Activity for July 24

Review - Codec
8.3e (Sep 11, 2009)

404 errors all around. Unable to download the codec pack. In the past, however, the codec packs were great.
Review - ClamAV
0.93-1 (Apr 21, 2008)

16mb for a program that doesn't even run resident? Are you serious??

I understand people don't want to have non-resident programs "b/c they slow the system down", but if you're computer is connected to the Internet you NEED a resident scanner. If you don't have one, it's like asking for hackers and viruses to infect you anywhere.

It's people like you that make viruses viable and feasible. Get out of the 1990's and get a real virus scanner.

Avast antivirus is FREE for home use, so is AVG. I use Avast b/c it seems to run a bit smoother, but that's my opinion. Get something worth using, people, or you're asking for trouble. Lose your data once to a virus, or worse yet hose your entire PC, and you'll learn the importance of having a nice antivirus that RUNS RESIDENT.

I, personally, don't have any virus codes running amok around my computer, so I can't necessarily test the claims that it "doesn't detect" as well as others, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit.
Review - Mozilla Sunbird for Windows
0.8 RC2 (Apr 3, 2008)

Sync to palm yet? Still one star.

Do they have a three year old coding this program? I know TV shows use twins b/c of child labor laws. I'm just wondering b/c this thing has been at more or less a standstill compared to other Mozilla projects.
Review - SUMo
1.2.0.28 Beta (Dec 13, 2007)

First off it gets things from MS that are updated via windows update. I'm sure if you get updates from this software, you'll invariably screw windows update something fierce.

Also, the program reports updates for programs that have not been updated.

For some VERY big named programs (I can't even think of the ONE program I use that obviously many use), it gives you the download link. Everything else it directs you to a google search to find it yourself???!!! How is this helpful what-so-ever? If it says that it found an update, take me to the page you think you got the information from ... not an obscure update page from google.

Unfortunately it is true what the others say. I believe it's called SUMO in Linux where it goes out and gets the updates for you and you can have one click access to the updates, but this program just takes so many personal resources (ie my time) that it's not worth messing around with. ... A quote from someone else, "Great idea, horribly implemented". True, true, true.
Review - Protected Music Converter
0.99.28b (Nov 20, 2007)

Works. Wish it didn't cost $$. I wouldn't put my CC on a site like this, though.

For the one that said, "Just write it to CD!", if I downloaded a whole CD/have a whole bunch of songs, NO THANKS. YOU have fun renaming all those freaking song files *screams and rips out his hair thinking of it*

Like I said, No thanks. Great program for what it does, but it seems kind of stupid to pay for a program that should be free from Apple / MPAA anyways.
Comment - Americans buy nearly 3 out of every 10 iPhones
0.99.28b (Jul 24, 2011 - 8:36 AM)

Ah - you say that it's not geared for professional use, but I beg to differ. My hospital has been using iPads for about a year now, and the numbers of them are increasing. They make looking up patients labs on the fly, in the elevators, etc. really easy. Plus it makes it so you're not necessarily using up a computer when you don't need to be. They've been welcomed with open arms in many professional areas such as health care. Just because *you* don't necessarily use it, doesn't mean others don't / can't. Also, not everybody has a requirement of Flash to be "useful". If your job is done solely in Flash or a large portion of it is, then of course you're not going to get much use out of a Flash-less device!
Comment - You can't trust consumers to protect themselves
0.99.28b (Jun 23, 2011 - 8:33 PM)

I will tell you my issue with these "secure" CC #'s. I have Discover and my house was broken into and XBox 360 was stolen. I immediately called Discover to have the secure CC disabled, they cancelled my card and apparently DIDN'T cancel my secure number. Four to six months later they called and told me I had fraudulent activity on my account. I then had to produce the police report # and three weeks of hassle to get things rectified in their eyes. The end result was they reversed all charges, however the entire situation was ridiculous and MUCH more difficult in my eyes.

A quote from the "loss prevention expert" was, "Well HOW could you have FRAUD on your account with a SECURE CC #?!" He couldn't get it through his thick skull that it *was* a secured number that I *did* put in there, but that didn't prevent a thief from breaking in, stealing my XBox and charging $300-400 worth of online games. He actually accused me of making a false claim at one point.

Needless to say, Discover came *this* close to losing my business, however I firmly believe that if I had used my REAL CC # then I would have NEVER received the third degree that I got from them. THIS is the reason people don't use secure CC #'s. It's not worth it. Just keep a list of items that are monthly debits, and like others have said, "I have 0 liability, so who the hell cares?"
Comment - AT&T to launch LTE network this summer
0.99.28b (May 27, 2011 - 8:15 AM)

FWIW ATT's acquisition of T-Mobile is #1- not 100% approved from the last time I checked from the FCC.

Please also note that T-Mobile and ATT antenna are NOT compatible as they both run on independent frequencies, making all that new shiny network they just bought up immediately obsolete. From what ATT's said in the past, THEIR form of "4G" will *not* be WiMAX, but actually LTE instead. T-Mobile users are, in essence, never going to have a 'better' network until ATT either physically makes them buy new phones, gives them new ones "for free" but changes their data plans when they upgrade (or equally shady shi^ that cell carriers do now days), or starts systematically shutting down the antenna that carry the current WiMAX version of T-Mobile's 4G.

I can say for certain that if I heard ATT bought my cell company, it'd ring the death knell on my contract as soon as the acquisition went through.

I did think it's funny that they used the 70 million customers will have 4G by the end of the year, because with a whole 15 markets, the 70 million customers won't be ATT-only, but must include the big V as well as T-mobile and Sprint etc.
Comment - AT&T acquisition of T-Mobile USA will cause 'Ma Bell duopoly', says Sprint
0.99.28b (Mar 28, 2011 - 8:25 PM)

Wow ... You for real need a chill pill.

Of these "400 carriers", how many are similar to carriers such as Boost mobile and Virgin mobile (Which are actually a baby companies of Sprint/Nextel) or Cricket (Which is actually a baby company of Leap Wireless)? There are many others, but if the money is going towards one parent company, does it really count as "competition"? Not particularly. Also, companies that are LITERALLY centered in one town or one county in a state (there are a few around here), can you *really* count these as competition for multi-billion dollar companies such as ATT and Verizon? Hardly.

The reason I *don't* want this merger to go through isn't because I want AT&T to flounder. I *DON'T* want this to happen. I *WANT* competition for big-V, because at this point Verizon NEEDS this competition, and by merging all of these smaller companies together into one huge ATT or Verizon isn't the brightest idea in the world IMO.

If you were to take for instance the ridiculous amount of money wasted in texting. It costs me $20/month for unlimited texting (which Verizon doesn't even offer anymore ... now it's $20/mon for 5000 msgs). I also pay $30/mon for data. In this day and age, why aren't these things merged? I mean it *is* all data, after all.

The "smaller" companies such as Spring/Nextel are starting to bundle these prices into something a bit more palatable than Verizon prices. For the same amount I pay currently to V, I could get unlimited ANYTHING to ANYBODY at ANYTIME. Now if you're going to say "Why don't you go with Sprint/Nextel, then?" The problem is that Sprint/Nextel works well in my current location, however in my home town the service is barely usable in the north of the town, and absolutely useless in the south. It's an infrastructure problem, obviously. For people that live in this area and don't travel much, *MY* problem is a moot point. They've got the ability to use however much data they want, minutes they want, and text anybody and their mother all month long and it's not a problem. For me, however, if it's unusable in areas (ie- I get charged roaming), it's useless.

... Now why hasn't Verizon gone to this price plan thus far? Because they don't see that they need to compete with them as they aren't "big" enough to worry about. If anybody would merge I wish it would be some more of the smaller companies such as Sprint/Nextel and T-Mobile so that they would finally be considered a 'major player' for the companies such as ATT and V. This would force these companies to realize, "Hey people *do* want lower prices for these services." and they would be able to rethink their pricing schemes. As of this point, though, it's an impossibility.
Comment - AT&T acquisition of T-Mobile USA will cause 'Ma Bell duopoly', says Sprint
0.99.28b (Mar 28, 2011 - 5:14 PM)

"AT&T acquisition of T-Mobile USA will cause 'Ma Bell duopoly', says Sprint"

Yah think? I think this is why nearly nobody thinks this is a good idea. I do have to say, however, that I thought Verizon's acquisition of Alltel was a horrible idea for the FCC to give the go-ahead, too, so ... Yes it gave V a huge increase in customers, and it gave *me* a huge increase in Mobile-2-Mobile subscribers, however I could see in the big picture this could be a very bad thing.