So, Apple – the company who, for some reason, command almost religious devotion to their products fall foul of patent infringement:

Apple faces $600m damages claim Oh how I laughed!

It seems that Apple, whom I personally think haven’t released anything original in years, have finally been uncovered for allegedly stealing others patented technology.
In this case FOUR times!

Now Apple say that there was sufficient doubt over the contents of the patents to believe that they were not valid ~ the courts thought otherwise.
That means that Apple were fully aware that they were using somebody else’s ideas but thought that they could get away with it.

Oh dear
Caught with their hands in someone else’s cookie jar. I feel a DONKEY AWARD coming on…

Too bad really, just another blow to the company that brought you a phone that couldn’t make calls

lol…

(better add that this is my opinion – before the lawyers call )

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Time for another “Donkey Award”…

This made me laugh:
San Francisco’s unluckiest thief

It seems that some idiot riding a bicycle, decided to grab an iPhone that was being held by a woman on San Francisco street. This he did and sped off down the road…

Unfortunately the thief didn’t know that the iPhone was being used as a test for some real-time tracking software – what are the chances eh?

The woman, rushed in to the office (the incident happened just outside), reported the theft, and the IT guys calmly directed the police directly exactly to where the thief was located.

Ha!

“You’re nicked sonny Jim…”
“Clap him in irons – you’re goin’ dahn son”

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Another Donkey Award – BT claim the prize this time…

Today was one of those installation moments I like – taking a client from a failing system. into a bright new future :)

Maybe not quite that dramatic, but I like it all the same…

Sadly the client has just signed up to use BT broadband. :)
This is NOT a good idea in my honest opinion – BT broadband itself is quite good, the service that comes with it is not.
Businesses that rely on their broadband, also rely on the service too, after all things do, from time to time, go wrong.
You need to know that there is someone willing to fix the problem should it occur.

Today I had to install an existing broadband connection with a new router – the previous router was not the BT Home Hub supplied, nor was the replacement.
The client has also opted for a change of email system; from a simple POP box on the Internet, to a local Exchange based system.
This necessitated requesting from BT a ‘fixed’ IP address (never mind the technical, it’s a VERY basic thing to ask BT, that’s all the knowledge required). This is something that MOST ISPs will grant you for nothing – no extra dosh required. BT however charge £5 +VAT for the privilege. Why they do this escapes me – it costs them NOTHING to do…!

Anyway, surprise surprise, this didn’t work – call to BT technical.
After the usual geological age on hold we finally got through to a ‘technician’ ← Note the single quote – this woman was about as much a technician as I’m Norwegian.
After being totally unable to help me she finally said “I’ve been told this call is not supported, and that if you wish support, there is a chargeable number to call”
Me: “Why is this suddenly not supported”
Her: “I’m sorry, I can’t tell you that” – Now I’m starting to get a little annoyed…
Me: “Why can’t you tell me? This is ridiculous!!”
Her: (agitated) “I cannot tell you that, if you want support it’s chargeable”
Me: “That’s unacceptable - if you can’t help me get someone who can, or at least tell me why this is not supported!”
About 7-10 minutes on hold again, no reason given…
Another person: “Hi what’s the problem” – this guy goes on to fix the problem

My client was sold the wrong package – BT charged £10 to ‘regrade’…

Just another example of why businesses shouldn’t stand for the extremely crap service BT provides.
If you run a business try not to use BT, it’ll save you so much grief in the long run…

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Sometimes you hear of someone doing a ‘study’ of something so stupid you wonder just who is paying for the wasted time – this is one such case.

Games ‘permit’ virtual war crimes

In this little story people have sat down, played some online war-games next to human rights lawyers, and asked “is it legal if I do this..? [presumably shooting some 'prisoner of war'].
Oddly the lawyers said ‘No!’ (maybe this award should be the ‘No s*it Sherlock award’?)

This is a ridiculous venture ~ can’t they see that this ENTIRE GAME is fantasy??
Maybe we should contact the makers of Warcraft to issue a warning to all it’s players stating “It is against the ‘Goblin Rights Act 2009′ to brandish anything bigger than a paper knife in the company of anything of an enemy persuasion”.

Maybe a similar warning to the players of Online space simulations, stating that the rights of millions of alien beings had been violated once their planet was destroyed. “Please consider the safe use of your quantum planet buster technology”.

Do they REALLY think that the players of these games cannot distinguish fact from fantasy?
The quote “”For all those who mowed down citizens in Modern Warfare 2′s controversial airport level, I have the sneaking suspicion that not a great deal of them think this is lawful, nor appropriate, behaviour.” from the article, kinda sums it up. Credit gamers with SOME sense please.

Although I DO wish that I had my trusty +6 Demon Vorpal Sword of Ultimate Death in my tool kit sometimes, and it would be REALLY useful to outfit my car with the Extreme Destructo Ray of Annihilation, I realise that these are but the whimsical products of my fevered imagination and as such belong to the realm of fantasy.

Taking this to the logical extreme, I had an interesting dream involving Katie Melua, a large tub of Haagan Dazs and about 3 hours of fun – should I hand myself over to the CPS already? I’m sure I MUST have violated something along the way… (Katie, if you are reading this ~ CALL ME!)

When are these clowns going to learn ~ In games, asking the great alien king Zorg to please stop invading our planet and pop off home, will not get you as many points as ‘capping’ the enemy general with a sniper rifle from ½ the battlefield away. The fact that it’s illegal is irrelevant, IT’S NOT REAL!

Maybe these games DO allow a level of violence inappropriate in today’s ridiculously politically correct society, and maybe the emphasis is on game play rather than the ‘reality’ of the scenario ~ but since when, after shooting an unarmed prisoner in the head, did they ‘respawn’ back at base in real life?

Just one final word – did anyone managed to get the names of these idiots online avatars? I’d LOVE to give them a piece of my ‘Super Ultra Mega Chaingun of DoGooder Violation‘

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It’s been a while since I awarded a Donkey Award but I think you’ll agree, I deserve this one…

Tor has taken next week off, to enjoy (endure?) the splendour of the Welsh countryside, so my timing really couldn’t be better.

This afternoon, whilst compiling a quote for a new client, I needed to pop to the little boy’s room (OK, less of the little ). There is a door stop located behind the door of this little convenience, obviously to stop the door from crashing into unsuspecting erm… lets just call them ‘users’ :) of this room.

I decided that my life just didn’t have enough pain and, in my stocking feet, kicked said door stop.

OW!

After driving home, and getting bullied by the GF, I braved an uncomfortable drive to the medical ‘drop in’ centre to be woman-handled by a mini nurse (she was quite petite).
Toe broken
1x taped toe, 1x length of micro-porous tape, and another uncomfortable ride home later I’m hurting and feeling a little sorry for myself.

Perfect timing though – just when Tor takes a week off…

Typical!

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