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By Yardena Arar, PCWorld
Today's mobile phones can already send e-mail, browse the Web, and keep you in touch with friends and colleagues via voice or text message. Tomorrow's handsets will add even more to the menu, morphing (as needed) into always-connected portable game consoles, full-featured TVs, and credit cards. Here's a quick look at what's coming:
Networks: In the next few years, cell phone networks will move data at several megabits per second, and will coexist with WiMax, Wi-Fi, and, for TV, DVB-H or MediaFLO. IMS will let them work together.
Handsets: Look for sleek designs (such as Frog Design's Ubik), better battery life, e-payment support, and graphics muscle for true TV and console-style video gaming.
Cameras: Expect not just high resolutions (8 megapixels and beyond), but also the same image-processing capabilities found in current digital still and video cameras.
"Hi Guys", said the assistant, with the utmost familiarity, "d'you need any help?" A number of witheringly sarcastic replies flashed before my mind, of which the rudest and most direct was, "Not from the likes of you". I felt like saying that as far as I was aware we had not been introduced and could he perhaps call at my address and leave his card with my manservant. I could have asked him, since he had used a male form of address to embrace both Mrs B and myself, whether he thought my wife a man; or, I could have struck up a conversation on the basis that I had mistaken him for an American ...asking him, for instance, whether he missed the baseball since coming to live on this side of the herring pond. One feels so embarrassed for English people who affect this American habit of speech, picked up from watching television. I mean ...can't they hear how silly it sounds on the lips of an assistant at PC World in Bury St Edmunds?
This may seem a small thing, but so is a bit of grit in your shoe. This tiny incident had the effect of finally turning me against PC World. I vowed never in future to buy a computer from them. Mind you, my antipathy had been building up for some time. Being totally clueless about computers, I tend to rely on the advice I am given in shops. The shortcoming is mainly mine of course, but we non-experts pay for expert guidance. On several occasions I have bought expensive computer accessories which I have been unable to use because, as I subsequently realised, they were unsuitable for the application I intended. The salespeople at PC World don't seem to care what they sell you as long as they sell you something. Presumably they work on commission. In a weak moment I let them talk me into purchasing their £7.50 per month "PC Performance" scheme. For our two computers this works out at £180 per annum. It would probably be less expensive to call in a geek if something went wrong, and get the problem attended to immediately. I thought I might as well get something for my money, so claimed the annual "health check" to which each computer is entitled. "It'll take a couple of hours", said the man. "If you've got some shopping to do call in when you've finished and it should be ready". Actually we had dropped in at the conclusion of our shopping. Never mind. I said I'd drive back and collect it. This was an extra 30 mile round trip. When I got back I could see my computer on a desk behind the counter, with status bars creeping across its screen.
"I'm afraid it's not ready yet", said the assistant (a different one), "could you pop in tomorrow?" I called back the next evening (another 30 miles).
"Uh ...the guy who's working on it has gone home. I'm not sure whether he's finished. Can you come back tomorrow?"
To be on the safe side I left it for a further two days.
"Uh... Yeah, I'm afraid..."
We went on holiday then and didn't get the computer back until we returned ten days later. None of the shortcomings in the machine's performance were any better. I suppose you could get software and do the job for yourself anyway.
So this time I shopped elsewhere. Hunting around on the internet you realise how overpriced PC World is and how little you get for your money. This computer was "custom-built". This sounds posh but it just means that you tell the builder what features you want and he sort of puts the flesh on a basic skeleton. Being, as previously noted, a bit thick about such things, I didn't really have a clue what to ask for. I wasn't quite sure what processor I wanted, but the one I've got seems to be quad-core. I don't know what this means, but I suppose it must be better than dual-core. 2GB of RAM ...twice as much as before... and a second DVD RW drive. The big difference is that I'll now be using Windows Vista, whereas I've had XP before. I had misgivings about this since Mrs B's computer, which I use when scanning my negatives, is Vista and I don't like it. I'm assuming that the fault is mine and that I don't like it because I'm not used to it.
If the Fray Bentos photostream dries up, you'll know the set-up went badly.
Couldn't resist another 'shot', well three again as these are 'composites', so making more use of the passing 'over-head traction' in the continuing appearance of colourful HGVs speedily making their way north. On the upper, M1 deck, this time, a company known only to well around here, and elsewhere, in the form of 'D. B. Schenker', associated mainly with rail freight transport in these pictures, but here a HGV road-carrier. On the lower deck, the local A631 road, possibly hoping a 'steam train' working may be passing in need of some alerts, has, 'Whistl', on the side, just in case... and is again one of the now endless number of outfits concerned with road haulage of packets, parcels and mail... bit like the railways used to be. The back of the rear class 20, at least still looks recognisable whilst the rest of the set is covered in leaf gunk and sandite; does this not affect the operation of the machinery .. one would have thought it gets into every nook and cranny of the workings.. In the lead, on today's north-bound jaunt to Hull is DRS class 20, 20303, ex-D8127, 'Max Joule 1958-1999' with HNRC, 20314, ex-D8117, at the rear on the 4th leg of the days diagrams, 3S14, from Woodburn Junction via Rotherham Central to Hull on the north banks of the River Humber, arriving at 14:25. From there, the working heads off later this afternoon, departing at 14:59, finally arriving, without incident, at York Thrall Europa, a few minutes late at 19:28
Recuerdo como empecé con Retevisión allá por el 99 con un módem 33.6 y pagando 10.000 pesetas anuales más el tiempo que estuviese conectado. Era el tiempo de trapichear con el registro de Windows para optimizar todo lo posible la conexión: conceptos como time-to-live, modulación, nivel de atenuación...me los conocía al dedillo. Conseguir encontrar una canción mp3 era una tarea realmente prodigiosa y una espera eterna. Eso, si no te llamaban y se cortaba la conexión.
Ahora, nos quejamos porque en Japón tienen velocidades de vértigo a precios de risa comparado con la infraestructura que tenemos en España.
El ansia parece no tener fin. Somos así por naturaleza en general. Y resulta que a mi...me aburre bajar cosas tan...rápido.
Han usado esta imagen en:
www.pcworld.com/article/2692571/find-downloaded-files-fas...
www.downloadblog.it/post/8289/coppia-inglese-accusata-di-...
grrr.pl/2009/04/07/160-megabitow-za-20-dolarow/
www.fayerwayer.com/2009/07/la-union-europea-piensa-en-una...
freeclident.unas-project.org/?p=257
www.nacionred.com/gobernanza-de-internet/el-tribunal-de-l...
www.chavalina.net/2011/01/10/no-me-gusta-descargar-musica...
www.nacionred.com/empresas/megaupload-demandada-por-infra...
noticias.universia.edu.ve/en-portada/noticia/2011/06/07/8...
www.genbeta.com/actualidad/cinco-claves-de-la-sentencia-d...
gigazine.net/news/20141023-internet-data-transfer-tax/
www.menoresenred.com/los-peligros-de-las-paginas-de-desca...
Yesterday I posted an image here for my article on the abusive sales practices taking place at PriceRitePhoto in New York. Interestingly enough, the camera that two days ago they told me was "out of stock" when I refused to buy their overpriced accesories is still showing even with today's date on their website.
As an update to my photo from Tuesday, since then here is what has gone on with the attention that this story has received:
Update #1: Found this text on their eBay store ad: "We guarantee our customers to have the best quality products and the best customer service! Our customers love us for our friendly attitude, buy with confidence!"
This just makes me sick. If you want to Digg this story you can here.
Update #2: Well I just received a call back from Steve Phillips at PriceRitePhoto. He said that I should be expecting a call from the "FBI" shortly and that "my tactics" of flooding his store's phone lines was "illegal." When I asked him to hold on as I wanted to turn on my recorder to record our conversation he hung up on me.
Of course I have not called his store at all but I'd imagine that the attention that his abuse has recieved from Digg and other places on the internet may have something to do with that.
My boss did have a conversation with me about the fact that this guy called him yesterday and was very understanding about the situation.
Update #3: Also since calling my boss, Steve Phillips has called my boss' assistant several times this morning as well. Contrary to Steve Phillips claims, I still have had no police officers show up at my office to "arrest me." Nor have I been contacted by the "FBI."
Last night when I called AMEX it appeared that PriceRitePhoto had not charged my card yet. My guess is that when I refused to buy their high priced accessories that they never had any intention of sending me the camera at their advertised price. I blocked the card with AMEX and will be getting a new number to prevent them from further abusing my credit card.
I have also filed a complaint with the New York Attorney General's office regarding their behavior and have left negative reviews on my experience with their company on most of the shopping comparison services that they are included in. Hopefully from the attention that this story has received they will reflect on the appropriateness of their sales tactics going forward.
If anyone has a contact at Yahoo! Shopping it would be nice to learn from them that they were being delisted or at least investigated over this.
Interestingly enough, it was just two weeks back that Yahoo! made an announcement about an overhaul to their shopping service. It would seem that they plan to include more social networking type reviews on products and vendors in the future. Hopefully whatever new system they put in place will help weed out the bad apples like PriceRitePhoto.
Of course even as late as today, they still have the camera that they told me as out of stock on their internet site for sale for $2,899.
Update #4: Received this email back from the New York State Attorney General's Office today: "Dear Consumer:
Thank you for your submission to the New York State Attorney General's Internet Bureau. On behalf of Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, I want to thank you for taking the time to alert us to this matter. Your assistance is vital to our efforts to serve the people of the State of New York.
We have added your submission to our files. It is through complaints such as yours that we learn of patterns of fraud and illegality. If you have any questions about this matter, please call us at (212) 416-8433. For other consumer-related matters, please call our consumer hotline at (800) 771-7755.
Thank you for contacting us."
Update #5: Thanks to a complaint by Digg User loker269, PriceGrabber has now delisted PriceRitePhoto. Nice to see PriceGrabber do the responsible thing here.
Update #6: This story has risen to the number one dugg story on Digg this year with 5439 diggs so far today. Thanks diggers!
I also received this email today from Joe Lazarus, Director of Marketing for Yahoo! Inc.: "Tom, I wanted to follow up on a comment I added to your post on PriceRitePhoto. I work at Yahoo! Shopping. I passed your issue along to our Customer Care team who will investigate and take the appropriate action per our merchant Guidelines and Terms of Service. I covered some more details in my comment. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions. ~ Joe"
Update #7: This story just made the front page of Slashdot. It was also on Boing Boing and Metafilter today along with many, many other blogs. I truly hope that this attention shines a light on the abusive bait and switch tactics that so many of you have also unfortunately experienced and shared in your comments.
The support is overwhelming and very much appreciated. And, yes, yes, yes, I do know that I was stupid and should have known better and done my homework before buying from these guys -- but that doesn't negate the fact that their sales tactics are wrong and deserve to be stopped.
Update #8: Although I have not heard directly back from Yahoo! or their Marketing Director Joe Lazarus. It would appear at least that for the time being, today, PriceRitePhoto is not operating on Yahoo! Shopping. They are still listed as a mechant there and there is a link to their store but when you do a search by their store for products for sale through Yahoo! you get the following message: "We didn't find any product results for mid:1016578." I'm not sure if Yahoo! pulled their listings or if PriceRitePhoto did or if that is just part of what happens when Yahoo! investigates a company. I hope that if after investigating Yahoo! concludes that this company is acting unethically that they will in fact delist them altogether. I will update as I hear more on this.
Also, fortunately, my server has held up remarkedbly well with all of the traffic being sent to this story from the above sources. I recently had to move from a shared server to a dedicated server with lots of excess capacity because I've had many highly ranked Google Images that had been eating through my bandwidth in the past. Also it helps keep my bandwidth usage down as the photos that are included as part of this story are actually hosted by Flickr my favorite site on the internet and as I oft like to repeat, "almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world." Ironically, of course in all of this, Flickr is owned by Yahoo!
Below is an image of the company's website this morning. As you can see, the camera that was supposedly "out of stock" when I refused to purchase their high priced accessories is still being shown for sale at the $2,899 price even still today. I suspect that they do actually have the camera in stock but that they only sell it to those who load up on expensive accessories and warranty plans from them.
Here are stunning pictures recently taken with the NX200 in -35 degree temperatures by a freelance photographer named Alexander Lembke. First, let’s look around his decent photographs and let’s meet him.
*Relate Post : www.samsungimaging.net/2012/03/09/arctic-story-with-super...
Somehow I missed the most recent turn of events in this case. My strong feeling have not changed so I decided to revisit it.
It now seems that Mr. Fairey has admitted that he a) did not use the picture he originally claimed, b) he knowingly lied about which picture he used and c) destroyed evidence to hide which picture he used. In response, his representation by the Stanford Fair Use Project has been withdrawn. Sadly, the FUP still supports his claim. Apparently they are ok with representing a thief, but not a liar and a thief. cyberlaw.stanford.edu/node/6353
And lets not pretend what happened was anything else. Its theft. Noting more, nothing less. Below is a slightly modified version of what I posted on my flickr page about this case. One of the arguments made in support of Fairey by some at Stanford was that he was fighting the Evil Big Business. Apparently success condones being the victum of theft. Only in the mean time, the artist has asserted that he, not AP, owns the picture. I have no idea if that has changed now that Fairey has admitted to lying about which picture he stole.
And on the note of the "Big Business Bad" - whether AP or Mr. Garcia owns the picture really does not matter. Here is the string of events leading to the original picture being taken - A person spent time and possibly money (photography school) developing a skill (photography). His skill was sufficient to allow him to generate income from that skill. That in turn allowed him to purchase professional tools of his trade (camera, camera bag, etc.) and pay for other up front expenses (travel costs) that further raised his professional stature to the point that a large (maybe the largest) purchaser of photographic media contracted with him to produce works. But if his works can be "used fairly" without compensation, then he will not be able to continue in this profession. He will have to take up some other means of supporting himself. And the picture will not be taken.
And that was not a picture you could take with a Point and Shoot. The original picture was taken low angle with the table made "invisible" meaning Mr. Garcia put the lens at about 2-21/2 feet off the ground. It was framed with the American flag as the backdrop giving the feeling of then Senator Obama being "Presidential." To get that Mr. Garcia had to be in the exact right spot, something that does not happen by luck in a room full of professional photographers. He caught a moment when President Obama was looking up at the speaker creating the "looking for inspiration" look. Despite what some posters here have said in various discussions, Mr. Clooney was not the subject of the picture and he was not the speaker at that moment either, a fact now clear by Fairey's admission that he lied about which picture he stole. The lighting conditions, as shown by the shadow of the flag behind President Obama, were challenging at best. The picture was probably taken without a flash (there is no bright spot on the water glass in front of President Obama), yet he still got good facial lighting - not an easy task (ask any wedding photographer). Doing that with a dark skinned subject against a dark blue background while wearing a black suit and white shirt? Well I would still be playing with the settings when they press conference was over. Mr. Garcia had the skill to "see" the picture before the event even took place or else he would not have been in the right position. You can google the event and see lots of pictures that were not as good. He then got his lighting right in a very challenging situation - something that required a "fast" (read EXPENSIVE) lens and probably a high ISO camera body (even more expensive) and a LOT of skill. Expensive equipment is a tool, the skill is in the person. Then he took the exact right picture at the exact right time while crouched uncomfortably for a LONG time. 99% of the people in the world would have stood to high, to far back, in the wrong place and used a flash that would have blown out half of President Obama's face and made the other half the dark side of the moon with his eyes red. Mr. Fairey didn't "reference" one of those pictures, he went with the one that took a PROFESSIONAL to get.
Mr. Fairey STOLE the picture, just like he has many others. While the matter of which picture he stole may seem minor, in this case it makes a HUGE difference. One of the key tests for fair use is how much of the original work is used. Mr. Fairey "claimed" he used a picture with both the future President and George Clooney. This gave him standing to claim he used only a "portion" of the original work. In fact, he used the entirety of a picture that was of just President Obama. He knew which picture he used and the impact it would have on any fair use claim and so he lied about it and covered up that lie by destroying evidence of the lie. AP sued him in February of this year. The FUP took up his case and filed a counter suit in April. it took until October for Mr. Fairey to come clean. I cant imagine that from February to April not one of his lawyers failed to ask which picture he used so he either lied to them or they too knew of the deception. Without the claim of having used only a portion of the original work, the use fails every test for fair use. It is a shame the Stanford FUP lacks the integrity to say so instead of simply withdrawing without comment. They were loud and proud defenders of his "rights" but lack the backbone to admit a mistake. Shame! Personally, I hope he and his lawyers (including the FUP lawyers) are charged for filing a false claim, perjury and filing a false official document. In the case of the lawyers, I hope they are disciplined - preferably disbarred - and in the case of Mr. Fairey I hope his business is seized and he is put in jail. He wanted to be an example so make him one.
The ONLY reason this is even up for debate is the low regard many in and out of the "art" community hold for photographers. If Mr. Fairey were an artist without the "rip off" appendage, he would have taken his OWN picture. If he respected Mr. Garcia as an artist he would have ASKED to use the picture. He lacks the skill to take the picture himself and the integrity to ask for permission to use it.
Shepard is a fraud
Never has the saying "Where you stand depends on where you sit"* had more meaning to me. I have always been a supporter of 1st Amendment rights and taken a board view of fair use. Now my views are beginning to change - change radically.
I doubt there are many people in this country who did not see some version of the "Hope" poster over the last year. And many heard about the controversy over the "artist" using the image without permission. When I heard about it, my first thought was that it was one more example of corporate media overstepping. The fact that it was AP made me even more biased as I have followed the whole "newspapers vs Google" debate and I am firmly on the side of Google. So it was a bit shocking when I stubbled on to "the rest of the story"**
At the end of March I asked "Is it Art?" I asked this because of an unpleasant interaction with a "real" artist. Since then I have read more and more that has angered me with the seeming "pecking order" in the art world. Photographers, it seems, are either the bottom of the pile on not considered at all. Shepard Fairey makes his view clear early in his "defense" piece on Huffington Post
"No disrespect was intended to photographer Mannie Garcia, but I did not think (and do not think) I needed permission to make an art piece using a reference photo."
This was the first time I had ever heard the term "reference photo." I had to Google it. Guess what the first hit was? A company selling "References Photos for artists." Personally, the argument stops there since there is a market for reference photos he clearly "stole" when he used it. Had Mr. Garcia wanted to market the picture as a "reference photo," compensation would have been made. But putting that aside, lets dig deeper into Shepards statement. Clearly he does not think the original photograph was art - He "made" it art. He didn't say "no disrespect to my fellow artist" - no it was "photographer." You can almost feel the contempt flowing through his fingers to the keyboard and out to the web. He goes on:
"My Obama poster does not compete with the intent of, or the market for the reference photo. In fact, the argument has been made that the reference photo would have faded into obscurity if it were not for my poster which became so culturally pervasive. The Garcia photo is now more famous and valuable than it ever would have been prior to the creation of my poster.
First off, it wasn't a "reference photo" it was a photo produced by Mr. Garcia while on assignment for the AP and was therefore owned by AP. I seem to remember AP has a business model built around paying people to produce photos which they then resell. The second part shows just how big Shepards ego is. Mr. Garcia should THANK him for "referencing" his otherwise obscure picture. Hmmmmm....I dont remember anywhere that says if no one knows about the thing I am stealing then it is ok. Or if it makes the thing I am stealing more valuable then its ok. I have a book on photography from 1944. Its out of print and pretty obscure. If I "reference" and add the words "digital" and "Photoshop" while removing "film" and "darkroom" do I get to sell it as mine? In Shepard Fairey's world I do.
Shepard drones on about political speech, fair use and how he didn't profit (not true). All of those might be arguments except for one fact. He is a serial kleptomaniac. (read the second one if you read nothing else!). To his credit, he is in good company.
So why my sudden change of heart? Well one, I think I am getting good enough as a photographer that I can give serious thought to doing it as a full time thing once I retire. Since that is 5 years away, I can build both the skills and business foundation before I have to worry about it paying any bills. If either one doesn't get there, I can still love an appreciate my photography and no matter how obscure, its still MINE. Second, I started a blog about photography (for very personal reasons I am choosing not to associate it with this flickr stream) and I am putting a fair bit of creative energy into it. Im discovering that other people have done the same, only to have some scum-bag copy and paste their work into a book. Finally, I am a bit miffed at this whole "art vs reference" thing. At this point the last thing I want to be associated with it the "art" community. "Creative" is more my style but even in the "creative" community there are some who say "you just point a camera." While I dont think I ever believed that, I have learned that the difference between a nice picture and a stunning picture is often hours of work backed up by days/weeks/months/years of study and practice. And I dont think I have taken any "stunning" pictures. I want to and am willing to work toward that. Once I can, the last thing I want is some punk rip off artist with no morals "referencing" my pictures to put on a t-shirt and call it his own. And, I might add, if it is so easy go, point your camera at something. Oh wait, no camera. What, you don't have a magic camera tree and a lens bush? Oh, you do but its a crappy one. Well waive the upgrade wand and make it a 20MP FF like I did. Lighting sucks? Chant the soft light incantation.
The utter emptiness of the "reference" argument (which is apparently well know in the "art" community) is that at the end of the day they "reference" a particular photograph because it is "better" than the thousands available of the same subject. There was no shortage of photographs of then Senator Obama. His official Senate picture was/is even in the public domain. I am pretty darn sure his campaign would have happily provided a "free as in beer" picture to "reference." But compared to the Garcia photo, those all sucked. But you said all photographers did was point a camera and document........
Good intent does not make up for bad acts. Many "Progressives" are on the wrong side of this because they see it as an attack on the President. Its not. Its about right and wrong.
Shepard is a fraud
P.S. - I would have preferred to use a picture of the "artist" rather than The President (who has nothing to do with this). But I couldn't find one that was not copyrighted and I wasn't going to steal from another photographer. So I used this, directly from the Obey Giant website. Fair Use, right Shepard?
*As far as I can tell, this quote is attributed to Nelson Mendela but some caveman probably said it right after his cave painting got copied too. Theft - so simple a Caveman can do it (Thanks Geico!).
** RIP Paul Harvey
* A 42sec video of GBRf Route Learner 66777 crossing the last of the locks on the Tinsley Flight..
Apologies for the repeated shutter sound, but its a real focal plane shutter with mirror flip and the latter can't be switched off; though Live View exposures, where the mirror is held up would solve the problem at the expense of a reduced number of exposures... In addition, due to the water flowing over the top of the up-stream lock gate, it wasn't possible to tell exactly when the loco was to appear, so ... a two and a half minute video was taken and then subsequently edited to remove all the wait at the beginning which was used to pan around the area; a shorter section of which was shot at the end after the loco had passed over the Shepcote Lane canal bridge. This is GBRf class 66, 66777, 'Annette, on the 2nd return, 0Z24, Tinsley Yard(GBRf) to Doncaster Roberts Road Shed and it will be stood waiting, fortunately, at Woodburn's W0208 signal for moves off the Tinsley Yard line back onto the main line, for about 20 minutes, enough time for another move of venue and the appearance of another Flickr photographer.
Another pair of shots showing the scene, not photographed at all by me very often and on the left, the GBRf loco is awaiting departure at signal W0208 whilst rattling by in each direction, two different units of the Sheffield Tram system. heading away along the Lower Don Valley on the left of the Supertram tracks is Unit#114, from the Meadowhall Interchange, via the City centre to the other extremity of the tram system, at Middlewood. Approaching, on the far right, all in blue, class 399, EMU, Tram/Train unit 399201 on the 2A42, part of its diagram is on the rail network so we have a proper headcode, Sheffield Cathedral to Parkgate and its about ti pause at Tinsley-Meadowhall, before accessing Network RAil metals along through Tinsley and Templeborough and to Rotherham Central and finally reversal at Parkgate. This is a much changed scene from what used to be visible here with T.W.I.L., B.O.C. and other heavy industry all along this section of the GCR metals.. beyond is the a local, separate retail area, Centretainment, film and food, the English Institute of Sports and what used to be the Sheffield Arena, recently demolished to make way for other more modern facilities; though some of it is now derelict. In the right-hand picture, signal W0208 is a comfortable distance away and the over-grown nature of the surrounds is visible something which, next week, may not be to every driver's liking when long Container traffic starts climbing the bank at right, to enter Tinsley Yard for off-loading, whilst track replacement work progresses at the Masborough Freight Depot.
Comet has gone into adminstration, and I think all stores across the UK will close.
This is my local Comet in Shirley, Solihull (off Marshall Lake Road).
I've occasionally had things from here.
At one point they had Game at Comet, or the Tech Guys at Comet. Now they have neither!
All Stock Reduced sign.
Comet sign.
It's a shame what's happened to Comet, as there is only Currys PC World left around here now (and the PC World opposite Sainsbury's).
There was a Currys unit on the corner of Stratford Road and Marshall Lake Road, but that has now closed since Currys PC World opened up where MFI used to be.
Before Comet was here, it was next door to Homebase (Homebase is double the size now, and is being done up).
On this site used to be a Texas (which got bought by Sainsbury's who built this unit and briefly opened a Homebase on here - before they closed it)
View large at: www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/4352536944/sizes/o/
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I believe in standards. For computers, they're at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATX .
Why do I make my own? You can buy a computer that works as well for not much more.
All the name brands are proprietary (non-standard) design. Just wait till a repair or upgrade needs to be done!
Read: www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=339053
More at www.engadget.com/2005/02/22/the-hp-bios-that-locks-non-wh...
Above picture documents its looks after mounting in case, before it was populated.
Added next , an Intel i5 650 CPU, might be an overclocking beast.... www.fudzilla.com/content/view/16093/35/ ... easily managed to reach 4.6GHz phonestechnology.blogspot.com/2009/10/processor-core-i5-6...
.
Easily will take seven hard drives (SATA and PATA (ATA-1, 2, 3, IDE 133)), and 12
USB
intel i7 960 quad @3.2GHz currently costs $589.99.
intel i5 650 dual @3.2GHz currently costs $189.99. (hyper-threaded, Intel claims up to a 30% performance improvement) Has four logical processors.
Review: www.bit-tech.net/hardware/motherboards/2010/01/28/gigabyt...
Turbo: www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=656&pgno=1
www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=656&pgno=0
Blog at: edhiker.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html has important note about Hard Drives.
Troubled by the size of Win 7, 16GB for 32bit, and 20GB for 64 bit. What ever happened to "MinWin" en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MinWin
Need more power? Intel's Core i7-980X Extreme Edition has six cores, base speed of 3.33GHz, processor has 12 threads
www.pcworld.com/article/191244/when_four_cores_arent_enou...
Heading around the corner from under the Sheffield Road bridge in the background, a Sheffield Tram/Train heads along Supertram tacks, preparing to stop at Tinsley Meadowhall on the 2A33 service from Sheffield Cathedral to Parkgate. Class 399 EMU, 399203 will pick up and set down passengers at Tinsley-Meadowhall before changing traction to go onto the National Network line along the Don Valley, through Tinsley, Templeborough, Rotherham Central and on to Parkgate Retail. In the foreground, passing a relic of an old canal-side building, a pumping house, GBRf class 66, 66777, 'Annette', on 0Z23, Thrybergh Junction, not back from Roberts Road, Tinsley Yard(GBRf). This behaviour appears to have been prevalent for the 4 days this week when this route learner ran, it never going back to Roberts Road for the 2nd of the three workings of which the daily runs were 0Z21, Doncaster Roberts Road Shed to Tinsley Yard(GBRf), 0Z22, Tinsley Yard(GBRf) to Doncaster Roberts Road Shed, though it only went as far as a reversal at Thrybergh Junction, then 0Z23, Thrybergh Junction to Tinsley Yard and followed by 0Z24, Tinsley and now back all the way to Roberts Road. The final pair of moves after that, 0Z25, Doncaster Roberts Road Shed to Tinsley Yard(GBRf) and 0Z26, Tinsley Yard(GBRf) to Doncaster Roberts Road Shed, never ran at all. It looks like the driver may well have had route knowledge for the Roberts Road to Thrybergh section and so that part of the diagram wasn't repeated. In this picture, 66777 is about to take the turn out just under the bridge, at Tinsley South Junction, the signal feather being on for the divergance for it to head up-grade directly southwards into the northern end of the Yard. Network Rail appear to be in the vicinity but not sure what for as there were no personnel on the tracks, maybe for route learner support, if required? Birch Tree action required soon it would seem and, when the long rake of containers come along here next week, that may be on the cards, officially or by accident!
Comet has gone into adminstration, and I think all stores across the UK will close.
This is my local Comet in Shirley, Solihull (off Marshall Lake Road).
I've occasionally had things from here.
At one point they had Game at Comet, or the Tech Guys at Comet. Now they have neither!
All Stock Reduced sign.
It's a shame what's happened to Comet, as there is only Currys PC World left around here now (and the PC World opposite Sainsbury's).
There was a Currys unit on the corner of Stratford Road and Marshall Lake Road, but that has now closed since Currys PC World opened up where MFI used to be.
Before Comet was here, it was next door to Homebase (Homebase is double the size now, and is being done up).
On this site used to be a Texas (which got bought by Sainsbury's who built this unit and briefly opened a Homebase on here - before they closed it)
This is PC World which probably had very little left after the looters paid a visit.
Needless to say other stores like Currys and Comets had been pretty much cleared out by looters. Most other stores had windows smashed and other large retail stores such as Argos and Asda Living had their stock taken.
Currys - PC World is now in this unit on High Street. As Black.
Inside is a red car with the registration B14CK.
Also a sign "Resolution Interchange"
This store probably replaces Currys.Digital / Dixons XL that was in the Bullring (now Forever 21).
It's at 79 - 84 High Street, Birmingham.
The Big Top of 1956-61 by Cotton, Ballard & Blow, with a thirteen storey tower behind. Clever planning, with underground servicing from the Inner Ring Road.
Information from Pevsner Architectural Guides by Andy Foster.
Comet has gone into adminstration, and I think all stores across the UK will close.
This is my local Comet in Shirley, Solihull (off Marshall Lake Road).
I've occasionally had things from here.
At one point they had Game at Comet, or the Tech Guys at Comet. Now they have neither!
Comet sign.
It's a shame what's happened to Comet, as there is only Currys PC World left around here now (and the PC World opposite Sainsbury's).
There was a Currys unit on the corner of Stratford Road and Marshall Lake Road, but that has now closed since Currys PC World opened up where MFI used to be.
Before Comet was here, it was next door to Homebase (Homebase is double the size now, and is being done up).
On this site used to be a Texas (which got bought by Sainsbury's who built this unit and briefly opened a Homebase on here - before they closed it)
From the no 98 bus. From Selly Oak towards Edgbaston.
Selly Oak Triangle, heading down Harborne Lane towards the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
Homebase, PC World, Currys and Sainsburys at Battery Retail Park.
Birmingham Medical School seen in the distance behind!
Comet has gone into adminstration, and I think all stores across the UK will close.
This is my local Comet in Shirley, Solihull (off Marshall Lake Road).
I've occasionally had things from here.
At one point they had Game at Comet, or the Tech Guys at Comet. Now they have neither!
It's a shame what's happened to Comet, as there is only Currys PC World left around here now (and the PC World opposite Sainsbury's).
There was a Currys unit on the corner of Stratford Road and Marshall Lake Road, but that has now closed since Currys PC World opened up where MFI used to be.
Before Comet was here, it was next door to Homebase (Homebase is double the size now, and is being done up).
On this site used to be a Texas (which got bought by Sainsbury's who built this unit and briefly opened a Homebase on here - before they closed it)
Photos Taken by Edwin Ladd - Social Frames
The Official Photographer for Headz Up Business - Women In Business Networking which took place at Currys PC World, J9, Wednesbury. This event was supporting the Black Country Business Festival in association with Black Country Chamber of Commerce.
#HeadzUpBusiness
#ThisisTheBlackCountry #BCBF_18
Want Social Frame's at your next event?
Contact: Edwin
Tel: 01902 544646
Mob:07828 475 591
Email: info@mrladd.co.uk
#SocialFrames #LazySocialMedia
Dunelm - Upper Conybere Street, Highgate.
Seen from the no 50 bus waiting at the lights at Highgate Middleway.
Since Currys PC World merged, one of these buildings became vacant. This building used to be PC World.
PC World Hot Pic of the Week, October 21, 2008!!
PC World Article Scroll down to "Hot Pic of the Week".
Kentucky Kingdom rollercoasters at sunrise. Just a crop, no color adjustment. ( Wow! Thank you for all of the wonderful comments!).
The MuseScore Player app for Android on one of the largest Android based tablets available on the market: The 13.3 inch Toshiba AT330.
Thanks to Jos van den Oever for sending in this nice picture.
Vasche in corso Vittorio Emanuele.
Duomo, Milano - Italy.
Walking in the city center.
Duomo, Milan - Italy
PC World's support is shocking from my experience, but this is comedy.
"Are you sure it's plugged in"?
"Erm....."
"How about we format the disk."
Here are stunning pictures recently taken with the NX200 in -35 degree temperatures by a freelance photographer named Alexander Lembke. First, let’s look around his decent photographs and let’s meet him.
*Related Post : www.samsungimaging.net/2012/03/09/arctic-story-with-super...
When Facebook acquired Instagram, it seemed only a matter of time until FB's relentless, market-driven push to squeeze ever more profit out of every bit of online real estate would take its toll. And that's just what happened with the announcement of new TOS and privacy policy for Instagram starting in mid-January. Not surprisingly, many users are outraged by the proposal to make their photos available to advertisers without compensation. Once again, FB proves that "Facebook privacy policy" is an oxymoron.
Facebook may be forced to back down on this, as they have in the face of public outcries in the past. But for users who abandoned Flickr for the more mobile-friendly world of Instagram, this might be an opportune time to come back home to Flickr and its new mobile app.
Flickr for the iPhone (and coming to Android) is everything their original mobile app should have been and wasn't. It's much more socially connected, with a really cool interface, and it has a nice set of filters and basic photo editing capabilities.
This was processed from one of the photos on my Camera Roll, using the Peacock filter.
So, different night, different glass ;-) I'm afriad I bought some more today, but have decided to donate some of the older ones I don't like so much. Have to really, no more room!
Mum slept very well and has been sleepy for most of the day - watching a bit of Stricly Come Dancing now. She got up at 11.15am, and we took it all slowly and she was ready for an afternoon rest at 3.15pm. I went into town, as I had ordered some stockings for Olive and needed to pick them up from M&S. I also got some more calendars for her to give as Christmas presents.
On a more negative note, my computer is still playing up. At least it will start up now, but not open any Word documents. I need to get my documentation from Oxford before I can ring PCWorld for support. Thankfully, I can still do my photos! I'm starting to edit some I took of Dad and his adoptive parents.
www.pcworld.com/article/248298/sopa_and_pipa_just_the_fac...
SOPA and PIPA Facts.
We attended a Jewish National Fund Tree of Life fundraiser at the Arizona Biltmore. JNF CEO Russell Robinson described recent activities in the Negev, Beer Sheva and the reforestation following the horrible fires in the Carmel Mountains and Haifa. In the meantime we keep putting tzedakah into the pushke every Shabbat. Our friends Daniel and Sharona Feller were honored with a Tree of Life Award. L'dor v'dor.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_National_Fund
Since its inception, the JNF has planted over 240 million trees in Israel. It has also built 180 dams and reservoirs, developed 250,000 acres (1,000 km2) of land and established more than 1,000 parks.[4]
Judaica
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영국에서 발행하는 세계 최고 홈엔터테인먼트 전문지「What Hi-Fi! Sound and Vision 」5월호에
LG전자 시네마 3D TV(모델명:47LW650)가 최고 평점인 별 5개를 받고 ‘테스트 승리자(Test Winner)’로 선정된 기사
An elderly couple who fell victim to a distraction burglary have paid their thanks after Greater Manchester Police, Wiltshire Farm Foods and PC World gave them a laptop.
On the 27th of July 2012 at approximately 11.37am, the couple aged 82 and 87-years-old, from Castleton had £800 stolen from them by a burglar posing as a food delivery worker.
Just moments after the couple had had their food delivered by Wiltshire Foods, a man knocked on the door claiming to be from the same company and asked if he could check their shopping as he thought there might be a mistake.
Thinking nothing of it, the couple let the man inside of the property and started to check through their delivery.
The man then said he needed to call the company and went upstairs to get a signal. Moments later he returned downstairs saying that everything was ok and left the property.
The elderly gentleman felt that something wasn’t right and went upstairs. He found his bedside cabinet was open and his wallet containing £800 had gone.
The offender is described as being a man, white, in his 40s, 6ft tall with thinning hair and was wearing dark clothing.
As part of her role as a neighbourhood officer, PC Michelle Farmer paid a visit to the elderly couple and was distraught to hear of the trauma they had experienced.
PC Michelle Farmer said: “This was an absolutely despicable incident. Burglary is awful at the best of times but this appears to be a calculated attack whereby the man has specifically targeted vulnerable residents and took advantage of their trusting nature by stealing from them.
“The couple were saving their money for a laptop and it would have taken them some time to do it again and after hearing of their trauma, I just wanted to help in any way that I could.
“I’m so grateful to Wiltshire Farm Foods and PC World. Thanks to their generosity, we were able to raise enough funds to buy a laptop for the couple which was presented to their daughter.”
Katrina Sartini, daughter of the elderly couple said: “I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone involved. Their kindness has made this terrible situation that little bit easier for my parents.”
To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website.
You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.
Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.
You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.