* Posts by Bodhi

124 publicly visible posts • joined 11 Jan 2012

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Subsidy-guzzling Tesla's Model 3 volumes a huge problem – Wall St man

Bodhi

Re: Guzzling?

"How do you think the oil gets refined? Large amounts of electricity."

And where do you think refineries get their electricity from?

Small hint - not the National Grid.

Tesla hits Model 3 production speed bumps, slides to loss

Bodhi

Must admit I find this assertion that anyone who has an issue with Tesla is automatically in the pocket of the fossil fuel companies a little bit bizarre - supposing we do transition away from fossil fuels (eventually), do you honestly think Exxon, Shell etc aren't going to transition as well?

Your top five dreadful people the Google manifesto has pulled out of the woodwork

Bodhi

I spent a few minutes last night reading through Damore's original memo, thought it was well researched, backed up with verifiable facts, reasoned and nuanced - and made some damn good points - for instance, is it really diverse and inclusive, to exclude a section of the company from support mechanisms and help with professional development, just on the basis of their race (i.e they're white), or their sex (they're male)? Are Google going for equality of opportunity (should be standard everywhere), or equality of outcome? And is Positive Discrimination not just another form of discrimination?

I then spent some time this morning reading this "article", and I know which of the two works was the more considered and though provoking piece - and it wasn't the 3 page rant on The Register. Ignoring the fact it pretty much started off on incorrect principles (Damore claiming women couldn't code, when he said nothing of the sort), complained about "rich white men" generalising, then made some generalisations about "rich white men" - and then spent another two pages ranting about how wrong Damore was, without actually offering any proof that he was.

So yes, this author has helped with my top 5 dreadful people. The author has gone straight in at number 1.

I've also tried to find a copy of the original memo (with sources) through a certain search provider, and for whatever reason it isn't finding anything.

I'LL BE BATT: Arnie Schwarzenegger snubs gas guzzlers for electric

Bodhi

Re: The issues with Hydrogen.

My ideal fuel for running a car would be something so plentiful it will take hundreds of years to run out of, easily made, easily transported, reasonably cheap before the governments take their slice, flexible and quick to refuel.

Oh, I think that's called petrol. Good job I have a car readily converted to run on it.

Google and HMRC face Parliamentary grilling over £130m tax deal

Bodhi

Um, I'll assume you're aware of Facebook's Tax arrangements? Google paid £130 million, FB around £4,500.

I'd also suggest that Google are paying what they owe, hence the £130 million payment. I'll assume given that you want Google to pay more than they actually owe you are in the habit of making random donations to HMRC?

Thought not.

Bodhi

*sigh*

Yet another article which looks to compare Google's Revenue earned compared to the tax they pay - completely ignoring the fact that taxes are paid on profits - not revenue.

Even the BBC managed to get that one right over the weekend, and funnily enough if you look at profits then the figure paid actually looks around 20%, which is far more reasonable.

Also interesting that Labour are gnashing and wailing about it - just how much tax did Google pay under the last Labour Government? (I'll give you a clue it rhymes with Cluck Ball).

All we need now is Margaret Hodge to start up (whilst conveniently ignoring her husband's company's tax structures) and in Tax Reporting Bingo terms, we have a House.

Server retired after 18 years and ten months – beat that, readers!

Bodhi

Not an entire computer but my Logitech keyboard recently dies, so I had to dig out the old faithful backup keyboard - and IBM Model M from 1987. Still works an absolute treat and still superb to type on.

I suspect if me old man hadn't thrown out the IBM PS/2 it was supplied with, that would still be running as well...

VW: Just the tip of the pollution iceberg. Who's to blame? Hippies

Bodhi

Re: Nuclear

Isn't the Green Industry worth about $1.5 trillion a year these days? Might explain why they are so determined to fudge the numbers to prove a point.

Bodhi

Re: "on hold"

http://judithcurry.com/2015/06/04/has-noaa-busted-the-pause-in-global-warming/

The answer appears to be no. Like the misplaced condescension though! Good look!

Scotsman cools PC with IRN-BRU, dubs it the 'Aye Mac'

Bodhi

Re: Given that Irn Bru contains more sugar even than Coca Cola...

No it doesn't. Irn Bru is around 9.5g per 100ml, Coke is around 10.5.

It's also considerably nicer......

Jeremy Corbyn: My part in his glorious socialist triumph

Bodhi

Re: Full of win

Not really the best links to prove your point - they seem to define poverty as earning less than the average wage, which may be slightly tricky to fix, given how averages work....

Sony Xperia M4 Aqua 4G: The Android smartie that can take its drink

Bodhi

Re: but I have a soft spot for Sony

But the Xperia Arc is about 4 years old now, and was made by a completely different company? My original Xperia Z would be on Lollipop by now, if I hadn't left it in a taxi in Bangkok, and that's well over 2 years old now.

And on that bombshell: Top Gear's Clarkson to reappear on Amazon

Bodhi

Re: Errr...

Well that's a lovely sentiment....aren't you all sweetness and light?

GM's cheaper-than-Tesla 'leccy car tested at batt-powered data centre

Bodhi

Re: What a horrible paint job

Not really needed, you may not be able to hear the car, but you can hear the owners droning on and on about how their electric car is not as awful as previously suspected, and they managed a whole 80 miles before needing more juice.

LEAKED: Samsung's iPhone 6 killer... the Samsung Galaxy S6

Bodhi

Re: Samsung makes Great hardware, but ...

Ever so slightly out of date with this one, in fact I seem to spend less time trying to make my Xperias behave than I did with my old iPhone (iOS 7 onwards). So much so that my 72 year old mother is currently using a Z1, with no issues at all.

Bodhi

Re: innovation and demand

My Xperia Z has been through the wash - still works fine. With waterproofing also tends to come with dust-proofing, which probably would be useful in the desert.

Sony hackers PINCH early version of James Bond Spectre script

Bodhi

Re: @Bodhi

No, I think my point was that they don't treat everyone like shit, as in around 20 years of buying their kit, I haven't been treated like shit yet? Not too hard to understand.

I understand you hold some sort of grudge against Sony. Maybe they turned you down for a job, or had a large HD-DVD collection, or you like your Xbox a little bit too much. Whatever, you are well within your rights to do so. Just as I am well within my rights to point out that not everyone shares your view.

Bodhi

Re: @Bodhi

It doesn't affect me no, or about 99.9% of the other PS3 users out there. Given that PS3 sales didn't exactly fall off a cliff when they removed the feature, I'm guessing it was nowhere near as critical to the PS3's success as you are making it out to be. As I said, it really was a feature aimed at a very small minority, who abused it, and it got removed.

And they still make plenty of kit reckoned to be amongst the best you can buy - the high end Xperias seem to be getting rave reviews - even on this website, along with their cameras, a few Bravias and various other bits and bobs they do. You appear to be foaming at the mouth a little bit too much to see that, sadly. All I can tell you is, the current Sony kit I have does exactly what it was advertised to do, if it didn't, it would have gone back.

Bodhi

Re: @Bodhi

The rootkit fiasco I will give you, however as mentioned, when Sony Japan heard what BMG had been up to I gather they were just as pissed off as you, prompting the very public U-Turn on it. Not 100% sure I can blame them for trying to protect their business at a time when Torrents were exploding in popularity - in fact I would worry more about a company that DIDN'T take steps - however the path BMG chose sucked balls, and they were rightly admonished for that. But that was 10 years ago, and time moves on. Judging by the list of affected titles, I'd say that for buying some of the CD's in question you deserve everything you get :)

The Other OS thing is a complete non-issue imo - the only time I ever hear it mentioned is on these boards, and the number of people using that feature was infinitesimally small. iirc it was also a fairly terrible Linux box, with no GFX acceleration and only one core of the Cell available. However, I lay the blame for that one firmly at Mr Hotz's door for trying to crack the PS3 in the first place - again I'd be more worried if Sony didn't try and close the door.

As an aside - given how long it took to crack the PS3, maybe the team who designed the PS3 should have done Sony's IT security as well? Not like they could have done a worse job now is it...

The proprietary thing never bothered me TOO much, as technically they were often better solutions, but thankfully for all concerned they have moved away from this model now - only proprietary tech I can think of now is the PS Vita memory card, for everything else they use industry standards (microSD, microUSB, DLNA, etc etc). I've got a 2014 Bravia at home, and the other manufacturer's kit it won't play nicely with is Apple, however that's a whole other discussion about proprietary standards.

Like them or loathe them, they still make some bloody good kit (TV's, Consoles, Mobile Devices, the high end audio equipment, cameras and sensors, etc etc), and they are one of the few remaining electronics companies that still know what innovation means (even if for every great idea they have 3 silly ones - Tablet P I'm looking in your direction here), and it would be a shame to lose them because some angry geeks (the hackers, not you) have sand in their vaginas about something.

Bodhi

Re: No, no and no

Maybe it's just me, but I find hoping a Global Organisation go bust and tens of thousands of people lose their jobs a little bit off. Actually no, that isn't the word - it makes you a bit of a c**t. Not sure why a dodgy decision taken by one of its subsidiaries (without Sony Head Office's knowledge) 10 years ago should promote such bile - did they turn you down for a job at some stage?

Must admit I've been a Sony customer since my first Walkman back in 1992, can't say I've ever been treated like sh*t - if anything my dealings with Sony have been pleasant and I've got more than expected - kit replaced outside of warranty, free stuff, money off vouchers, etc.

Sony hackers dump more hunks of stolen data, promise another 'Christmas gift'

Bodhi

Re: Sony should stop whining

If this was the first movie to poke fun at NK I could see your point, but how is this any different to Team America?

Other than Trey and Matt are about 100x funnier than Seth Rogen.

Xperia Z3: Crikey, Sony – ANOTHER flagship phondleslab?

Bodhi

Couple of slight issues with what you've said.

1) A quick look on Amazon gives loads of case options for the Z3, including the Style Covers from Sony themselves. I picked up a Cruzerlite one for a tenner to tide me over until the Style Covers are available over here, seems t work pretty well.

2) Google crippled Android as far as SD cards are concerned, not Sony. If anything Sony are currently trying to un-cripple it

http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_phones_getting_move_to_sd_card_via_latest_update-news-9058.php

3) Not sure on your backup issues, as I don't think I'd want a backup to contain log in information, y'know for security purposes.

4) 4k video records for about 5 minutes on my Z3, which I am told is pretty much par for the course when recording 4k video on a phone.

So you were correct that you don't get 20Mp in Superior Auto. Most of the rest of what you said however, was pish.

Bodhi

No, it does expect you to come up with your own jokes however.

Bodhi

Re: OEM Bloat not Decreased since Z1?

I would be interested to hear why you think the Walkman app is terrible, as I must admit, I haven't heard a bad word said about it as yet. Interface and file format support seems way ahead of the standard Android options. Only negative I can see is the Music Unlimited integration, but then that takes 2 seconds to turn off...

EE network whacked by 'PDP authentication failure' blunder

Bodhi

Re: I have a long-term fix for EE's problems:

Strange. EE was my long term fix for Vodafone's problems of terrible customer service, flaky and slow data connections, silly roaming charges and complete inability to get reception indoors. 18 months in and it's been one of the best moves I've made.

YMMV, IMHO, etc etc

Sony CEO forced to shush shareholder heckling at fiery AGM

Bodhi

Re: Sony=Phoney

Lack of true innovation? Are you for real? If anything Sony's problem is the opposite - they innovate first, then figure out afterwards who the hell is going to buy it (Tablet P anyone?).

And rubbish products? Take it you haven't used many recently then? The current W8 series Bravias, most of the Xperia range, the PS4, the new mirrorless cameras, all cracking products.

Bodhi

As a proud owner of a 2014 Bravia and several Xperias, I'd have to say Sony's update process is fine. We've had the telly for about 3 months now and had 4 updates, and I've lost count of the amount of updates they've pushed out to the Xperia Z. They tend to be a little behind Samsung on the phones, but as each update almost always bring new features (on top of what is in the Android upgrades), I'm fairly happy with that.

Typically when buying electronic devices I'll look at the Sony option first, then if thats no good look elsewhere, but this does mean I have quite a bit of Sony kit around the house. What has impressed me with them over the past 2 or 3 years, is how well it all hangs together. Want content from your phone on the TV? Easy. Want to play music from your phone on the PS3? Easy. Want to use a PS3 controller to play games on the phone? Easy. What's even more shocking to me, after years of Sony kit only playing nicely with other Sony kit, is how well it works with other brands as well. In fact the only brand it doesn't play nicely with is Apple, and that's nowt to do with Sony.....

Really hope Sony can turn it around and get back to close to where they were - they've done so many fantastic products over the years, and the current "big" electronics brands really don't blow my skirt up. Samsung and LG do fairly forgettable kit that seems inspired (read: copied) from what everyone else is doing, and any innovations they come up with on their own seem fairly pointless (curved TV screens - why why why), and Apple, well, they're Apple. OK Sony haven't been perfect over the years (the rootkit a subsidiary put on a CD without Sony's knowledge, the PSN thing), but I'd say the good far outweighs the bad.

E-cigarettes help you quit – but may not keep you alive

Bodhi

Re: 'vaping' == drug paraphernalia

I sense much condescension and anger, let me guess - haven't had your morning coffee yet?

Purely anecdotally I know many people who have switched from tobacco to vaping, and all are finding health and financial benefits, and are all tobacco free. Unfortunately I still like to taste of a Marlboro Red too much, so am using a job that has a lot of international travel to buy them in countries where they are slightly more reasonable priced. I do have an e-cigs for times when smoking isn't possible/advisable (long haul flights, before customer rmeetings, when ill etc), and it certainly beats any of the NRT's available, I'd still rather have a cig however.

However banning them would be silly considering how helpful they are for people wanting to quit. The lack of tax and the possibility they are allowing the cake to be both possessed and consumed are factors here imo, not any spurious health dangers.

Little pink handjob: Sony's Xperia Z1 Compact

Bodhi

Re: we love ours

Not much to add to this other than you can add exceptions to Stamina Mode, so you can still get emails, WhatsApp etc. It does mean Stamina Mode is slightly less effective, but still stops the sync hogs like FB and Twitter from chewing all your battery.

Must admit though the Xperias have never been great at battery life, although they are improving. My original Z can just about make it through a day, but with docks in my car and on my desk, it doesn't really need to.

Excellent phones however, if my Z had the camera from the Z1 in it I doubt I'd be in a hurry to ever upgrade. As it is the Z2 is calling me, with its noise cancellation, stereo speakers and awesome camera.

Yes! New company smartphones! ... But I don't WANT one

Bodhi

Re: Big

How about the Z1 Compact? Full spec phone, much smaller size.

Mass Effect: Ten lightweight laptops that won’t bust your back

Bodhi

Re: these look somehow familiar...

This is true. However they also look the same as the Vaio I bought in 2005. Think it was called the X505 but I may be wrong. It didn't come with the "re-write history so Apple invented everything" button the MBA comes with, but otherwise it was a fantastic machine.

Bill Gates orders hitman to kill right-hand man Steve Ballmer

Bodhi

With Apologies to Jesse Jackson

Still the best of all imo, every social taboo smashed in a single episode.

Kiss it. Apologise.

Getting it right on the second attempt: Sony Xperia Z1

Bodhi

Re: A Sony handset? Never Again!

Sorry to burst your bubble, but the Arc and Arc S were made by a different company - SonyEricsson. Sony's updates now are excellent, generally updated as long as Qualcomm can supply the drivers tor the chipsets.

Bodhi

Think you've kind of proved there why I don't tend to listen to mobile phone salesmen, and pick my own device based on reviews from people who actually know what they're talking about. Can't speak for the Z1 as I don't have one yet, but after 6 months with the Z I can tell you :

1) Battery - absolutely fine, makes it through a day quite easily, even with 4G/WiFi, Google Now, GPS, BT etc all on. Stamina mode works a treat when the phone is idle. Last night it was showing 19 hours since charging with 45% left. The Sony phones tend to calibrate the battery over the first few charges, which it won't be able to do if it's constantly on charge in a store.

2) Software bugs. Only one I've found is Car Mode sometimes freaks out a but and won't let you unlock the phone, leave it 5 seconds it sorts itself out. Other than that it's been the most stable mobile phone I've had, including my old iPhone 4. Never had a problem hanging up calls, or using it as a phone, performance is fine no matter how much I throw at it.

3) Scratching screen - that's a screen protector you are scratching you utter div. Mind, the less said about mouth breathers in a mobile phone store deliberately scratching screens the better, I put one of the extra screen protectors that come in the box, 6 months later the screen is fine. But then I treat it with the respect a £500 device deserves, don;t attack it with a key.

4) Viewing angles - not really an issue for me as I use my screen straight on, don't really notice a huge amount of washout, especially with the screen on full brightness. Crank the brightness up the screen look sstunning in fact,

My Z has been absolutely superb - so good in fact half the family have traded in their Galaxys as they were fed up of random bugs and cracking screens, and the awful cartoony gloop that is TouchWiz. They're all on Z's now and more than happy. In fact I may have to get a Z1 to stay one step ahead :)

Hands on: We play with the slippery Lumia 1520, Nokia's first phondleslab

Bodhi

And Sony have improved the camera software in the Z1 as well. Also bear in mind that this phablet won't have the same camera as the 1020 (41Mp plays 20), so I'd say the OP was even wider of the mark.

Bodhi

Considering in lab conditions a recent test put the 1020 behind the Xperia Z1 and iPhone 5S, you may wish to reconsider.....

http://www.dxomark.com/Mobiles/Sony-Xperia-Z1-overview-Serious-challenger-to-Nokia-Lumia-1020

Anti-food startup Soylent pours sugar daddies' $1.5m into its gloopy mix

Bodhi

Not another b%^&*$d Herbalife

Getting a bit fed up of the morons on my FB Page offering to sell me some gloop that "helped my last customer lose 10 pounds in a week!".

Yes, eating that gloop would probably give me dysentery as well.....

Price rises and power cuts by 2016? Thank the EU's energy policy

Bodhi

Re: Biomass != fossil fuel

It is not a fossil fuel no. Shame the tendency is to burn a shedload of them in order to make the woodchips in the first place. And that's without going there on the mass deforestation needed to produce the wood in the first place.

So basically, another "Green" technology that's actually worse for the environment than burning old dinosaurs.

Sony Xperia Z Ultra: The quad-core 2.2GHz MEGA SCREEN PHONDLESLAB

Bodhi

Re: Looks like a nice bit of kit..

Sadly it isn't 2009 any more, Sony have been pretty good with updates since they took over from SE. My Z is regularly updated with new features and performance enhancements, and 4.3 is on the way soon. And of course if you want to take matters into your own hands, many custom ROM's are available, all endorsed by Sony who will quite happily unlock the bootloader for you, and contribute to AOSP and are XDA's most developer friendly manufacturer.

A £30,000, 295bhp 4G MODEM?!? Must be the Audi S3 Quattro, then

Bodhi

Re: Permanent 4 wheel drive

The Haldex system used is well know for being fake 4wd, most of the time it's front wheel drive until the fronts start to lose grip, then power is shuffled backwards.

Interesting that this review states its a good drivers car, as it's the first review I've seen which suggests this. Most I've seen reckon it's dull and not particularly entertaining, and if you care about driving, you should really be going to see BMW about an M135i. Not as pretty granted, but once that straight 6 fires up, I doubt you'll care.

It's the software, stupid: Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch bags big apps

Bodhi

Agreed, the Z1 looks an absolute beast. Very interested in the camera add-ons they've launched as well, which El Reg might get round to covering one day.

P.S I saw a few stills of Sony's IFA event and it looks pretty large and glitzy to me. Unlike the Samsung launch the kit on show looked fantastic and pretty innovative too.

(For any Samsung employees watching innovative means coming up with your own ideas. You'll get there one day).

Climate change even worse than you thought: It causes war and murder

Bodhi

I put as much credence into his demented ramblings about us killing all the polar bears as I did into his assertion toking on a joint will turn you into a deranged physchopath.

i.e Naff all.

Google menaces Apple's 3-year-old toddler with its cheap stream tech

Bodhi

Re: what a load of old bollocks

Screenshots worked fine on my Xperia S when it was on Gingerbread.

Sky falling: 119,000 Brits flee O2, Be after Murdoch broadband gobble

Bodhi

Re: Just saying...

Agreed, it's quite sad really. We've been with Sky for 18 months now, and had 0 problems. Speeds are quicker and more stable than we had on BT, Service has been good, and they've just given us BB completely free for 12 months. Router isn't the best, but we only have a 2 bed flat so it doesn't need to be the best.

Sony Xperia Tablet Z: Our new top Android ten-incher

Bodhi

Re: Paying a lot for that light weight

Pretty sure the Tablet Z supports HDMI over MHL.

Galaxy S4 way faster than iPhone 5: Which?

Bodhi

Xperia doesn't start with an E

The writer of the original Which? article should be taken out and shot - they can't even get the name of one of the phones right! I mean wtf is an Experia? They mean the Xperia I take it?

As an aside I'm quietly chuffed with my Z's results in this. Same hardware as the vanilla Nexus 4, yet ever so slightly quicker. Not enough to get too excited about, except if you repeat the tests underwater :)

Review: Sony Xperia SP

Bodhi
Pint

Re: Camera quality

Can't compare it directly to a 2011 model but I have gone from an X10 -> Xperia S -> Xperia Z and there has been a step up in quality each time. Only negative I can think of on the Z's camera is the lack of dedicated camera key, but this is to be expected with the efforts taken to waterproof the phone.

Can't say I agree with the reviewer's assertion the Z was nothing to write home about, I've had one for 3 months now and it has been absolutely bloody superb. The screen may not be the brightest, but it is the sharpest, and the lack of AMOLED means colours actually look like they were supposed to. I've spent some time setting up a colleague's Sammy S4, and was thoroughly whelmed by the experience. Sure the screen is bright but Touchwiz looks like it was designed by a 3 year old who's just been bought a Crayola selection.

Beer, becuase it never gets boring dunking your mobile in it and watching people's faces.

If Google got a haircut, a tie and a suit, would it be Microsoft?

Bodhi

Google Apps = pretty good, Chrome = not so much

We use Google Apps for business here, and in fairness, they are pretty good. Lots of functionality (even if Docs can be a bit flaky), lots of good collaboration tools. Only thing which grates is the constant new interfaces on GMail (got round by using Outlook instead) and the Calendar.

Chrome itself however? Kill it, kill it with fire. So far I;ve seen it reduce well specced laptops to a crawl, fill up every C: drive it can find with crap, start up 20 useless processes in Task Manager, forget passwords randomly and generally be a little bitch. I've stuck with Firefox and it seems to work much better,

Review: Renault Zoe electric car

Bodhi

Re: Confrontational?

As I mentioned, joining motorways sensibly? Keeping up with the flow of traffic? Getting to where you need to go before you grow old? Overtaking Mavis doing 40 in a 60 safely?

My first car had a similar 0-60 time (not as pathetic mind, it was about 12s), and in order not to be an obstacle on the roads, it had to be given a pasting, which in turn wasted the fuel economy. I'm not suggesting the Zoe needs to be able to tear your face off in any gear, but a proper amount of poke would be beneficial in order for me to consider this car.

Bodhi

I'm sorry, but do you actually know what you are talking about? Hard acceleration for a short amount of time uses a similar amount of fuel as gradual acceleration for a long period of time. I always get up to speed quickly (as you really should do to help keep traffic flowing), yet am currently averaging 45 mpg from a 10 year old 3 litre BMW. Hardly using a massive amount of fuel, and any savings by accelerating slowly would be negligible. I know this as I performed a similar experiment - result 45 MPG and a shedload of boredom.

And if you can't figure out why a car engineered to do 150 is safer on the motorway than one engineered to do 80, I'm sorry, you should probably hand in any driving license you have and get on the bus. It's a question of capabilities and limits, doing 70 on the motorway in a 3 series will find you well in the car's comfort zone, in a Zoe you will be pushing what it can do.

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