my bosom.

Afflicted.John

Re: wish them all the best

BB Classic for you then?

JJ Abrams and Star Wars: I've got a bad feeling about this

Afflicted.John

Re: Fringe

And just for the damn record, did anyone watch the final series of Fringe and not wish to the Gods of Kobol that there was another? It was absolutely amazing. The final scene were genius, bringing a neat conclusion to a pretty damn epic storyline. It more than made up for the lack of Peter Bishop a couple of years earlier...

Afflicted.John

Re: Fringe

Fringe was one of the best depictions of the whole gamut of science fiction ever conceived. You clearly are an idiot.

Having said that, Fringe was as much Kurtzman and Orci as Abrahams so maybe it should stay out of the list. But don't diss Fringe.

Keep calm and listen to Walter.

Triple-headed NHS privacy scare after hospital data reach marketers, Google

Afflicted.John

Anonymised data - why the problem

This data cannot be used to identify you. It does not contain details about who you are or where you live. You record is reduced to an unidentifiable number.

So why the concern?

Whitehall and Microsoft negotiate NHS Windows XP hacker survival plan

Afflicted.John

Re: How about

Your comment is incredibly naive - you have no idea just how archaic the NHS really is.

I am dealing with systems that throw a hissy fit if you are not using IE6, some systems with extensive locked in contracts that do not include support of more than one browser or OS without punitive charges being levied. Should it be this way? Of course not, but it is. And when system administrators are saying a system needs to be Win 7 certified, and the vendor say "no" what do you do? Stop treating patients?

Lenovo Yoga 10: Mediocre tech, yes, but beautifully fondleable

Afflicted.John

8" Version Looks like a better bet

Same screen res means crisper display plus it is 8 and not 7 inches... I like the look of that exceedingly...

BlackBerry BES: Hey, biz bod, fancy an upgrade on that RIM job... for FREE?

Afflicted.John

Let's not forget that without an effective MDM, the likes of Good are being lambasted by the CESG effectively ruling out BYOD on all platforms apart from BB10 in Enterprise Mode. With whitelisting apps on Balance, you can use a BB10 device. CESG seems to say (if I read it right) that all other platforms must not be used fo any personal use at all - no apps or anything.

Not to mention the provisioning process for Android looks horrible...

This market is BB's to lose for sure.

Are you experienced? The Doctor Who assistants that SUFFERED the most

Afflicted.John

Re: Romana

Insidious incest!

The REAL JUICE behind leaked BlackBerry OS: Android apps to slip in without protection

Afflicted.John

There is little to comaplin about...

...with the APK compatibility. Scaremongering unsecured apps is all too easy to do however. Personally, I am frustrated at how many apps rely on Google APIs and so do not work or work partially. Even TripAdvisor stutters reqeusting access to Google. Others such as Comics work fine for pre-bought content but in app purchases fail forcing onto the web to buy the latest Astonishing X-Men. The others such as $tarbuck$ work flawlessly even allow you to recharge your account as the purchasing portion is handled via their website.

The gamble is worthwhile: if BB garners enoguh support and app devs see lots of BB related activity, the market is there. But the headline that all apps work well on BB10 is not quite right and a way off.

LG’s G2: The phondleslab that wants you to TOUCH ITS BEHIND

Afflicted.John

"and made easier to use thanks to controls on the back."

Ha! The that The Verge and your Miley Cyrus watching nonsense...

Heins didn't have the beans. Can comeback king Chen fish BlackBerry out of jam?

Afflicted.John

Re: First step should not be hard

I thought Fusion has been depreciated?

Z30: The classiest BlackBerry mobe ever ... and possibly the last

Afflicted.John

It is good

Self confessed Android fanboi that I am...I just bloody love the Z30. The first phone in a long time (if ever) that I look forward to using. Android seems to be slowly deconstructing itself through ever increasing and sometimes daft features (Samsung is to blame) while the Z30 just does the stuff really, really well.

I cannot heap enough praise on the thing and only complain slightly due to its weight. But that is a mild tradeoff...

BlackBerry's AD BLITZ: Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated

Afflicted.John

Z30 is a damn fine piece of kit

The Z30 is a bloody good phone. My unashamed Android fanboy roots have withered. I am jumping ship. The likes of the Galaxy Note are gimmicks and the best android can offer business is using an MDM like Good which always seemed like sticking a plaster on a gaping wound. I cannot say anything mopre than I am thoroughly impressed by BB10.

If only BB would engage a clever PR campaign and be a little more intelligent. With LG firing arrows on Facebook (with a resulting backlash) and WhatsApp failing in the security stakes, BB have some opportunity to gain some traction. If only they would stop consistently screwing up...

Circling the RIM: BB10 becomes chamber of horrors for BlackBerry

Afflicted.John

I am not saying that BB will reclimb the handset market - that is not their core strength but the current strategy to pull away from it and focus on their only growth area (i.e. BES 10) is hardly foolhardy. At the end of the day of companies like Mobile Iron and Good can build an industry off the back of BB's inactivity, you would think there is still enough head knowledge in them to re-take that market.

The last thing Prem Watsa is going to do is pick the company apart. There might be some audacious trimming of the fat but the core BB structure will stand - at the end of the day he is a fan of Blackberry - not the average private equity investor.

Afflicted.John

Get them for £150 on Ebay.

Afflicted.John

Sure BB sat on their hands for far too long but they still have a credible market share. With BB10.2, they also have an ace in the hole in the shape of the Jelly Bean runtime essentially allowing any recent Android app to run. The apps are there to be had...

Coupled with the $4.7bilion buyout I would say there are options open to the market that would not mean MS could circle and devour. That would be the death knell...

I am sick of hearing naysayers write off this company - in work on a daily basis I get "Oh I don't even know if BB will be hear in 12 months time" which is purile and short sighted. They need to stick to the core strength of the business which is the platform - and that seems to be what they are aiming for. At the end of the day, the company is not is financial distress other than it has stopped making money and is eating away at itself (although this can not obviously continue). A bit of swift action from their sugar daddy could cure that, and we might see this fruit turn itself around.

I would take BES10 over Good Tech anyday...

Everyone's waving their 5-inchers: BlackBerry outs new supersized Z30

Afflicted.John

Good. But slow.

There is a lot to admire about BB10 but I just wish that BB would be quicker about issuing these devices - they won't stand a chance unless they pull their damned fingers out...

Good looking phone though but they need to price it below the droid competition.

Do not adjust your eyes: This Kobo ten-incher has a 2560 x 1600 resolution

Afflicted.John

Where there's Play there's LAUNCHERS!

I cannot see any reason why you cannot install Apex or something similar on these devices from Google Play. Unless I am stupid and missed something?

So, who ought to be the next Doctor Who? It's up to YOU...

Afflicted.John

C'mon. No Paul Rhys?

Doctor Who? 12th incarnation sought after Matt Smith quits

Afflicted.John
Stop

Stringvest Time

OK. Bowties are cool: Done.

Scarves: done to death.

Leather jacket: done

Pervy suit and Cons: done.

String. Vest. The Doctor will be Rabb C Nesbitt.

What kind of pirate are you: Justified, transgressor or just honest?

Afflicted.John
FAIL

Re: Concert spending

Well tell that to the musicians I have spoken to such as Toby Jepson of the Little Angels. Had a great conversation with him at a gig and he seemed to have the most forward thinking viewpoint I have heard. He basically said that gigs are the money spinner, to the point where you will now pay more for a gig or concert and an album is merely a way of getting people through the door - an advert for services rendered in a music hall. True fans will buy physical media in most cases, but the bonus of a t-shirt and beanie hat means they will have spent 4 or 5 times the amount over one copy of an album in terms of merchandise and tickets.

There is an elusive drug like quality to the merchandise stall at a concert and I have spent more money there, more easily than when sitting in front of my monitor thinking "Do I really need another Weezer t-shirt?".

This argument will not fit all musicians, and the likes of Billy Bragg have a belief that is distinctly different from Toby, but there is no denying that this school of thought poo-pooed by the article has weight.

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