RIPA everywhere.

@Andre Carneiro

Encryption wouldn't work. You're forgetting that, in the UK, refusal to hand over encryption keys is itself a criminal offense.

"The maximum penalty for failing to hand over an encryption key on demand is two years – or five years where you are being investigated under anti-terror legislation."

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/14/ripa_self_incrimination_ruling/

Speed testers and flash

I remember being mystified by the result from a broadband speed test. I eventually decided that all the flash ads on the page made the result unreliable.

Don't like it myself

Whenever I've been confronted by the VbyV screen I've declined to sign up, I'm not comfortable with inputting the personal information they ask for.

The only effect to me has been that I now pay my council tax and BT phone bill using the automated telephone CC system, rather than a website.

If Amazon UK, or my web hosting provider start requiring it, I suspect I'll opt to pay by cheque.

Pedant attack

'Rein in', not 'reign in'.

Sorry, couldn't help myself. :-)

They look better built than the old ones

I've got a 2006 MacBook, first of the Core 2 Duo models, and I've been disappointed with the build quality from day one (it's just had the optical drive, and the top case replaced under John Lewis warranty). The new 'unibody' MacBook looks like a solid, well made, piece of kit. I'd like one, but it's out of my price range.

I'm assuming Apple will be bringing out a 'netbook' when they launch Mac OS X 10.6; I'll probably end up buying one of those eighteen months down the line.

Ars on Opera

Ars Technica have also given Opera's new mobile browser a thumbs up:

"It isn't going to turn my AT&T Tilt into an iPhone killer any time soon, but it is definitely the best browsing experience available on a Windows Mobile device."

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080717-hands-on-first-opera-mobile-9-5-public-beta-a-real-winner.html

Are these the UIQ people?

Are these 2000 people SonyEricsson is sacking all UIQ people? As Mr Orlowski mentioned when Symbian went open source.

"UIQ is today dismissing over half of its staff: more redundancies will follow, we understand, once negotiations have taken place."

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/24/andrew_on_symbian/

Opera competing with Safari

Safari has provoked Opera to update their mobile browser. VNUnet likes it.

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/07/17/opera-response-iphone

Not fines, gaol time.

I don't see that fines can have an effect on an organisation funded by tax. They can, and will, just get the money from us.

For public sector organisations to take data laws seriously I feel it needs to be a criminal offence, applied to individuals, and involve a custodial sentence.

@Elmer Phud

The 'racisit' system you deplore:

"Switzerland has Europe's toughest naturalisation laws. Foreigners must live for 12 years in a Swiss community before they can apply, and being born in Switzerland brings no right to citizenship.

Under the current system, foreigners apply through their local town or village.

They appear before a citizenship committee and answer questions about their desire to be Swiss. After that, they must often be approved by the entire voting community, in a secret ballot, or a show of hands. "

Sounds super to me.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6992670.stm

Plus ca change

File on 4 (radio 4 doccy) did a program on the NHS IT project. They were put in touch with a GP who thought choose and book was super. Come the programme, he couldn't get it to work :-). That was almost two years ago.

http://www.e-health-insider.com/News/1916/choose_and_book_fails_on_air

(I feel El Reg should consider adding a Chocolate Teapot avatar)