Posts by Velv

We don't "filter" our road network from Children - they can happily step in front of a car, bus or truck on most roads and most parents don't give a second thought when they walk out the door in the morning. That is part of life. We teach them how to cross the road safely, and trust them to do it.

IF we are going to "filter" the Internet by default then we MUST also filter many other aspects of our existing life to "protect the children". Shops will need to have 18 only sections where any "dubious" items are displayed - not just jazz mags, but "dangerous" items such as bleach, alcohol, candles matches and lighters, scissors and knives, etc, should not even be shown to kids (I know there are rules covering sale, but it is not just the sale, but the display that is the issue).

Is this REALLY where we are heading?

Can I be the first to suggest we abolish both the Imperial and the Metric system and we immediately adopt the ElReg system of weights and measures.

Kids should be kept in playpens unless you've got them on reins.

Anyone who disagrees is a negligent parent.

:)

Looks like google are going to hoover up the domains. Oops, can't use Hoover

And what about BTs claim in their adverts that theirs is "the most reliable wifi in the country"?

Apart from the fact half the connection relies on the client device so they have zero influence on it, there is no way they can claim their wifi is more reliable than anyone else given the multitude of models and manufacturers of wireless kit in the marketplace.

They really need to substantiate their claims or shut up.

Clearly Apple et al were in the wrong and their contracts were anti-competitive (especially the favoured nation bit).

But so that I don't appear antifanbois, the DoJ MUST now also look at regulating how Amazon prices ebooks (and other goods, and other etailers).

We are living in a new era where markets change in days instead of years, and it is therefore imperative that national and international laws are in tune to prevent monopolies. Blink and someone has cornered the market. Lawyers might be the scourge of the earth, but when we need them, we really really do need them.

As highlighted at the very start of the article, the NBA regulated the industry by ensuring a fair marketplace and ensuring no one business could corner the industry and force everyone else out. Some would call this a cartel, and our competition laws generally frown on it, but it did ensure businesses could largely compete.

Now we have the very thing the NBA originally prevented - one massive player flexing its influencene and money, forcing the rest of the industry to comply with its rules, controlling the market, and ultimately forcing the little guy out of business while also increasing the cost to the consumer.

So to suggest that Apple is working to make life fairer for the consumer is blinkered at best. Apple is using its might and money in an attempt to force other players out of the market - of course it should be sued.

"has an age verification policy which has been used to confirm that the subscriber is aged 18 or over"

That would be the CREDIT AGREEMENT the subscriber signed when they took out the service. As per usual, the ISP will only accept changes from the account holder who signed the agreement.

This covers the vast majority of access (since it is fixed lines ISP, not just mobiles).

Why can't they get together with Sky and Virgin and agree a common framework. Then you could put all the major channels on the same number on each platform.

It would save a lot of confusion.

Lies, damned lies, and journalist manipulation.

Perhaps the BBC were manipulated, perhaps the BBC did the manipulation.

Perhaps NDS have subsequently manipulated the truth and are now manipulating the journalists reporting the story.

Having watched the Panorama programme, I thought they did make it clear that ITVDigital would have gone under anyway.

The real point of the programme therefore is targeted at News International and it's owners and board. Are they fit to own media groups in the UK? The media already controls the British public to a large extent, with even the trusted BBC putting their own spin on topics. So should one group have a majority control of our media? Probably not. Especially if they are linked to underhand and illegal tactics against anyone who might rival them.

There may be no evidence the Murdochs were involved, but as the President once said, "the buck stops here". They SHOULD have known what was going on, and MUST have known once the lawsuits started. Since one of the lawsuits was settled out of court (which NI never does if it thinks it can win), some very senior pele MUST have known the situation.

ITVDigital may have been fatally flawed in the first place, but it is curious to note the media spin now surrounding the Panorama allegations, and it makes me wonder which journalists are being payed to represent the News International angle.

Do you think each world has been made by a different God, or did one God make them all?

If it was one God, then he's up to 600 days work already (since each world will clearly believe their Earth to be the only one). Now call me cynical, but I'm fairly sure that breaches the European Working Time directive, not to mention several Health & Safety rules.

If it was more than one God, then clearly religion is bunk.

Standards

Blame the ITU.

4G and even 3G are NOT STANDARDS. They are a collection of capabilities only. Many Counties use different telecommunications standards, and operate on different frequencies. Until the communication is aligned globally these problems will continue.

HOWEVER, in Apple's statement (found elsewhere), they claim "The new iPad works on what is globally accepted to be a 4G network". AMERICA IS NOT GLOBAL. The iPad doesn't even work on all US 4G networks (not compatible with Sprint).

When Telefonica release the details, they should also write to each alleged subscriber advising that:

A) their details have been released under a court order; and

B) in the event they are sent any legal communication, they should seek appropriate legal advice before replying.

It is about time the threatening extortion was stopped once and for all. Either take the pirates to court or stop demanding money with menaces.

Wot, no iPad app?

(joking troll)

Aside from the initial extra hardware cost (which I appreciate is a problem for some people), why wouldn't you buy the 3G version (of any tablet)?

You don't *need* an active SIM to make the thing work, and you can get data on a per month basis, and for less than £5 a month.

I know some people will say "I never use it outside the house", or "I can always find wifi". Trust me, you will use it if it's there :)

(this isn't a dig at anyone who hasn't bought a 3G, more a hint for anyone considering buying a tablet)

Now we know what The Stig was doing at the side of the A92. Do you think the BBC should sue too?

ElectroMAGNETIC catapults - that's going to increase the number of minesweepers we need to escort every carrier

Threat to World Peace from a Fascist state?

I've said it before and I'll predict it again:

Some time in the next 50 years the worlds biggest democracy (China) will invade the dictatorship that is the USofA and will free the citizens from the tyranny of corruption and oppression.

Despite what some people may claim, citizens in the USofA are bound by many laws that here in Europe would be ripped apart by the European Courts. The laws are enacted by a small number of very rich people who are funded (publicly and privately) by the corporations who have only their own interests in mind. There are only two political parties, and there's very little difference between the two. Voting doesn't directly elect the leaders - it only elects the electors. The USofA is at risk of becoming a neo-fascist state, and probably represents one of the biggest threats to world peace.

I'm not anti-American. I've been, I plan to go again, and I have several American fiends. If you don't like what I say, don't just down vote, do your own research. And if you are American, stand up for your own human rights.

Since the shareholders didn't buy the shares for the dividend (it's well know no divi is normally paid and you are buying them for their growth), perhaps Apple should make a philanthropic gesture with the $7bn instead.

Like that's going to happen...

Given the number of OTHER manufactures of mobile phones who must be licensing Motorolas patent under FRAND, it should be very easy to set a FRAND figure for Apple.

Then we find out who the real bad guys are...

NavFree by Navmii is great for the iPhone. As per the name, it's free. I found it after an article here on El Reg?

GO icon for obvious reasons

Sounds like Oracle wants to have its cake and eat it.. Car manufacturers would not get away with this. If a fundamental flaw is discovered they are required by law to fix it for free. you don't need to take out a service agreement with the maker in order to qualify for critical fixes. And that is what we're talking about - critical updates.

Perhaps these companies are in breach of their agreement with Oracle, however Oracle should be providing patches for FREE to everyone who has bought the original item. New features can be charged for, but patches should not require on ongoing subscription directly with Oracle. In the EU that would definitely be anti-competitive preventing third party vendors from providing support.

Next you'll be telling us we can use the term "Fanbois"

A bit like the Patent Wars of the early 21st Century, Domain Name Wars are going to go down in history as when the lawyers REALLY started to make money.

Who would have thought that expanding new Top Level Domains would have introduced such a huge scope for "ambulance chasing" type lawyers to exploit both sides of a registration.

Come the revolution they'll be the first against the wall.

So if the value of the rights is going to soar, then more needs to be done to ensure the money is used in a more socially responsible manner. We have professional sports players and associated crew who are paid more than the bankers we hate.

Clubs, TV, media, etc need to spread the money better across lower level clubs to encourage grass roots sport and improve communities. It is, after all, simply an investment on their own future, something most of them haven't until now properly embraced.

If ever there was justification for an 75% tax band it is professional footballers.

I'm guessing the ebooks work quite well with the pictorial nature of Chinese writing

"the only hardware you'll definitely need is some plastic with a stripe on it"

Er, no, since payment is by Paypal which has no requirement for a card (although a card is one of several handy options).

Now, where did I put my BitTorrent client......