Last week I was actually in front of a lass from New York buying my tickets for the radio recording of ISIHAC next month and did say to her "Hold on, you're American, you won't understand anything!"
Even though ITV was totally shit at their F1 coverage, BTCC race weekends are excellent., although I conceed it's a minority sport on a minority channel it's better than watching football (IMHO)
I use the Yahoo geocoding API to convert postcodes into lon/lat - but this data should be in the public domain. I don't know of a postal system anywhere in the world that charges for access to this data like ours does.
Used that route last week, on my iTouch was pretty damn good and didn't need to verify my non existant @example.com email address (though, without net access, how could I!)
They block access to iPlayer and such, but i imagine that would be easily bypassed.
One nice trick was on their login confirmation page was a map showing where you where, similar to the in-flight screens you see.
I was working with a local PC shop, who had a customer come in complaining that their newly purchased PC was freezing intermittently.
All the required tests where performed, soak test, running every program on the system to the max, full system check, the works. Nothing found, so customer goes home happy it's been "sorted out"
Next day they are back. Started to ask about the environment, near to power station, lones overhead, anything that could cause this. Nothing. Another soak test, customer out of door...
Third time in, one of the guys decide to to the owners house to find out what exactly was going on. Silently, he stood there watching as the machine was plugged in, connected to the phone line etc, then dozens of fridge magnets where placed all over the case to "make it look pretty"
This is going straight onto the wall somewhere to remind people that "hits" and "visitors" are not the same thing.
Our local evening newspaper a few years ago was boasting that their's was the most popular site for inforation, as it received over 50K hits a month. Mine, at the time, was hitting 40K+ visitors a month
Of course I had all my advertisiers on me asking why I wasn't doing enough. Lies, damn lies and statistics...
There isn't even any great recognition of Cayley in the Brompton/Scarborough area either, although a business centre was named Cayley Court a while ago, so if you weren't there when Sir Richard Branson flew the replica a couple of years ago from the same place his coachman had, then tough.
Clients find out about it, clients run it on comptetitors sites, clients ask developers to quietly find a hot spot in the next town and do a drop table;.....
I can't see the Beeb turning off radio access for overseas people, a fair few presenters make a point of mentioning when somebody has written in from California or Sydney or wherever saying they are listening to the show
Now we've had the download Firefox day, how about an uninstall Real day?
The stumbling block with iPlayer is that many independent producers have obviously not allowed it to distribute their programmes, Dragons' Den being one obvious example.
Apart from that, I quite like it. When it works, which I'd say is about 80% of the time.
What gets me annoyed is when I go into Smiths to buy a newspaper and immediately they start putting it into a plastic bag.
Ban them at source. What happened to the days when there where always empty boxes lying around at the checkout area for people to put their purchases into?
We had one in my secondary school which was so well used the decals had come off all the keys, so unless you fancied stabbing away for hours producing gibberish, you had to learn the QWERTY layout PDQ.
Our local; newspaper is next to useless, and I've oft pondered the logistics of setting up a PDF only version of a local rag, similar to a new F! magazine that is electronic format only.
32 posts • joined Thursday 16th August 2007 11:07 GMT
Garry Mills
Nominet → #
Posted Tuesday 24th November 2009 10:51 GMT
In ISPA slams Mandy's copyright land grab
Whoooah....
OK, they got into a bit of a toy chucking incident, but have the powers to take over a non profit making company *just like that*
That could be the last time I go and buy a .uk TLD
Garry Mills
@ Admiral Grace Hopper → #
Posted Saturday 21st November 2009 01:08 GMT
In Yank objects to Reg cherry-popping headline
Last week I was actually in front of a lass from New York buying my tickets for the radio recording of ISIHAC next month and did say to her "Hold on, you're American, you won't understand anything!"
Garry Mills
I'm sorry... → #
Posted Friday 20th November 2009 15:03 GMT
In Yank objects to Reg cherry-popping headline
God help them if they ever listen to an episode of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue...
Garry Mills
Well... → #
Posted Tuesday 3rd November 2009 16:31 GMT
In Irish brogue voted world's sexiest accent
As somebody who once went out with a Dublin lass I can't agree more.
Come on, admit it, that's why so many people stayed with AOL when their call centre was based over there!
Although the comments I've had on my Yorkshire accent when in the States does make me think about moving there...
Garry Mills
@ac 10:47 → #
Posted Wednesday 30th September 2009 14:21 GMT
In Nationwide Freeview tune-up takes place today
Actually, Freesat isn't the only way to get ITV - it just has to be manually entered. My friend has done it on his Sky box.
JFGI - don't have the details
Garry Mills
BTCC → #
Posted Wednesday 30th September 2009 03:28 GMT
In Freeview website titsup ahead of big retune
Even though ITV was totally shit at their F1 coverage, BTCC race weekends are excellent., although I conceed it's a minority sport on a minority channel it's better than watching football (IMHO)
Garry Mills
Yahoo → #
Posted Thursday 17th September 2009 00:01 GMT
In Database containing 1.8m UK postcode locations leaks online
I use the Yahoo geocoding API to convert postcodes into lon/lat - but this data should be in the public domain. I don't know of a postal system anywhere in the world that charges for access to this data like ours does.
Garry Mills
London > Aberdeen → #
Posted Tuesday 8th September 2009 09:40 GMT
In Labour calls for free Wi-Fi on trains
Used that route last week, on my iTouch was pretty damn good and didn't need to verify my non existant @example.com email address (though, without net access, how could I!)
They block access to iPlayer and such, but i imagine that would be easily bypassed.
One nice trick was on their login confirmation page was a map showing where you where, similar to the in-flight screens you see.
Garry Mills
Few years ago... → #
Posted Tuesday 10th February 2009 19:27 GMT
In You did what? The trials of supporting remote users
I was working with a local PC shop, who had a customer come in complaining that their newly purchased PC was freezing intermittently.
All the required tests where performed, soak test, running every program on the system to the max, full system check, the works. Nothing found, so customer goes home happy it's been "sorted out"
Next day they are back. Started to ask about the environment, near to power station, lones overhead, anything that could cause this. Nothing. Another soak test, customer out of door...
Third time in, one of the guys decide to to the owners house to find out what exactly was going on. Silently, he stood there watching as the machine was plugged in, connected to the phone line etc, then dozens of fridge magnets where placed all over the case to "make it look pretty"
Garry Mills
Doctors and consultants → #
Posted Tuesday 6th January 2009 18:57 GMT
In Mobiles finally admitted to English hospitals
Are constantly walking up and down the wards in my hospital using their mobile, even whilst talking to patients!
Rule for one?
Garry Mills
Coloured pencils → #
Posted Friday 12th December 2008 16:35 GMT
In BOFH: Blackmail and fine wine
"the Macs in the coloured pencil office"
Superb!
Garry Mills
Unfortunatly.. → #
Posted Thursday 6th November 2008 10:38 GMT
In Fifty years later, steam appears on British railway
The weather in Scarborough was pretty grim last night so wasn't the best conditions to go and have a look (I didn't...).
The station is still there so at least the brakes worked!
Garry Mills
Skip o Fooer → #
Posted Thursday 25th September 2008 13:55 GMT
In Cisco.com suffers lower case t breakdown
I think I knew him, Irish fisherman
Maybe this was "speak like the Irish" day and nobody else knew?
Garry Mills
So that'll be... → #
Posted Wednesday 24th September 2008 16:47 GMT
In BitTorrent crackdown cops fail to pay music copyright fees
The Middlesbrough in Teesside then?
</pedantic>
Garry Mills
About time... → #
Posted Wednesday 6th August 2008 16:13 GMT
In ASA rules against citing 'hits' in ads
This is going straight onto the wall somewhere to remind people that "hits" and "visitors" are not the same thing.
Our local evening newspaper a few years ago was boasting that their's was the most popular site for inforation, as it received over 50K hits a month. Mine, at the time, was hitting 40K+ visitors a month
Of course I had all my advertisiers on me asking why I wasn't doing enough. Lies, damn lies and statistics...
Garry Mills
@Rob → #
Posted Wednesday 30th July 2008 15:56 GMT
In Driving some value into Google's Street View
Actually, Yahoo provide an API for postcode geolocating
From one of my sites,
http://local.yahooapis.com/MapsService/V1/geocode?appid=#appid&#zip=#postcode#" method="get">
Works well.
Garry Mills
George Cayley → #
Posted Tuesday 15th July 2008 09:14 GMT
In Airshow Blighty hits town - 100 years of UK powered flight
There isn't even any great recognition of Cayley in the Brompton/Scarborough area either, although a business centre was named Cayley Court a while ago, so if you weren't there when Sir Richard Branson flew the replica a couple of years ago from the same place his coachman had, then tough.
Garry Mills
@Madra → #
Posted Friday 27th June 2008 19:10 GMT
In North Carolina targets WTF licence plates
Sorry, but I had a plate once that was x 733 OWW so you could. have had OFF as part of the plate.
Garry Mills
Uh oh.... → #
Posted Friday 27th June 2008 13:17 GMT
In Microsoft and HP tackle SQL-injection scourge
Clients find out about it, clients run it on comptetitors sites, clients ask developers to quietly find a hot spot in the next town and do a drop table;.....
Garry Mills
Radio will live → #
Posted Thursday 26th June 2008 13:11 GMT
In Beeb's online music stations get rewind button
I can't see the Beeb turning off radio access for overseas people, a fair few presenters make a point of mentioning when somebody has written in from California or Sydney or wherever saying they are listening to the show
Now we've had the download Firefox day, how about an uninstall Real day?
Garry Mills
Millions → #
Posted Tuesday 13th May 2008 15:09 GMT
In Son of 419 victim contacts El Reg
It was all going so well until "receive millions" in return
If it's too good... etc...
Garry Mills
UK Press Gazette → #
Posted Monday 12th May 2008 17:56 GMT
In Burma 'Gone with the Wind', suggests Telegraph
Used to call these juxtaposition cockups "Widdiecombes" (sp?)
To have the comment about people loosing their homes, however, that;s a true editorial fuck up
Garry Mills
Hong Kong → #
Posted Thursday 8th May 2008 10:28 GMT
In Bournemouth floats UK's first 100Mbps sewer broadband network
A friend was boasting about the 100Mbs pipe that he has to his flat in Hong Kong, at least I can say we are getting there.
Apart from the fact that he's got a slow connection, HK broadband offer up to 1 Gbit/s. We are still behind (no pun intended)
Garry Mills
Not working for me → #
Posted Friday 7th March 2008 16:58 GMT
In BBC iPlayer for iPhone and iPod Touch is iGo
Well, I've just tried it on my (Jailbroken) Touch and I get audio but no video.
Just wish Apple would change their mind about Flash.
And I'm a Brit, in the UK, about to go to the pub FWIW
Garry Mills
Choose another desination → #
Posted Wednesday 20th February 2008 16:03 GMT
In Software glitch hits Heathrow T4 baggage system
OK, I was thinking of going to Paris, but can I book to HK next week please?
Garry Mills
Get the weight down... → #
Posted Wednesday 16th January 2008 12:07 GMT
In USB Missile Launcher gets integrated spyscope webcam
tie it in with a RC helicopter and the worlds your lobster
I'm considering putting one of these in one of my clients server "room" without them knowing and see how long I can get away with it
Garry Mills
To reuse the punchline... → #
Posted Monday 10th December 2007 15:35 GMT
In Fark attempts to trademark NSFW
They weren't farkers, these farkers were acronym's...
Garry Mills
Apart from... → #
Posted Thursday 22nd November 2007 15:31 GMT
In Why is the iPlayer a multi million pound disaster?
The stumbling block with iPlayer is that many independent producers have obviously not allowed it to distribute their programmes, Dragons' Den being one obvious example.
Apart from that, I quite like it. When it works, which I'd say is about 80% of the time.
Garry Mills
WH Smith → #
Posted Wednesday 14th November 2007 12:20 GMT
In Plastic police to enforce London bag ban?
What gets me annoyed is when I go into Smiths to buy a newspaper and immediately they start putting it into a plastic bag.
Ban them at source. What happened to the days when there where always empty boxes lying around at the checkout area for people to put their purchases into?
Garry Mills
Learnt to type on one of those → #
Posted Saturday 10th November 2007 11:50 GMT
In Remembering the Commodore PET 2001
We had one in my secondary school which was so well used the decals had come off all the keys, so unless you fancied stabbing away for hours producing gibberish, you had to learn the QWERTY layout PDQ.
Sharp learnt a lot from these with their MZ-80A's
</reminisce>
Garry Mills
Regional press → #
Posted Thursday 27th September 2007 14:27 GMT
In Magazines go online in iTunes-esque move
Our local; newspaper is next to useless, and I've oft pondered the logistics of setting up a PDF only version of a local rag, similar to a new F! magazine that is electronic format only.
Garry Mills
Title → #
Posted Thursday 16th August 2007 11:43 GMT
In Camera pole puts you in the frame
Brett, so I hold this above my at a press conference with a Canon 1D and say a 35-350?
Hope the person underneath is wearing a crash helmet