* Posts by howieb2001

15 publicly visible posts • joined 13 Jan 2011

Former Post Office boss returns CBE to sender over computer system scandal

howieb2001

"no regard for party politics" but it's all Keir Starmer's fault lol.

Hive to pull the plug on smart home gadgets by 2025

howieb2001

I have quite a few of their gadgets for heating and lighting but the leak sensor which has been surprisingly useful will die next year. Relieved that when we decided to install some security cameras last year we chose Eufy.

This is no way to treat customers.

Google shores up G Suite against hapless users in the enterprise: App whitelist, physical security keys, and more

howieb2001

Re: Improved security . .

It's hardly slurping. G Suite users have voluntarily signed up for Google to manage their data, as well as other services.

Civil liberties groups take another swing at Brit snooping regime in Euro human rights court

howieb2001

Re: Better get Skates on

"The majority of the population voted Leave."

No the majority of those who cast a vote chose leave.

Incoming! Microsoft unleashes more fixes for Windows 10 October 2018 Update

howieb2001

I have been a linux user for many years and abandoned Windows completely when mobile phone apps replaced my occasional need to use it. Just out of interest I thought I'd install Windows 10 on an old Dell XPS13 which will be running Ubuntu. What an eye-opener. I've hardly been able to use the laptop as it feels like every time I turn it on it's finishing an update which had already taken hours to download and install. When one of the updates finally worked it tried to change all the settings I had meticulously answered "no" to Microsoft defaults.

What has happened to Windows since W7 which was a very good OS. Where did it ll go wrong?

Is Google's Pixel getting better, or just more expensive?

howieb2001

Re: Pixel 2

Interested to read your comment. I've owned all three iterations of the Pixel and the only reported problem I've had is the blue shift on the Pixel 2 XL (not really a bother for me as I seldom have a need to load a white screen and look at it whilst tilting the phone away from me). I've often wondered whether there really are multiple devices with faults or is it a case that anything wrong with a Google or Apple device is a good headline.

With the 6T, OnePlus hopes to shed 'cheeky upstart' tag and launch assault on flagships

howieb2001

Bezels and notches

Am I the only person on the planet not obsessed with bezels? For me the perfect phone would be an Android in the style of the iPhone 8 Plus, 1080p screen and a couple of millimetres thicker than the 8 Plus to allow for a dirty great battery that would see me comfortably through a weekend. All these manufacturers are becoming like sheep, egged on by Youtube kiddies who think having to press a button to unlock your phone is too much like hard work.

The Notch contagion is spreading slower than phone experts thought

howieb2001

"I disagree with this. I want a bezel."

Music to my ears. I thought I was the only one left who preferred bezels. I'm not an Apple fan but the design of their "Plus" phones with a big enough screen and plenty of room for a dirty great battery is fine for me. A poncey looking device with a ridiculously high-res screen is not a lot of use when it's run out of juice.

Five actually useful real-world things that came out at Apple's WWDC

howieb2001

Re: Damn it

I have tried it. Loved the hardware (iPhone 7 Plus) but after a few weeks couldn't take any more of iOS. Can't fault Apple on resale values though.

Google Pixel 2 XL: Like paying Apple-tier prices then saying, hey, please help yourself to my data

howieb2001

Strange that El Reg is so late to the slag off the Google Pixel party.

Shock poll finds £999 X too expensive for happy iPhone owners

howieb2001

Bezels

Although I am heavily into Android my wife has upgraded to an iphone 8 plus. I much prefer the hardware to the X. It seems like the whole of the tech review community has become obsessed with the the front of a phone being as close as possible to 100% screen. Am I the only one who prefers bezels?

No one saw it coming: Rubin's Essential phone considered anything but

howieb2001

I'm in the UK but managed to get hold of one of these. I think the main problem was a marketing campaign that placed this in competition with premium phones at a premium price followed by delays and release before it was really ready. After a few weeks of updates it's fast with no software blips and a camera that is not bad at all although not in the league of the Pixel 2 and latest iphones. Really nice to use a well-made phone without a case as the ceramic seems to be almost unscratchable.

BlackBerry DTEK60: An elegant flagship for grown-ups

howieb2001

Re: Nice as it may be to have oodles of camera info

"We'll amend this into a fuller review taking into account call quality in various conditions, and battery life."

Moto fires BROADSIDE into the flagship phone's waterline with X Play and Style

howieb2001

Sony Xperia Z3 Compact.

Google Nexus S Android smartphone

howieb2001
Thumb Up

Nexus S

Very pleased with mine. Very fast, pleasantly understated appearance and excellent signal and call quality. Battery life is on a par with iPhone4 which it has replaced. May be useful for others to know that on my unit the Battery Doctor app which made a significant improvement to the iPhone4 performance seemed to halve the battery life of the Nexus S. Back to normal once uninstalled.