Showing 1 - 10 of 14
Microsoft on the naughty list again
Life, James Hein, Published on 15/03/2023
» Some of you may have already noticed, Microsoft is getting very pushy about installing Windows 11. On one of my machines, it started the process under the guise of a standard update. Softwarekeep.com has an excellent article titled "How to Cancel Windows 11 Update and Stay on Windows 10" that covers many ways to handle this. One option is to revert back to Windows 10 within 10 days of Windows 11 being installed, found here: Start menu > Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Recovery > Previous version of Windows. After this arbitrary 10 days, you need to do a clean Windows 10 install. I also recommend the free Windows Update Blocker, currently at version 1.7, as a way to control your Windows updates.
Samsung's A series phone is a big fat L
Life, James Hein, Published on 26/10/2022
» Nothing at all back from Samsung corporate on the A53-5G, if that changes I'll let you know. The new phone is a brick and after some research it turns out that more often than not Samsung only has a local warranty. I've since spoken to a number of people who've had issues with charging.
Google bets on offline stores
Life, James Hein, Published on 09/06/2021
» Google is looking to venture into the area where Microsoft failed but Apple still does well, the brick-and-mortar retail store. The first of these will be opened in Chelsea, New York, allowing customers to find their devices like Pixel phones and Pixelbooks, Fitbits and Nest at a physical location. All subject to the latest Covid rules of course.
Facing up to social media bias
Life, James Hein, Published on 21/06/2017
» An interesting thing is happening on the major sharing and information sites like Facebook, Google, Yahoo and others. In what is supposed to be an open and free environment, political editing bias is starting to creep in. The local phenomenon that started in the US has started to pervade the global system. This is not the direct political editing that occurs in places such as China but that of one group's opinions suppressing another side's. It is not an issue if the views being suppressed are demonstrably incorrect but in some cases the factual and data based views are those being suppressed in favour of the unsupportable "politically correct" ones of small but outspoken groups.
Samsung's 7s ain't too bad
Life, James Hein, Published on 02/03/2016
» The new Samsung Galaxy S7 duo has been announced, bringing to mind the Meatloaf lyrics, "two out of three ain't bad". Some will remember I sent a letter to the Korean electronics giant some time back, but the letter was returned to sender. At first I was confused by this until I remembered that job titles are of high importance to the Koreans and I had used the general term product manager instead of what the exact title was, hence the return. Despite that I suspect others had also contacted Samsung and provision for the SD card was returned, along with the S5 waterproofing. There's still no replaceable battery but for many that is not really an issue.
The world may not be enough for FB
Life, James Hein, Published on 27/01/2016
» No more browsing or phone calls. This is the latest Facebook aim for a full social media replacement based, of course, on Messenger. Facebook claims 800 million installations primarily located near the lower end of the marketplace. To meet their goal they will need to not only convince organisations, governments and enterprises big and small to adopt a Messenger-like technology but also give up all of their privacy. They will also need to do this before someone else jumps in with their current technology equivalent. Add in the job of convincing countries like China to adopt US-based technology to replace their equivalents and you have an impossible target.
Need a new phone? Put it on hold
Life, James Hein, Published on 06/05/2015
» So how do you pick a new mobile phone these days? There are hundreds of models to choose from in every price bracket, and with China starting to mass produce smartphones the country is hitting a price point about half that of the big names such as Apple, Samsung and HTC. Xiaomi, for example, has a new model coming out with a 20MP camera and lots of other top end features for a very reasonable price. I suspect it will shake up the order at the top of the stack in the near future. Huawei is another Chinese contender releasing its new P8 range in a few months time, with rumours that one model will be like the Russian Yota2 and have an eInk based screen on the back. The release will include thin and powerful models, though at this stage not with the same screen resolution as, say, the Samsung S6, but at a lower price point.
Google's Ingress to the real world
Life, James Hein, Published on 17/04/2013
» There is a new game for Android mobile users called Ingress. It is from Google and based on their popular Google Maps. The game requires you to get out of the lounge and into the real world. It is already being played in Bangkok but is in closed beta mode until the end of April. You'll need a Google+ Community account, sensible shoes, patience and time. You play on one of the two sides doing battle for control and if you want to know more go to www.ingress.com. I'm playing on the side of the Enlightened that is doing well in Bangkok but as I write this the Resistance is currently winning worldwide. Watch out for spies!
The eyes have it
Life, James Hein, Published on 13/03/2013
» Another detail about an upcoming Samsung smartphone feature. The latest is that the phone will allow you to scroll through text by watching your eyes. Apparently when it sees that you have reached the bottom of the text it will scroll down to the next paragraph. Not sure that the Galaxy S4 will boast this feature, but it is one that the next iPhone won't possess. As the S4 release date gets closer, the wild claims of the next iPhone's feature set are also being ramped up. I suggest you wait until closer to the actual release date to find out what that model really offers.
Stupid is as stupid does
Life, James Hein, Published on 20/02/2013
» Microsoft, or at least someone there, is stupid. Let me explain why I think so. Windows 8 is their latest and greatest operating system. It is provided on just about every new PC sold, including on the ultrabook my parents recently purchased. They were going away on an archaeological training dig in Cambodia and about an hour before they left tried out a new 2TB Western Digital Passport external drive to be used as one of two for backing up data they were going to collect.