Rant of the Week
EMI says 'No' to DRM-free music
Monday 26 February 2007
Whilst I'm not suprised, it's sad that EMI has apparently withdrawn from talks to sell DRM-free music.
'Risk'? According to Cory Doctorow, it takes just 180 seconds to get iTunes protected purchases into non-protected format. What risk is worse than that? As ever, DRM continues to plague legitimate customers, whilst doing absolutely nothing to stem the flow of pirated media. All DRM will do, as the word about it spreads to the masses, is piss off legitimate customers and send them to 'other' sources for their content. And the record labels will continue throw money at certain companies to figure out more ways to criminalise those of us who choose to buy legitimate content.Bloomberg says that EMI was asking for the payment to compensate it for the 'risk' of releasing unrestricted MP3s. It claims that operators including Apple, Microsoft and Real Networks had countered with a lower offer, but this was rejected.
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Dear Apple...
Monday 08 January 2007
I've been back and forth to the Apple Store twice to get my iPod working. And it now seems there is infact a bug in the firmware. So, despite it being MacWorld tomorrow (and an obligatory trip to the store required on Wednesday), I've got a deal. I'm coming in to spend £1500+ of my money on a MacBookPro (ideally a newly designed one). I had planned to do that on Wednesday. But I'm not sure I will. Partly as my wages from last month are unlikely to appear soon. And also because the iPod Nano is still not fixed. So, here's the crux of the deal:
I will purchase my MacBookPro once the issue with the Nano is resolved to my satisfaction.
Here is the error message again, for those who have not read the post previously:
Cha-ching does not equal Cashback
Tuesday 21 November 2006
I ought to add that my rant here assumes that the licence for Cha-ching in MacHeist is good for all future versions as it appears that they're giving away a licence for an app the developers have public stated will give you 'free updates for life'. How can they expect to charge the small number of people who don't find the app in MacHeist when they've literally given away twenty four THOUSAND licences asssuming everyone completes their heist this week? There's been a huge debate on the value of Zots and Software Pricing, so maybe read the following before my post below!
Steve Harris (Reinvented Software): Pricing Software
John Gruber (Daring Fireball): Pinprick
Gus Mueller (Flying Meat): Pinprick (response)
Richy King (WiredUpandFiredUp): Relaunch on MacZot
Rory Prior (ThinkMac Software): Why You Shouldn't Giveway your Shareware for free
--
As someone who enjoys a bit of fun, MacHeist seemed like the ideal thing to kill time with. Sadly, it's a bit lame really - and it is, to me, the epitome of everything the so-called 'Delicious Generation' is about. My frustration, it has to be said, is with one app in particular - Cha-ching, that is part of this weeks heist.. It's a beta (quick - run for cover before John Gruber finds out about it 'coz he'll say more than I will ;-) ), and yet they're touting it as an app with a $14.95 value in MacHeist? C'mon, that's just lame. I don't expect to play heists to be rewarded with a piece of beta software. And one that refuses to take my supplied serial number and actually run at that.
I came across a post today dating back from October titled 'Why Cha-Ching is everything wrong with Mac software'. Well worth a read. Some of it may be inflammatory, but every single point rings true with me.
In this case, here is what pisses me off the most. It's mainly brought on by MacHeist's pushing of Cha-Ching as a $15 product:
Steve Harris (Reinvented Software): Pricing Software
John Gruber (Daring Fireball): Pinprick
Gus Mueller (Flying Meat): Pinprick (response)
Richy King (WiredUpandFiredUp): Relaunch on MacZot
Rory Prior (ThinkMac Software): Why You Shouldn't Giveway your Shareware for free
--
As someone who enjoys a bit of fun, MacHeist seemed like the ideal thing to kill time with. Sadly, it's a bit lame really - and it is, to me, the epitome of everything the so-called 'Delicious Generation' is about. My frustration, it has to be said, is with one app in particular - Cha-ching, that is part of this weeks heist.. It's a beta (quick - run for cover before John Gruber finds out about it 'coz he'll say more than I will ;-) ), and yet they're touting it as an app with a $14.95 value in MacHeist? C'mon, that's just lame. I don't expect to play heists to be rewarded with a piece of beta software. And one that refuses to take my supplied serial number and actually run at that.
I came across a post today dating back from October titled 'Why Cha-Ching is everything wrong with Mac software'. Well worth a read. Some of it may be inflammatory, but every single point rings true with me.
In this case, here is what pisses me off the most. It's mainly brought on by MacHeist's pushing of Cha-Ching as a $15 product:
- Saying that we're being given an app with a $14.95 value is complete BS. We're being given a beta which we're meant to stick with until it gets to v1.0 before we can actually begin to use it. I won't be. As the article above states, you shouldn't have to pay for beta software. Set and expire date by all means (most of the software I've beta-tested has been) - just don't expect people to pay for it whilst in beta.
- 24,000 licences are going to be simply given away. This makes the $14.95 value absolutely worthless. It's effectively freeware (to get access to a serial number you simply need to use a code given on the MacHeist forums to unlock your own code). OK, you have to register NOW to get on board with the heist and in return get the code, but still. In fact, if you actually paid for Cha-ching (fools) the only thing that would piss you off more is if it were now declared freeware yet your money not returned.
If I'm being overly harsh, then please leave me a comment and point out the error of my ways. I'll more than happily respond!
6 Weeks Later...
Saturday 04 November 2006
... I still hate cannot stand iTunes 7.
Background:
When it comes to hardware, I'm not what's known as an early adopter. In fact, the only time I've ever rushed out and bought something new was, er, my Nokia 6280 and perhaps my Red Nano. Generally I don't go for the latest hardware as soon as it arrives (that will probably change come January though!) - mainly because I'm not someone with enough money to splurge on things like that. But when new software comes along, I'm normally the first to run out and get it (iLife 06 being an example). Hell, I routinely use pre-release software for mission critical projects! So when iTunes 7 came along, within minutes of it being announced, I downloaded it via a generous Parisian's WiFi (hey, if they aren't going to password protect it, I consider it fair game) and installed it. Hmmmm. It looked a bit weird, my shortcuts were missing, and I just wasn't convinced. So many other people have moaned about iTunes 7 that it may seem like I'm flogging an already-dead horse, but I'm going to make some observations now that I've used it in it's entirety after some iPod installations etc.
The Good
Background:
When it comes to hardware, I'm not what's known as an early adopter. In fact, the only time I've ever rushed out and bought something new was, er, my Nokia 6280 and perhaps my Red Nano. Generally I don't go for the latest hardware as soon as it arrives (that will probably change come January though!) - mainly because I'm not someone with enough money to splurge on things like that. But when new software comes along, I'm normally the first to run out and get it (iLife 06 being an example). Hell, I routinely use pre-release software for mission critical projects! So when iTunes 7 came along, within minutes of it being announced, I downloaded it via a generous Parisian's WiFi (hey, if they aren't going to password protect it, I consider it fair game) and installed it. Hmmmm. It looked a bit weird, my shortcuts were missing, and I just wasn't convinced. So many other people have moaned about iTunes 7 that it may seem like I'm flogging an already-dead horse, but I'm going to make some observations now that I've used it in it's entirety after some iPod installations etc.
The Good
- The idea of the iPod interface. Long overdue, and in principle a very good idea.
- Video performance is far better
- Controls for video are slick and make it more of a Front Row experience
- Downloads - Be it a podcast, iTS purchase or software update for your iPod, there's an integrated download manager that is a neat touch.
- iPod installation rocks. Include the integrated registration, it's a great idea just like the iPod interface in general.
- Where's the Aqua
- Where's the Mac-like UI
- Oh, where's the Aqua
- The UI's as dull as.....
- WHY is so much space wasted in the iPod interface?
- Why is iTS too wide for my 12" display?
This is good. I like visualised iPod in the source field - makes it easy to work with multiple iPods
Whilst I'm not a fan of this UI (a bit dull!), it works so ultimately I can't be too disappointed.
(Yes, I was in a mood when setting up a smart playlist for the Shuffle this afternoon!)
These just suck. Period. Good idea. Piss poor implementation - it looks like something out of the Windows Networking Control Panel setup!
This is unnecessary. Just so unnecessary. I know what my freaking iPod looks like and I don't need a pretty little CG rendering of it inside iTunes.
I bet the Apple engineers sat down and thought 'How much screen space can we waste here?'
Whilst I don't like aspects of iTunes 7, the improvements in video (especially given the age of my iBook G4) and the options for iPod management will probably keep me satisfied at least for a while!
Rant of the Week - Episode 1, Complaints of the iPod
Monday 19 June 2006
Part 1 today, Part 2 tomorrow. Part 3 when it arrives.
Firstly, the iPod
People moan about how the iPod seems to last just a year. Actually, it lasts a lot longer, if you take the trouble to take care of it. HDD-based iPods (as with all other HDD players) are not immunely to damage from movement. The nature of a HDD (namely that there are thin, fragile spindles being read by a reading-head) means that if you drop your lovely 5th Generation iPod, some damage (be it the reading-head scratching the spindles - as they don't touch normaly, or just a clean smash of a spindle) is more than likely. It's tribute to drive manufacturers that we can even use such a technology on the go. If you're wanting to do a lot of running, buy a Flash-based, non-moving parts iPod Nano. I happen to own a 4th Gen iPod (now 19 months old) and it's still working fine, despite having been used more than a few times at the gym on the treadmills - so what's the secret?
TLC and general common sense. The iPod is a fragile piece of precision consumer electronics. They're not promised to be indestructible, and just because they're from Apple doesn't meant they're any less immune to the average consumer being careless with their precious music player. For example, look at this example I found on Flickr (courtesy of Nathan):
There's only so much 'protection' you can surround a hard-drive in before your MP3 player looks like this. But then, the iPod would be consigned to the bin - and the slick industrial design that's won Apple praise would be undone (not to mention, Apple's profits slumping). People want the iPod to look like it does currently, yet be as bulletproof as this:
Firstly, the iPod
People moan about how the iPod seems to last just a year. Actually, it lasts a lot longer, if you take the trouble to take care of it. HDD-based iPods (as with all other HDD players) are not immunely to damage from movement. The nature of a HDD (namely that there are thin, fragile spindles being read by a reading-head) means that if you drop your lovely 5th Generation iPod, some damage (be it the reading-head scratching the spindles - as they don't touch normaly, or just a clean smash of a spindle) is more than likely. It's tribute to drive manufacturers that we can even use such a technology on the go. If you're wanting to do a lot of running, buy a Flash-based, non-moving parts iPod Nano. I happen to own a 4th Gen iPod (now 19 months old) and it's still working fine, despite having been used more than a few times at the gym on the treadmills - so what's the secret?
TLC and general common sense. The iPod is a fragile piece of precision consumer electronics. They're not promised to be indestructible, and just because they're from Apple doesn't meant they're any less immune to the average consumer being careless with their precious music player. For example, look at this example I found on Flickr (courtesy of Nathan):
What's the betting that the owner of this iPod will be up in arms about the fact that their iPod is so scratched from 'so little use'? Sure it's a 5th Gen Video iPod, so it's not that old, but come on, if you're going to treat your iPod like that, you've got no claim on Apple for not making it up to your rugged standards. Compare it with this picture of my iPod (taken with the iPod resting on an iPod sock so as to protect the screen):
Apple do now bundle a slip-on case for the Nano and 5th Gen iPod, so there's no excuse really.... When are people going to realise that iPods are not going to survive the following?:
- Being sat on
- Being flushed down the toilet
- Being placed in a pocket surrounded by keys and the like without protection
There's only so much 'protection' you can surround a hard-drive in before your MP3 player looks like this. But then, the iPod would be consigned to the bin - and the slick industrial design that's won Apple praise would be undone (not to mention, Apple's profits slumping). People want the iPod to look like it does currently, yet be as bulletproof as this:
Get real people!
Why is French Politics full of technologically-inept people?
Tuesday 30 May 2006
The French are genuinely wonderful people. Most of the time. However, the latest idea to flow from those free-thinkers the other side of the tranche really does make you wonder what is going through some of their politicians' heads. Firstly there was that wonderful law that would have removed iTunes from the French market. Brilliant - just what the people want. But now, having seen that AOL has teamed up with Brightmail for the dreaded two-tier internet, a French minister has decided that an email and SMS tax would solve all problems with regards to the E.U.'s bloated budget. Now, the U.K.'s big budget rebate may be part of the problem, but I can think of many more problems that the E.U. ought to deal with before pointing the wagging finger at us. Like why every so often they move from Luxembourg to France. And then back again, just to keep the French happy. Now that I've bashed the French, back to this new proposal. Alain Lamassoure's proposal is guaranteed to make your life just a little more difficult, and yet more expensive. He wants users to pay a "tiny" tax of €0.15 (10p) on SMS text messages and €0.00001 on every email. Yes, 10p per SMS and a ten thousandth of a Euro on every email.
Firstly that charge on text messages is extortionate - and on top of the already inflated charges we pay for a single message. For an SMS you send (on average and without fancy EMS) 160 characters. I already pay 12p per text at a cost per character = 0.075p. For 22p per text, not only is Frenchie getting money from us, but we're paying nearly double per character. Remember that for 12p a text, we're already being charged nearly 10p more than it costs the networks to carry messages from phone to phone! Now why is email so dramatically less? I can send an almost infinite number of characters for hardly any money.
Secondly, these charges would apply to everyone - consumers, businesses and, wait for it, government departments! So, all those emails that Civil Sevants send will cost the government to send. Bizarre.
By this stage, you're wondering how on earth the 25 member states will be persuaded to sign up. I was too, until I read the last bit of the Guardian's article: "Say I send a text from Paris to Marseille, then the tax revenue would go to the French budget but if I sent a SMS from Brussels to London at least some of it would go to the EU. And messages sent outside the EU, to the US or Russia, say, could be used to help finance overseas development, ease hunger and poverty." I'm not going to counter the finance overseas and ease hunger and poverty. If this would help make a difference, I guess I could live with the charges - I'd simply send more emails thru a smart-device connected to 3G data. However, if money raised by local messages is going to the individual companies government, they're not going to veto it - even if the money ends up in the E.U.'s coffers eventually and not their own.
I'd like to think that even if you tried to circumvent the taxes (which would probably be highly illegal) the governments couldn't back-track you and ask for the taxes despite your efforts otherwise - all the government would do is try to squeeze the email provider hard enough, and voila, one eTax bill will land on your doorstop along with a hefty fine no doubt.
The reason I'm more than just pissed off with this is not just a knee-jerk reflex reaction. And it's partly to do with AOL's certified email (two-tiered internet) scheme. Whilst the E.U.'s proposal isn't Certified Mail-like (although a charging structure like this may prevent network clogging and enable faster SMS delivery!) I do object to this further opportunistic behaviour. "OOOh, email. We can make money on it somehow.". I recently answered a few questions for someone doing their degree dissertation. One of them was "If AOL proceed with their plans for Certified Mail, what impact do you expect it to have on you?" My response was: "Not a great deal - but the fact that it sets a precendent for others to follow means it would affect me more!" and that is exactly why I'm up in arms about this new idea. Once you can charge for guaranteed delivery, it wasn't going to be long before some idiot decided just to charge for current services.
Firstly that charge on text messages is extortionate - and on top of the already inflated charges we pay for a single message. For an SMS you send (on average and without fancy EMS) 160 characters. I already pay 12p per text at a cost per character = 0.075p. For 22p per text, not only is Frenchie getting money from us, but we're paying nearly double per character. Remember that for 12p a text, we're already being charged nearly 10p more than it costs the networks to carry messages from phone to phone! Now why is email so dramatically less? I can send an almost infinite number of characters for hardly any money.
Secondly, these charges would apply to everyone - consumers, businesses and, wait for it, government departments! So, all those emails that Civil Sevants send will cost the government to send. Bizarre.
By this stage, you're wondering how on earth the 25 member states will be persuaded to sign up. I was too, until I read the last bit of the Guardian's article: "Say I send a text from Paris to Marseille, then the tax revenue would go to the French budget but if I sent a SMS from Brussels to London at least some of it would go to the EU. And messages sent outside the EU, to the US or Russia, say, could be used to help finance overseas development, ease hunger and poverty." I'm not going to counter the finance overseas and ease hunger and poverty. If this would help make a difference, I guess I could live with the charges - I'd simply send more emails thru a smart-device connected to 3G data. However, if money raised by local messages is going to the individual companies government, they're not going to veto it - even if the money ends up in the E.U.'s coffers eventually and not their own.
I'd like to think that even if you tried to circumvent the taxes (which would probably be highly illegal) the governments couldn't back-track you and ask for the taxes despite your efforts otherwise - all the government would do is try to squeeze the email provider hard enough, and voila, one eTax bill will land on your doorstop along with a hefty fine no doubt.
The reason I'm more than just pissed off with this is not just a knee-jerk reflex reaction. And it's partly to do with AOL's certified email (two-tiered internet) scheme. Whilst the E.U.'s proposal isn't Certified Mail-like (although a charging structure like this may prevent network clogging and enable faster SMS delivery!) I do object to this further opportunistic behaviour. "OOOh, email. We can make money on it somehow.". I recently answered a few questions for someone doing their degree dissertation. One of them was "If AOL proceed with their plans for Certified Mail, what impact do you expect it to have on you?" My response was: "Not a great deal - but the fact that it sets a precendent for others to follow means it would affect me more!" and that is exactly why I'm up in arms about this new idea. Once you can charge for guaranteed delivery, it wasn't going to be long before some idiot decided just to charge for current services.
The Joys of Technology....
Sunday 09 April 2006
...or why eBay is the answer and USB isn't the holy grail
Ah the Joys of Technology. If you've been listetening to the podcast I produce with Seb Payne, you'll know that I really do love my Nokia 6280 - however it's made me realise just how awkward technology can be.
Example 1
Memory Cards
Unlike my digital camera, which takes Memory Stick (Pro, Pro Duo, Normal Duo or Normal) the Nokia 6280 uses MiniSD cards. It's not too big a problem in itself [eBay provides enough cheap solutions for 1Gb cards - something I'm likely to buy soon enough], but because I'm using a card reader to read-write to it [using a memory reader means I can do more with it on my Mac] I need to take one home with me if I'm going to exchange any content with relatively little hassle [Bluetooth is just not as easy as "Remove MiniSD card, insert into reader, browse read or abuse the content til you heart's content"]. Normally this would be no big deal, but now that I've cunningly made my memory reader a semi-permanent feature on [or rather under] my desk it's not likely to travel with me, so again I'll resort to eBay for another memory reader [which inclusive of postage is likely to cost me just £7!]
If Nokia included an adaptor with their MiniSD card [as came with my brother's Transflash card in his Moto V3x] I'd be set to use my parents digital camera as a mounted drive in OS X thanks to the SD slot in the camera. But no - clearly a freebie adaptor is too much to ask for with a £300+ phone..... My rant about memory cards brings me onto a different idea - the number of different memory cards I've had to use.
Example 2
Power Adaptors, Audio Cables, and other general connectors
Nokia are currently the world's no. 1 mobile phone manufacturer. Wherever you travel - be it a friend's, parent's or girlfriend's house - the likelihood that someone will have a Nokia charger is high [whilst it's possibly a bad idea to go without your charger anyway, I feel it's a valid point], and so your phone won't run out of "go-juice" otherwise known as power. Now, however, it's no longer true with the 6280 [and presumably other new Nokia models] that an "old-skool" Nokia charger will work, as the 6280 uses a smaller scale connector. So there's now a few choices:
I'm sure I've forgotten somethings but I've spent so s**ding long thinking about all the ****ing accessories I'm going to need to realise that my iBook, iPod, 6280, camera and MiniSD card are all sat here on the side and that I now have to find space for them. :-|
Ah the Joys of Technology. If you've been listetening to the podcast I produce with Seb Payne, you'll know that I really do love my Nokia 6280 - however it's made me realise just how awkward technology can be.
Example 1
Memory Cards
Unlike my digital camera, which takes Memory Stick (Pro, Pro Duo, Normal Duo or Normal) the Nokia 6280 uses MiniSD cards. It's not too big a problem in itself [eBay provides enough cheap solutions for 1Gb cards - something I'm likely to buy soon enough], but because I'm using a card reader to read-write to it [using a memory reader means I can do more with it on my Mac] I need to take one home with me if I'm going to exchange any content with relatively little hassle [Bluetooth is just not as easy as "Remove MiniSD card, insert into reader, browse read or abuse the content til you heart's content"]. Normally this would be no big deal, but now that I've cunningly made my memory reader a semi-permanent feature on [or rather under] my desk it's not likely to travel with me, so again I'll resort to eBay for another memory reader [which inclusive of postage is likely to cost me just £7!]
If Nokia included an adaptor with their MiniSD card [as came with my brother's Transflash card in his Moto V3x] I'd be set to use my parents digital camera as a mounted drive in OS X thanks to the SD slot in the camera. But no - clearly a freebie adaptor is too much to ask for with a £300+ phone..... My rant about memory cards brings me onto a different idea - the number of different memory cards I've had to use.
- SD
- MMC (ok, it's similar to SD, but there are some differences!)
- MiniSD
- xD
- Memory Stick
- Memory Stick Pro (ok, ok, a near duplicate again)
Example 2
Power Adaptors, Audio Cables, and other general connectors
Nokia are currently the world's no. 1 mobile phone manufacturer. Wherever you travel - be it a friend's, parent's or girlfriend's house - the likelihood that someone will have a Nokia charger is high [whilst it's possibly a bad idea to go without your charger anyway, I feel it's a valid point], and so your phone won't run out of "go-juice" otherwise known as power. Now, however, it's no longer true with the 6280 [and presumably other new Nokia models] that an "old-skool" Nokia charger will work, as the 6280 uses a smaller scale connector. So there's now a few choices:
- Take the adaptor absolutely everywhere with you [and risk losing it]
- Buy a Big-Small Nokia adaptor and carry it in your wallet
- Pray that someone else has stumped up the cash to buy a phone that uses the new charger pin
I'm sure I've forgotten somethings but I've spent so s**ding long thinking about all the ****ing accessories I'm going to need to realise that my iBook, iPod, 6280, camera and MiniSD card are all sat here on the side and that I now have to find space for them. :-|
- Total Equipment Count: 5
- Total Accessory Count for Said Equipment: 20
MediaCentral drives me nuts!
Sunday 12 March 2006
What is so amazing about MediaCentral? I've been trying it out for weeks, trying to get excited about it - and failing! That's not to say I'm not trying to get to used to it, and discover what it does - I'm just unable to use it due to certain issues.
1. My iTunes playlists are not in the same order as iTunes.
This is entirely unacceptable as far as I'm concerned. I didn't put them into a playlist just so some software could play them as it feels necessary.
2. Despite all the necessary plugins being installed [against my will mostly] WebTV doesn't work
I've installed not only the Flip4Mac plugin to play M$'s Windows Media content, but the crime that is RealPlayer - to no avail.
3. Salling Clicker cannot visibly move the selector around - you're forced to simply browse MediaCentral's menus like it's on your MOBILE!
I'm not going to start on this. Apart from to say that I'm not a fan of MediaCentral!
I'm hoping that Equinux fix these issues - I'm really excited at the prospect of FrontRow functionality on non-FrontRow installed machines. At least until I purchase my new iMac ;-) for which donations are always welcome! :-)
1. My iTunes playlists are not in the same order as iTunes.
This is entirely unacceptable as far as I'm concerned. I didn't put them into a playlist just so some software could play them as it feels necessary.
2. Despite all the necessary plugins being installed [against my will mostly] WebTV doesn't work
I've installed not only the Flip4Mac plugin to play M$'s Windows Media content, but the crime that is RealPlayer - to no avail.
3. Salling Clicker cannot visibly move the selector around - you're forced to simply browse MediaCentral's menus like it's on your MOBILE!
I'm not going to start on this. Apart from to say that I'm not a fan of MediaCentral!
I'm hoping that Equinux fix these issues - I'm really excited at the prospect of FrontRow functionality on non-FrontRow installed machines. At least until I purchase my new iMac ;-) for which donations are always welcome! :-)
If Apple sold Mobile Phones.....
Wednesday 25 January 2006
......what a better retail environment we'd all have! With my contract ending this next fortnight, I'm now on the hunt for my latest and greatest mobile. I've been walking around town this afternoon seeing where I can get a good contract from, and I was appalled at the wide variety of stories told by the varying shops I visited. After having asked whether a particular handset had Wi-Fi built in, or whether there was a MMC/SD card slot to add it into, I was incorrectly told in a T-Mobile shop that a T-Mobile handset had wireless connectivity. Nope. That handset has only Bluetooth, and that means a huge difference [Wi-Fi being the sort to use in Starbucks or at home with our soon to arrive - fingers crossed - wireless router and hugely faster than Bluetooth, Bluetooth being only for short range transmission - IMO less than 10ft]. I enquired in two different branches of The Link and whilst I was spoken to by apparently very knowlegeable sales staff, they told me two very different stories about the soon to arrive Nokia N80 phone - one saying there was yet to be a firm launch date, even though review models are already doing the rounds, but that it probably wouldn't be that far away; the other saying the phone was due to be the last of all the N series phones to be launched and that I'd be lucky to get it by Christmas or January 2007! :-o
Apologies to those who thought I would be adding to the iPhone speculation, but er no. It's more an endorsement of the service you get in the Apple Store. The sales staff are HUGELY knowledgeable, and don't add to the rumours of the timing and arrival forthcoming products! To conclude, when Steve Jobs said during his MacWorld Keynote that Apple Stores offer one of the best buying experiences in the entire world, I believe he was right. I've visited three Apple Stores [Regent Street, Trafford Centre and Meadowhall] and the staff have always been 'hands-off' sellers, and more than happy just to answer the slightest question even if you're not actually at the till ready to buy the latest and greatest hardware. :-D
If you're going to camp out at Brent Cross on Friday/Saturday - GOOD LUCK! I won't be joining you, but if you have a Brent Cross Opening T-Shirt you want to give to a loving home, let me know! ;-)
Apologies to those who thought I would be adding to the iPhone speculation, but er no. It's more an endorsement of the service you get in the Apple Store. The sales staff are HUGELY knowledgeable, and don't add to the rumours of the timing and arrival forthcoming products! To conclude, when Steve Jobs said during his MacWorld Keynote that Apple Stores offer one of the best buying experiences in the entire world, I believe he was right. I've visited three Apple Stores [Regent Street, Trafford Centre and Meadowhall] and the staff have always been 'hands-off' sellers, and more than happy just to answer the slightest question even if you're not actually at the till ready to buy the latest and greatest hardware. :-D
If you're going to camp out at Brent Cross on Friday/Saturday - GOOD LUCK! I won't be joining you, but if you have a Brent Cross Opening T-Shirt you want to give to a loving home, let me know! ;-)
What is up with Windows?
Wednesday 21 December 2005
Today, apart from being ill, I've spent a good hour trying to get a friends iPod Shuffle to be recognized by their Windows PC. It really shouldn't take that long! But, why IS it taking that long? I did a number of things: downloaded the latest Shuffle software [the Shuffle, bought from Boots, had been in stock since April by the version of iPod software], which made accept disk-mode transfers :-). Then I tried to run the CD that came with it. But the installer was saying it was "corrupt", which it wasn't as it ran perfectly on my Windows test system. So I tried downloading the latest version of iTunes from Apple. An yet Windows would insist it was corrupt.
Then, a thought struck me. SP2 was saying it was unsafe to open the file, and blocked it if I clicked open from the IE Download Window. So, I tried this:
1. Downloaded the file to the desktop.
2. Once finished downloading simply closed the dialogue box, and went to Desktop.
3. Right clicked and chose Unblock.
That cured the install woes, but now something else means that the PC doesn't recognise the iPod. Hmmmm.
Why is it that M$ block something that has a valid digital signature purely because it was downloaded? Madness.
Then, a thought struck me. SP2 was saying it was unsafe to open the file, and blocked it if I clicked open from the IE Download Window. So, I tried this:
1. Downloaded the file to the desktop.
2. Once finished downloading simply closed the dialogue box, and went to Desktop.
3. Right clicked and chose Unblock.
That cured the install woes, but now something else means that the PC doesn't recognise the iPod. Hmmmm.
Why is it that M$ block something that has a valid digital signature purely because it was downloaded? Madness.
"Choose Apple to avoid security problems" + more
Tuesday 06 December 2005
This post has been reclassified as "Rant of the Week" and has been expanded!
Everyone's mentioning Apple at the moment, and it's becoming really great to see that Apple news is part of the mainstream - hell the BBC even commented on, and speculated on rumours about, the "One More Thing" event. Here's some Mac News for everyone! :-D Happy Reading!
This news was music to my ears! Apparently there's been 16,000 MS Windows viruses this year. There have yet to be any Mac viruses, although the report mentioned claims there have [where did they draw that from?!].
Here's some staggering facts:
Everyone's mentioning Apple at the moment, and it's becoming really great to see that Apple news is part of the mainstream - hell the BBC even commented on, and speculated on rumours about, the "One More Thing" event. Here's some Mac News for everyone! :-D Happy Reading!
This news was music to my ears! Apparently there's been 16,000 MS Windows viruses this year. There have yet to be any Mac viruses, although the report mentioned claims there have [where did they draw that from?!].
Here's some staggering facts:
-An unprotected Windows XP system that is put online for just 1 hour has only a 6 per cent chance of avoiding infection! :-o
-There were nearly 200 viruses discovered last month alone.
If you want to feel better, then there's never been a better time to Switch ;-)
This just made me laugh too!
In the last quarter, Apple matched Real's music revenue of $25 million right around the 36th hour of the quarter.
So Apple took $25 million in music revenue - read iTunes Music Store revenue - in the first 36 hours of the last financial quarter. Real Networks took $25 million in music revenue in the entire last financial quarter. Now that Mr RealNetworks has just managed to squeeze Micro$oft out of $750 million [yes, you read it correctly - that's three quarters of a billion dollars! :-o] he can't pick a fight with Redmond for his products' failings. His new target is Steve Jobs, and Mr RealNetworks clearly thinks this new found wealth means that if he slams Media Person of the Year nominee Jobs {whose vision has inspired a who plethora of new products - the iPod and iMac [both original and latest versions!]; the Mac Mini and the iTunes Music Store with Videos to name a few} he can grab the limelight and success. Ermm. No.
Why does this mean anything? Well RealNetworks headlines and press releases will point you to their new services - which I think SUCK! You'll try them, and you'll hate them. Then you'll go back to using iTunes and iPod. If you choose to use Rhapsody/Harmony/Dissonance [whatever their iPod cracking software is called] Apple can disable it at any time. The result - a whole load of tracks that won't go on your iPod. Apple won't help you out, as Real's package isn't supported by them, and in some ways is an infringement on Apple's Intellectual Property.
The other day I read some documentation on Real's iPod software. They recommend you don't use iTunes for any transfer at all!
Before I ramble on about this, I'll bring the rant to a close.
As I've mentioned before, the only reason there's any anger from RealNetworks, M$ or $ony is because they're jealous. Apple has made an absolute killing from iTunes/iPod - there's no denying that. But just because the others haven't been successful doesn't mean it's Apple's fault. If the competitors had been innovative in the first place, there wouldn't have been a problem and they wouldn't be make the comparatively pitiful sums they are today when compared with Apple.
News and quotes from Computer Buyer and MacDailyNews
RIAA Comments & Sony
Tuesday 22 November 2005
It's been almost a week since I last moaned about Sony, but a new comment from the Head of the RIAA has made me rather mad, and goes to show how out of touch with reality the RIAA are.
"There is nothing unusual about technology being used to protect intellectual property. You can't simply make an extra copy of a Microsoft operating system, or virtually any other commercially-released software program for that matter. Same with videogames. Movies, too, are protected. Why should CDs be any different? .......... The problem with the SonyBMG situation is that the technology they used contained a security vulnerability of which they were unaware. They have apologized for their mistake, ceased manufacture of CDs with that technology,and pulled CDs with that technology from store shelves. Seems very responsible to me. How many times that software applications created the same problem? Lots. I wonder whether they've taken as aggressive steps as SonyBMG has when those vulnerabilities were discovered, or did they just post a patch on the Internet? ........... One other thing to point out: The music industry has been more permissive about copying of its copyrighted product than virtually any other industry. How many burns are you allowed of a movie? None. How many of a videogame? None. You get the idea. Even the CDs with content protection allow consumers to burn 3 copies or so for personal use. The idea is not to inhibit personal use, but to allow personal use but discourage (not prevent, you can never prevent) copying well beyond personal use."
Ok, he's had his say, I'm gonna have mine. :-D
Fair point - you can't copy a M$ operating system, however it doesn't contain spyware and malware [although that last comment is a matter of opinion ;-)] or other 'features' that aren't included in the EULA [End User Licensing Agreement]. Microsoft do have the activation thing, but that is stated in the EULA and you know about that before you purchase the software. It's the same for DVDs - except you don't have to have proprietary software installed on your system and it doesn't affect your system by putting the DVD in your drive!
"Security vulnerability of which they were not aware" means they released it without considering the impact of their technology. In fairness, all software manufacturers have security vulnerabilities that are remedied in patches, however the patches do actually remove the risk, not simply create another as was the case for Sony BMG. Unfortunately for $ony, it's taken 3 weeks simply to get to this stage, and I think that that is an appalling time for a response. If a food recall is issued, it happens overnight. Why not the same admission of guilt from a Record Company?
The final point makes me mad. We're allowed to make 3 copies for personal use? Whoopdeedoo. iTunes lets us own 5 different copies, and it's cheaper, oh and by the way, it works with an iPod! :-D All this debacle has made me do is laugh. $ony has now released unprotect MP3 versions of their songs that used the XCP technology [and ultimately defeated the point of XCP!], replaced millions of CDs, and we're by no mean done yet. Lawsuits, and the MediaMax revelations are only just kicking off. I can't wait!
$ony just keeps on going!
Wednesday 16 November 2005
Notice the phrase they use to describe the MP3 player as "Like No Other" [which incidentally is a registered trademark of Sony]. Oh how apt it is for the company at the moment!!! :-D
People have asked me why I hate $ony so much, however I don't hate everything $ony. I have a fantastic digital camera from them which I love, and the photos it takes are rather good! ;-)
Final Rant about Sony - Maybe!
Tuesday 15 November 2005
Well, what d'ya know, $ony is in trouble again over it's XCP CDs - and it's not about the rootkit this time! $ony is actually infringing a copyright agreement with a free piece of software. Read more here. It's just crazy. Sign an online petition against $ony here.
Man, the site stats are crazy! My sleuthing photo about the Trafford Centre Apple Store means I've been directly linked to by a JAPANESE Mac website! :-o I'm gonna be at the store when it opens on Saturday [YAY!] and so maybe even more people will visit the site once I get a gallery online!
Man, the site stats are crazy! My sleuthing photo about the Trafford Centre Apple Store means I've been directly linked to by a JAPANESE Mac website! :-o I'm gonna be at the store when it opens on Saturday [YAY!] and so maybe even more people will visit the site once I get a gallery online!
Sony Alert!
Friday 11 November 2005
Sony Alert: Quote of the Day
Why are $ony determined to make more bad publicity??? The head of $ony/BMG Global Digital Business Division is quoted in Macworld UK as saying "Most people don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"
Well, if you don't know what a rootkit is, let me explain.....
What is a rootkit?
A rootkit is a piece of software that bypasses most of the system functions, and works at the most basic level possible to interact with the PC. In this case, the rootkit monitors the entire activity of the CD-ROM drive looking for certain files [i.e. those that $ony wants to protect on the CD].
Why is it bad?
At the original installation, the rootkit masked its presence, making it impossible to remove. Moreover, the way it hid itself allowed viruses to hide [basically any file with $sys$ at the start of the name was masked].
What should I do to detect a rootkit/remove it?
Update your virus scanning software and then follow $ony's instructions [Disclaimer: Do any of this at your own risk!]. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TRY TO MANUALLY REMOVE THE SOFTWARE AS IT WILL CORRUPT YOUR SYSTEM, MAKE THE CD DRIVE UNUSABLE, AND MAYBE FORCE YOU TO REFORMAT YOUR HARD DISK.
Why are $ony determined to make more bad publicity??? The head of $ony/BMG Global Digital Business Division is quoted in Macworld UK as saying "Most people don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"
Well, if you don't know what a rootkit is, let me explain.....
What is a rootkit?
A rootkit is a piece of software that bypasses most of the system functions, and works at the most basic level possible to interact with the PC. In this case, the rootkit monitors the entire activity of the CD-ROM drive looking for certain files [i.e. those that $ony wants to protect on the CD].
Why is it bad?
At the original installation, the rootkit masked its presence, making it impossible to remove. Moreover, the way it hid itself allowed viruses to hide [basically any file with $sys$ at the start of the name was masked].
What should I do to detect a rootkit/remove it?
Update your virus scanning software and then follow $ony's instructions [Disclaimer: Do any of this at your own risk!]. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TRY TO MANUALLY REMOVE THE SOFTWARE AS IT WILL CORRUPT YOUR SYSTEM, MAKE THE CD DRIVE UNUSABLE, AND MAYBE FORCE YOU TO REFORMAT YOUR HARD DISK.
The Never Ending Saga!
Sunday 06 November 2005
Well, no sooner do $ony deliver a patch for their XCP digital rights management system than it's discovered that the software can actually break Windows [how much worse can it get ;-)] and connects to the Sony website without alerting users. Read more here. I think there's going to be more on this as the week progresses....
Links for Monday 7th November
Computer Buyer
SysInternals
BBC News
VNUNet - This is particularly interesting, as it suggests the doom of all the record labels doing a $ony
More Content for Monday!
So $ony are being sued in the US about this copyright stuff? Yep, the favourite American past time of sueing is again in action, and I'm sure we'll hear much more of this soon. ;-)
Even More!
How cool is it that apparently, the DRM doesn't work on Mac!!!! Yeah, it's time to switch!
Sysinternals is the site on which the whole $ony DRM problem was revealed. Here's the articles:
Revealing the flaw
About the patch
The CD is rated 1/5 on Amazon, purely because of the DRM!
Tuesday 8th November:
More from Down Under
Italian Police are investigating $ony
Links for Monday 7th November
Computer Buyer
SysInternals
BBC News
VNUNet - This is particularly interesting, as it suggests the doom of all the record labels doing a $ony
More Content for Monday!
So $ony are being sued in the US about this copyright stuff? Yep, the favourite American past time of sueing is again in action, and I'm sure we'll hear much more of this soon. ;-)
Even More!
How cool is it that apparently, the DRM doesn't work on Mac!!!! Yeah, it's time to switch!
Sysinternals is the site on which the whole $ony DRM problem was revealed. Here's the articles:
Revealing the flaw
About the patch
The CD is rated 1/5 on Amazon, purely because of the DRM!
Tuesday 8th November:
More from Down Under
Italian Police are investigating $ony
More Rant of the Week! [Updated, with more Web Links]
Wednesday 02 November 2005
After seeing SmashMyIpod.Com, I decided to add another rant about those who despise the iPod.....
Firstly, I'm a Mac nut. Yes, I think Apple are BRILLIANT, but it's for practical reasons - I love the simplicity of the Mac, the easy approach that iLife offers, and the integration between a great media player [iTunes] and a great MP3 player [the iPod].
I might be echoing lots of other sources, but I don't think people criticise Apple because they're doing any thing wrong. The only reason that Apple receives criticism is because it has made a great integrated product [something that nothing else really offers], has made a huge amount of money, and is the benchmark in the MP3 player/media software area.
Let's look at people who are trying to grab a slice of the iPod pie...... and look at how successful they've been [or not].
-The Record Companies. Since the introduction of the iTunes Music Store, more than half a billion songs have been legally purchased through it, and the catalogue contains more than 2 million tracks [yet is still growing!]. The record companies have made more money than ever [thanks to the fact that they earn more per legal download than they do per physical sale] yet they seem to want even more! A highly amusing look at one particular person's attempt to ensure more money to the record companies can be found on RoughlyDrafted.Com.
Let's think about this...... So Edgar Bronfman Jr wants to cut off the music to a store which supplies most of the worlds entire legal download market? Well given that most artists actually use iPods, and that the iPod is the worlds most popular MP3 player, I think we might have a revolution on our hands. [Note, Apple is expected to ship 37 MILLION iPods this year and that's limited by possible supply problems!!]. I've picked Sony out for a [dis]honourable mention later as they're losing the plot, or so it would appear.
-iPod Users. They're suing Apple. This just strikes me as bloody ridiculous. The iPod nano is TINY. As a result, I'd be tempted to put it in an unusual pocket. This might mean more scratches, or even a cracked screen, but that is NOT APPLE'S FAULT. [Incidentally, I'm quite happy with my 4th Generation 40Gb iPod - it's size makes me realise it's in my pocket, and I would never sit on it]. But that is not all! These nano users want a share of Apple's profits on iPod nano sales!!! I wonder whether the lawyers for this case are rubbing their hands at the thought of a slice of the iPod's profits in any settlement.....why else would they include such a ridiculous claim?
-Sony. For the company that invented the Walkman, I am truly shocked at some of the things they come out with:
-SonicStage, their iTunes rivalling [yeah right] software for their MP3 players. I owned a NetMD device for a year, and have never been so infuriated in all my life. The initial install was so buggy [instead of 1 install program, about 7 were used with all the modules for stuff to work in SonicStage], and even then only used the ATRAC3 codec for music, that I looked forward to the launch of the new 2.0 release. When it arrived, it was slightly faster [think nanosecond improvements!*], and included an online store - YAY! I used a free coupon and received 5 songs. I listened to them, and burned them to disc. Then along came version 2.1. I upgraded, let it run a check on the 1000 track music database, taking about 15-20 minutes to update - not the 3 seconds iTunes took to update my 3500 songs recently [iTunes 5.0 update]. I play one of my purchased tracks, and :-| the DRM is corrupted, and will not play. I had to redownload 100MB of music, just because Sony's disjointed software install ruins the files. Next day, I imported a CD into SonicStage. And that wouldn't play - even though there was no DRM in the files apart from normal ATRAC encoding. I gave up and just made do with some other MDs.
Before people email me to say that SonicStage has changed, I would like to add that I am only justifying my personal reasons for disliking the software before my change to iTunes and the Mac platform, which is not supported by Sony's MP3 players.
-Sony Music. Didn't want to play ball with iTMS in Japan or Australia. Still doesn't in Australia [at the time of writing]. So the artists went direct to iTunes. Good effort!
-Copy Protected CDs. When I saw this [and this] today, I was at first suprised, and then wasn't. Sony's new way of ensuring their copy-protected CDs are[n't played on Macs] securing their intellectual property, is to allow software to go onto systems without the users permission, and [potentially] harbour viruses. That's a really good idea! Update: TUAW has an article too! Pity this user who had to reformat their hard-drive after Sony installed the software.
*Note: I was installing it on a brand new 3.06Ghz Dual Core Pentium 4!!!
=============
So to conclude on that epic rant........
To the Record Companies [except Sony] - Don't bite the hand that feeds you. OK, Redmond [i.e. M$] isn't controlling your music, but since when have you had favourites so long as the money keeps rolling in?
To Sony - Stop be a petulant child, and accept that if you'd got digital media right the first time, you wouldn't have had to license the Sony BMG catalogue in the first place. Just because you're left consoling by the fact you're not the No. 1 Online Music Store doesn't mean you can't make money from selling your music elsewhere! [Let's face it, they'd make money from selling music to baboons given half a chance].
To me it seems silly that Sony and Microsoft are not getting into bed together to battle a common "enemy" but I'm sure they all have their reasons.......notably the Playsfor thingy, and WMA files!
Any way, on that note, I'm gonna go and have a stiff drink :-D, whilst sorting out what I'm gonna do for the opening of some more Apple Stores ;-) Trafford Centre and Meadowhall here I come... ;-)
Firstly, I'm a Mac nut. Yes, I think Apple are BRILLIANT, but it's for practical reasons - I love the simplicity of the Mac, the easy approach that iLife offers, and the integration between a great media player [iTunes] and a great MP3 player [the iPod].
I might be echoing lots of other sources, but I don't think people criticise Apple because they're doing any thing wrong. The only reason that Apple receives criticism is because it has made a great integrated product [something that nothing else really offers], has made a huge amount of money, and is the benchmark in the MP3 player/media software area.
Let's look at people who are trying to grab a slice of the iPod pie...... and look at how successful they've been [or not].
-The Record Companies. Since the introduction of the iTunes Music Store, more than half a billion songs have been legally purchased through it, and the catalogue contains more than 2 million tracks [yet is still growing!]. The record companies have made more money than ever [thanks to the fact that they earn more per legal download than they do per physical sale] yet they seem to want even more! A highly amusing look at one particular person's attempt to ensure more money to the record companies can be found on RoughlyDrafted.Com.
Let's think about this...... So Edgar Bronfman Jr wants to cut off the music to a store which supplies most of the worlds entire legal download market? Well given that most artists actually use iPods, and that the iPod is the worlds most popular MP3 player, I think we might have a revolution on our hands. [Note, Apple is expected to ship 37 MILLION iPods this year and that's limited by possible supply problems!!]. I've picked Sony out for a [dis]honourable mention later as they're losing the plot, or so it would appear.
-iPod Users. They're suing Apple. This just strikes me as bloody ridiculous. The iPod nano is TINY. As a result, I'd be tempted to put it in an unusual pocket. This might mean more scratches, or even a cracked screen, but that is NOT APPLE'S FAULT. [Incidentally, I'm quite happy with my 4th Generation 40Gb iPod - it's size makes me realise it's in my pocket, and I would never sit on it]. But that is not all! These nano users want a share of Apple's profits on iPod nano sales!!! I wonder whether the lawyers for this case are rubbing their hands at the thought of a slice of the iPod's profits in any settlement.....why else would they include such a ridiculous claim?
-Sony. For the company that invented the Walkman, I am truly shocked at some of the things they come out with:
-SonicStage, their iTunes rivalling [yeah right] software for their MP3 players. I owned a NetMD device for a year, and have never been so infuriated in all my life. The initial install was so buggy [instead of 1 install program, about 7 were used with all the modules for stuff to work in SonicStage], and even then only used the ATRAC3 codec for music, that I looked forward to the launch of the new 2.0 release. When it arrived, it was slightly faster [think nanosecond improvements!*], and included an online store - YAY! I used a free coupon and received 5 songs. I listened to them, and burned them to disc. Then along came version 2.1. I upgraded, let it run a check on the 1000 track music database, taking about 15-20 minutes to update - not the 3 seconds iTunes took to update my 3500 songs recently [iTunes 5.0 update]. I play one of my purchased tracks, and :-| the DRM is corrupted, and will not play. I had to redownload 100MB of music, just because Sony's disjointed software install ruins the files. Next day, I imported a CD into SonicStage. And that wouldn't play - even though there was no DRM in the files apart from normal ATRAC encoding. I gave up and just made do with some other MDs.
Before people email me to say that SonicStage has changed, I would like to add that I am only justifying my personal reasons for disliking the software before my change to iTunes and the Mac platform, which is not supported by Sony's MP3 players.
-Sony Music. Didn't want to play ball with iTMS in Japan or Australia. Still doesn't in Australia [at the time of writing]. So the artists went direct to iTunes. Good effort!
-Copy Protected CDs. When I saw this [and this] today, I was at first suprised, and then wasn't. Sony's new way of ensuring their copy-protected CDs are[
*Note: I was installing it on a brand new 3.06Ghz Dual Core Pentium 4!!!
=============
So to conclude on that epic rant........
To the Record Companies [except Sony] - Don't bite the hand that feeds you. OK, Redmond [i.e. M$] isn't controlling your music, but since when have you had favourites so long as the money keeps rolling in?
To Sony - Stop be a petulant child, and accept that if you'd got digital media right the first time, you wouldn't have had to license the Sony BMG catalogue in the first place. Just because you're left consoling by the fact you're not the No. 1 Online Music Store doesn't mean you can't make money from selling your music elsewhere! [Let's face it, they'd make money from selling music to baboons given half a chance].
To me it seems silly that Sony and Microsoft are not getting into bed together to battle a common "enemy" but I'm sure they all have their reasons.......notably the Playsfor thingy, and WMA files!
Any way, on that note, I'm gonna go and have a stiff drink :-D, whilst sorting out what I'm gonna do for the opening of some more Apple Stores ;-) Trafford Centre and Meadowhall here I come... ;-)
SmashMyIpod.Com
Monday 31 October 2005
This really does rate as THE biggest scam [sorry, "entertainment"] craze on the web.
The site offers this interesting tid-bit:
The site offers this interesting tid-bit:
"This is only a social experiment, for the entertainment of the donors, and visitors of this site."
Right.
Read more at Smashmyipod.Com [type the URL youself - I don't want traffic linking to the site!]. What's more amazing is that people were paying $30 towards this!! Incredibly, the site's creator is using the idea on the Xbox360, PS3 and the Nintendo Revolution. Nob.
Of course, if you'd rather Paypal ME some cash for anything that I so desire, contact me! ;-)
I Hate Hotmail
Sunday 23 October 2005
Yes, it's true that I use GMail more than ever now [if anyone wants an invite, I've got 200 invites that keep refilling to give away!!], but I still use a Hotmail account from the good old days. I've long meant to add a little critique/rant about Hotmail, but now is the ideal time with news of Kahuna, the up-coming Hotmail upgrade, hitting the web.
Hotmail Annoys the Hell out of Me
Imagine this: Nik returns from holiday. He checks his GMail account for urgent messages, and is easily able to mark all the new messages read and starred [I hate having GMail notifier say: You have 100 unread messages. It fills me with dread], and then moves on to check his Hotmail account. Firstly, MSN won't let me log in in Safari, and then won't let me sign out of my GMail linked passport. After swearing profusely at the computer, I turn to Firefox [which I like, but it isn't a truly Mac-style app], and log in to Hotmail. I look at my inbox. I then proceed to try and mark all 32 unread messages with a tick, because Hotmail doesn't have the "Select All: Unread, Read, Starred" trick that GMail does. :-( After failing to select all 32 unread messages [instead opting for the Select All tick box], I discover that I have hit not "Mark Read" but "Mark Unread" and that all 100 messages on the page are now "Unread".
At this stage you're probably asking: Why would I want to mark read a whole load of messages that I haven't actually read? Well, I receive a number of weekly newsletters [Apple, a number of technology retailers, Amazon etc. etc.] which I don't read unless all else fails or I have money to spend! Plus, seeing as Outlook and Entourage offer "Mark as Read" surely M$ could offer it in their web based product?
Anyway, back to the story. In the end, I deleted 89 of those 100 hundred messages as I didn't see the point in having to view each message just to have the "No Unread Messages" show in MSN Messenger or on the Hotmail start page. I read the remaining 11 emails, and deleted a further 6 on reading them, so my inbox is now clear. :-)
-Why is it SO complex to do such a simple thing like I tried to do above?
-And where is message search?
-I love the GMail archive button. It is a good friend of mine, as it keeps my mail around, but not in my inbox.
-Why isn't there a button to archive messages in Hotmail?
-What's with the stingy limitation in Hotmail? I have 109MB of messages in GMail - I have all manner of attachments from 6MB photos to 10MB Mac apps that I'm beta testing - that comes to 43.6% if I were in Hotmail - and I'd be worried as 70-80MB has come in the last 2 months! In GMail it's 4%.
-I love the drop down as-you-type suggestion menu of addresses in GMail - it means I don't have to view my address book and select the contact I want to send a message to, which means time saved. MSN Hotmail seems to be dormant with no gradual evolution, but if Kahuna is as good as people are suggesting, then that could be why.
I guess my rant is purely me becoming a GMail snob - so much so that I'd rather have a client that works like GMail to manage my POP messages than Apple Mail or M$ Entourage! :-D
Hotmail Annoys the Hell out of Me
Imagine this: Nik returns from holiday. He checks his GMail account for urgent messages, and is easily able to mark all the new messages read and starred [I hate having GMail notifier say: You have 100 unread messages. It fills me with dread], and then moves on to check his Hotmail account. Firstly, MSN won't let me log in in Safari, and then won't let me sign out of my GMail linked passport. After swearing profusely at the computer, I turn to Firefox [which I like, but it isn't a truly Mac-style app], and log in to Hotmail. I look at my inbox. I then proceed to try and mark all 32 unread messages with a tick, because Hotmail doesn't have the "Select All: Unread, Read, Starred" trick that GMail does. :-( After failing to select all 32 unread messages [instead opting for the Select All tick box], I discover that I have hit not "Mark Read" but "Mark Unread" and that all 100 messages on the page are now "Unread".
At this stage you're probably asking: Why would I want to mark read a whole load of messages that I haven't actually read? Well, I receive a number of weekly newsletters [Apple, a number of technology retailers, Amazon etc. etc.] which I don't read unless all else fails or I have money to spend! Plus, seeing as Outlook and Entourage offer "Mark as Read" surely M$ could offer it in their web based product?
Anyway, back to the story. In the end, I deleted 89 of those 100 hundred messages as I didn't see the point in having to view each message just to have the "No Unread Messages" show in MSN Messenger or on the Hotmail start page. I read the remaining 11 emails, and deleted a further 6 on reading them, so my inbox is now clear. :-)
-Why is it SO complex to do such a simple thing like I tried to do above?
-And where is message search?
-I love the GMail archive button. It is a good friend of mine, as it keeps my mail around, but not in my inbox.
-Why isn't there a button to archive messages in Hotmail?
-What's with the stingy limitation in Hotmail? I have 109MB of messages in GMail - I have all manner of attachments from 6MB photos to 10MB Mac apps that I'm beta testing - that comes to 43.6% if I were in Hotmail - and I'd be worried as 70-80MB has come in the last 2 months! In GMail it's 4%.
-I love the drop down as-you-type suggestion menu of addresses in GMail - it means I don't have to view my address book and select the contact I want to send a message to, which means time saved. MSN Hotmail seems to be dormant with no gradual evolution, but if Kahuna is as good as people are suggesting, then that could be why.
I guess my rant is purely me becoming a GMail snob - so much so that I'd rather have a client that works like GMail to manage my POP messages than Apple Mail or M$ Entourage! :-D