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Comment Re:Smartphone cameras vs "real" cameras (Score 0) 79

That site is garbage. They score an RX100 at 70, but a Sony Z2 phone at 79. I use both all the time. The RX100 has a brilliant sensor (it will outshoot a Canon 7D Mark II in many cases). The Z2 sensor is so bad it makes me angry any time I try to use it for something I might want to keep (it's fine for taking photos of serial numbers I don't want to write down and crap like that). Yet according to DXOMARK the Z2 is better than the RX100?

Comment Re:Smartphone cameras vs "real" cameras (Score 1) 79

Are you actually finding the eye autofocus on the mirrorless accurate? I found it completely useless for insects, and then ended up ditching the mirrorless to go back to DSLR since I can accurately judge manual focus with a real eyepiece but not on a mirrorless screenback (they need like 4x the resolution to be remotely useful). I do love the RX100 though, I still carry a first-gen one for incidental landscape shots, so that I don't have to carry a wide angle lens for the big camera. It's also my go to concert and event camera since its still small enough to be kind of discreet, and the low light performance is acceptable.

Comment Re:Zapp Brannigan's Reporting Strategy (Score 1) 588

Apple has been Orwellian for the last 10 years. Is there any other explanation for devices in 2010 that can only connect over proprietary data cables, through proprietary software, that have no removable storage, no mass storage class driver support, and have to use a company mandated store to install any applications? Not to mention a smartphone that can't be used as a tethered modem? Their complete ban on all uncontrolled input and output is completely Orwellian, and it's no surprise that they treat their forums that way too.

Comment Re:Kin? (Score 1, Interesting) 324

As far as I know they started the Smartphone market. I had a Windows Mobile Smartphone 5 years ago that had fairly high speed CDMA internet, tethering, and quite a few handy applications (the HTC Apache). There were models around some years before that too. The problem is, they had this massive lead over everyone else, but they were completely apathetic towards their own product. There were no great first party applications, and there was no organized way to find applications for the phone (not advocating a singular market entity, but having no means at all to find applications isn't good either). They also didn't market it to anybody. The only people who even knew were the ones who went looking for the capabilities on their own. The only company who wasn't completely apathetic towards the market was HTC, who went through a lot of trouble to make Windows Mobile usable, and later to even make it look nice. Now Microsoft is completely shooting themselves in the face with Windows Mobile 7 - no backwards compatibility, no multi-tasking, no UI changes (and a bad looking UI from shots so far)... what the hell? So upgrading to a new Windows Mobile phone in the near future means I'm starting over from scratch? I went ahead and switched to Android, though I stayed with HTC. I do hope that Microsoft gets around to making a nice portable version of Office though, and that they have the decency to port it to all platforms (or at least Android, Documents To Go kind of sucks).

Comment Re:Apple (Score 4, Informative) 264

They used to pull this shit back in the 90s when I used them too. Back when System 7 was out, there were tons of freely available system extensions and control panels on the web, and small applications that added desktop gadgets and whatnot. Well, both System 7.5 and System 8 were nothing but Apple ripoffs of extensions and control panels stolen from the community and packaged into overpriced OS upgrades. Systems 7 and 7.5 even had compatible Finders (shells), there was practically nothing different about the OSs aside from the stolen extensions. I put up with that behavior then since at the time Apple was years ahead of the rest of the personal computer market, but I jumped ship as soon as I could get a good alternative.
The Courts

Repair Computer, Repurchase OS? 453

An anonymous reader asks: "Recently, I have been bit by a computer repair on an e-Machines computer that involved a system board replacement. Though this was strictly a repair, not an upgrade, neither MS or e-Machines will provide for activation of the system. Why should a user have to purchase another copy of XP after repairing a computer? The system board is listed on the e-Machines website, but costs 4x what an off-the-shelf board with the same chip-set/capabilities costs, and furthermore is not actually available. The e-Machines rep even said repurchasing XP was my only option. This seems to me patently unfair and of questionable legality. Is it possible that there are enough disgruntled consumers bit by this problem to generate a class-action lawsuit?"
Power

Submission + - California may ban lightbulbs

Igmuth writes: According to an article in Yahoo News,

The 'How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb Act' would ban incandescent lightbulbs by 2012 in favor of energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulbs. 'Incandescent lightbulbs were first developed almost 125 years ago, and since that time they have undergone no major modifications,' California Assemblyman Lloyd Levine said on Tuesday. 'Meanwhile, they remain incredibly inefficient, converting only about 5 percent of the energy they receive into light.'
Windows

Submission + - Install Windows Vista Upgrade version without XP

Johannes K. writes: It has previously been claimed that to install Windows Vista from an upgrade dvd requires having Windows XP installed on your computer. Not so claims DailyTech: No previous version of Windows is required at all.
Space

Submission + - Netherlands loses comms satellite on launch pad

Ynsats writes: "The Register is reporting that SES New Skies of the Netherlands lost a Boeing NSS-8 satellite on the launch pad when it's Zenit launch vehicle exploded on the launch pad. The launch pad is a converted oil rig and is operated by Sea Launch. The resulting blast engulfed the rig in flames but fortunatly, there were no injuries due to the remote operation of the rig keeping the crew at a safe distance. The launch vehicle was carrying a communications satellite "equipped with nearly 100 transponders for high-speed internet, broadcasting and other services". The Zenit rocket is a multi-stage, kerosene and liquid oxygen-fuelled rocket that Sea Launch has had 23 successes with with one failure in 2000 due to a valve problem in the second stage of the rocket."

Linux 2.6.20-rc6 Kernel Performance 226

Michael writes "The Linux 2.6.20 kernel will feature KVM support, Playstation 3 support, and a variety of other improvements. With the Linux 2.6.20-rc6 kernel out the door, Phoronix has written a performance comparison of the Linux 2.6.20-rc6 kernel against the 2.6.19 and 2.6.19.2 kernels in a variety of benchmarks."
Sony

Submission + - Sony Settles Rootkit Class Action Lawsuit

eldavojohn writes: "Sony BMG has agreed to reimburse consumers with $150 million dollars for damages done to computers in the US from selling compact discs with anti-piracy software hidden on them. Make your claim as soon as possible. From the article, "In 2005, the company shipped more than 12 million CDs, each loaded with one of two anti-piracy programs. About seven million of the CDs were sold and the Digital Rights Management software installed itself on consumers' computers without their knowledge or consent. CDs by artists such as The Coral, Alicia Keys, Dido, the Foo Fighters and the Backstreet Boys were among the affected discs. ""

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