So, let me get this straight:

 

  • Google sent cars driving around the world to gather data about the areas they pass through.
  • Amongst things they captured:

 

 

  1. 3D topographical data
  2. Panoramic photographs
  3. Wireless signals
  • They sniffed for any wifi signals that were being broadcast in the proximity and captured the raw signal.
  • Some people don’t have security enabled on their wireless networks
Thus, because Google sniffed whatever was about and because some people don’t use security on their networks their information was gathered. It was gathered in much the same way that anyone could and frankly these people who were snooped were broadcasting their details to anyone who could hear.
Last time I checked it wasn’t illegal to receive/record broadcasts, let alone those that are unencrypted! The entire process of prosecution of Google for this is a preposterous farce which the press can enjoy and which can give civil servants something to keep them occupied.

 

Before Christmas I had a parcel to send to Greece, rather than abuse the company TNT account I decided to send it myself and that the safest way to send it was with good ol’ Royal Mail ParcelForce. Mistake… click ‘read more’ to hear my tail of woe..
Continue reading “ParcelFarce Fail!”

I’ve had a couple of HTC phones now and even more Windows Mobile phones. The experience, while not pain free, has roughly been positive. However with the release of the HTC Touch Diamond from Orange really whetted my appetite, it looked like the sexy iPhone challenger and the demos were really quite sweet. It wasn’t easy to get hold of, it sold out very quickly, but this week mine arrived.

First thing I noticed, the non-standard HTC USB interface ("Because we are special"), I could live with this even if all the existing phones in our house use standard USB chargers quite easily.

Second thing, well it wasn’t exactly fast on the start up…

Third thing, well it sucked battery quicker than the proverbial ‘Duncan’s mum’.

All of these things I felt I could get used to, but then there was the killer:

I have a TomTom Go 910, I bought it a few months ago from Dabs.com on sale. It was great, because not only was it the excellent TomTom satnav but it also has TomTom Traffic when used with a GRPS enabled Bluetooth Phone AND it can act as a bluetooth headset! Wow! This has worked great with my works Blackberry 8800, OK but without the modem on my works Blackberry 8310 and it worked fine with my Orange/HTC SPV M600.

Obviously and quite plainly it the TomTom Go 910 doesn’t work with the Bluetooth of the new HTC Touch Diamond! Damn

I’ve called HTC ("Not our problem speak to TomTom"), TomTom ("Not our problem speak to HTC") and Orange ("Its not really a function of the Orange network that has a problem so it’s not our problem.").

I have the right of return and now it looks like I will have to take that up. It’s really disappointing to reach that, I had hoped there was some fix or patch for the software but I asked HTC if it was a known issue and they said "no". So I am left with little choice but to send it back and find something else. I have two phones, so it might just be simpler to downgrade my contract with Orange and save myself some effort.

A sad day for HTC, a sad day for Orange and a sad day for producy expectation.

Our call centre isn’t big, but then again it is very efficient and rarely has dropped or missed calls. Plus we have sufficient measures in place to allow us to call people back as soon as things slack off.

However, yesterday a client called to ask about something (which being a broadcast problem wasn’t our problem and wasn’t our fault), and he called during a busy period. After being on old for 4min 31seconds he was offered the opportunity of being called back rather than waiting, he could leave a message with his details and normally we call back within a couple of hours at most. He left this message:

NSFW: http://www.orbit.me.uk/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=1206

Pleasent chap to use that kind of bad language to some people who are there to help and who weren’t actually responsible for his troubles. But it’s our box they are using it must be our fault.

He was called back, around 10min later, funnily he hadn’t left his phone number on the message but everything is logged anyway. He was very sheepish and humble; surprised to be called back by someone so helpful.