Brexit, for once some facts.

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,216
30,616
Earl_of_Essex, Tudor England, United Kingdom, less than a minute ago

I don't regret voting for a Conservative government, I just regret not getting one."
He's right of course. As I posted in late 2019. we've got a Corbyn government, faithfully following Corbyn's policies from nationalising Northern Rail through to large scale borrowing by former chancellor Sajid Javid to rebuild the economy, even before Covid and that borrowing.

Even the dithering is familiar!
.
 
Last edited:

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
Murdochs Radio station is so dangerous even YouTube has suspended it, here is why

There should be a law that makes them change change the name to a more accurate one Talk Radio should be renamed
Talkcrap Radio better still revoke their broadcast licence
Elsewhere I see people saying the are incensed at YouTube's action - free speech, don't ya know!
 
  • :D
Reactions: oldgroaner

richtea99

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 8, 2020
441
285
You're just the latest of a number who have replied on this while not knowing the circumstances.
....
Do I detect some frustration? ;)

Breaking it down a little, the problems seem to be:
1. crap signal due to mast objectors
2. crap Motorola phone design
3. crap smartmeters
4. crap Dr. IQ app

1 is not the fault of mobile operators. Look to idiot Britain.

2 is definitely poor, I agree. I recommend Apple both for the quality of their physical and their straightforward UI design. They purposefully limit themselves to things that 'just work', which you hanker after. They also have the best radio alogrithms - if there's a signal, an iPhone will find it. Oh, and switching an Apple off is easy - long press for 5s and then just swipe once for off - no other options.

3. If point 1 is fixed, this is fixed. Smartmeters could also easily support WiFi, but that would mean setting up each one to hook up to a local (and therefore unique) WiFi point. Not going to happen, really. The only solution there might be to have them search for BT FON.

4 is specifically the fault of that developer (and your local practice for forcing it on you). I'd agree that for such a vital service, there should be a web interface too. Tell them!
 
  • Informative
Reactions: Nev and oldgroaner

vfr400

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 12, 2011
9,822
3,993
Basildon
Look on the bright side. You can sue Paypal now as they've been forced to set up a UK reguistered office to comply with FSA rules. Before, they hid in Luxembourg or somewhere like that.

Can I sue them retrospectively for the fake watch I got last year, which they asked me to send back to China at huge expense, saying they would cover the cost, then they wouldn't refund me for the item nor the shipping because I didn't give them the tracking number, which I gave them in theire returns system, and separately to their CS by phone three times and by email twice? In one phone call, the guy even checked it while on the phone and said that it was sorted, then the next day, I got an email saying that I had lost my case.
 
Last edited:

vfr400

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 12, 2011
9,822
3,993
Basildon
You're just the latest of a number who have replied on this while not knowing the circumstances.

I challenge that 95% have coverage, 95% of cells might have in parts but many within some of those cells individually don't have coverage, as in my case due to the contours of the steep sided valley I'm in. Here many of us are masked from the signal masts on the North Downs high points and also two local repeaters, therefore cells shown as having coverage don't have 100% coverage, so its 95% of far less than 95%.

And it's not just this older man suffering this, I'm in flats predominantly occupied by younger people who live on their latest smartphones when they can. But for many of them that means going outside and walking to the top of the hill to gain enough of a signal for calls and I see regular visitors who approach using a mobile waiting a short way off to complete their call or text before entering the area.

The networks are aware and many years ago wanted to provide an additional mast. But one idiot resident launched a campaign against it on the grounds of radiation (!) addling children's brains. He manage to raise such a fuss that the company withdrew, cancelling the plans. So we've been living in the mobile phone past for many years.



I have had a modern smartphone for a few months now, a Motorola G6 given by a spendthrift younger friend who bought it, changed his mind immediately and bought something more expensive. So with no signal I tried the WiFi route but without success since connection is rarely possible and suffering frequent dropouts. My router is of preference hardwired to computer, Smart TV, FreeviewPlay recorder etc with its wireless facility normally turned off, but I turned it on and set it up but still had no success with WiFi. To underline all this, most of our SmartMeters don't work either since they are mobile network dependent.

Because I'm old many assume I'm technophobic, but nothing could be further from the truth. I've been computing for decades, was for two years a leading advisor on Microsoft operating systems on the PC Advisor website, use SatNav, bought a mobile nearly two decades ago for emergency use when out, the heating and lighting in my home and even garage are all remote controlled and I drive a fully electric car.

I love new technology that works and set everything up myself, but hate that which doesn't work properly, and smartphones definitely fall under category. The Motorola drives me bonkers due to its failure to respond reliably to commands. Just one example, because without a signal it would rarely be any use I wouldnt want be charging it every two or three days so want to power it right down. To do that means pressing the on/of button and selecting power off from the three choices that are supposed to be given on screen.

But almost all the time that doesn't happen, instead I'm asked "Do I want to restart" but with no option to choose no and no swipe command to reach that option! That is stupid design. So I have to press the off button and try again. After anything from five to nine attempts I finally do get the Power Off choice, but more often that not choosing that returns me to "Do I want to restart", starting the whole useless cycle again!

At that point if the designer responsibly was in front of me they would need an ambulance, such is my built up exasperation. What else in this world takes so much time and effort just to turn it off? Not that other touch screen commands on Smartphones are much more successful. All around I see owners swiping repeatedly in their efforts to get what they want or what they want happen. The same when they want to show me something on their phone. Lose it and I have to watch them furiously swiping for ages to try to get it back.

They mostly seem happy with this, but I'm not. I'm only interested in technology that works first time, every time, and in this respect smartphones and many other touch screen items are a failed technology in many respects, despite their immense popularity and usefulness for some.

If I had many genuine uses for a smartphone I might be inclined to pursue other options or stand outside in the cold and wet at the top of the hill, but for one app to contact a doctor with a stupidly designed App, no way.

You see, despite your protest it is stupidly designed. That doctor had a very good website which I always used for prescription repeats and other contact. But their "Doctor IQ" app propaganda has been superimposed across the home page, blocking all access buttons. To make matters worse at the end of the app description urging me to download it is the sentence, "for those who cannot use the app, all the other ways to contact can still be used", when very clearly that is untrue and just another bit of smartphone idiocy.
.
Have you not thought about getting a decent phone? What you're saying about wifi dropouts doesn't make sense. It should be using your home wifi. How can that drop out? You can make free calls anywhere in the world using any of the popular VOIP services, like What'sapp, Skype, Facebook, etc.
 

Wicky

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 12, 2014
2,823
4,011
Colchester, Essex
www.jhepburn.co.uk
The issue was known and being discussed in May 2019. This article from September 2019 discusses the issues:

The world's leading vial manufacturers are, perhaps unsurprisingly, optimistic. Their joint statement from June was upbeat, if short on details. "We will do everything to support any upcoming COVID-19 vaccine campaigns," said Dietmar Siemssen, chief executive of Gerresheimer AG. Schott chairman Dr Frank Heinricht promised his company would "do our utmost to provide the required containers."
https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-vaccine-experts-warn-glass-vials-planes-storage-shortage-2020-9?r=US&IR=T
Down in one...

 

Jesus H Christ

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 31, 2020
1,363
2,206
Look on the bright side. You can sue Paypal now as they've been forced to set up a UK reguistered office to comply with FSA rules. Before, they hid in Luxembourg or somewhere like that.

Can I sue them retrospectively for the fake watch I got last year, which they asked me to send back to China at huge expense, saying they would cover the cost, then they wouldn't refund me for the item nor the shipping because I didn't give them the tracking number, which I gave them in theire returns system, and separately to their CS by phone three times and by email twice? In one phone call, the guy even checked it while on the phone and said that it was sorted, then the next day, I got an email saying that I had lost my case.
They’re wankers. Don’t use PayPal, Ebay or Amazon. The government should tax them at the rate of 30% for all transactions & sales.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: oldgroaner

Wicky

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 12, 2014
2,823
4,011
Colchester, Essex
www.jhepburn.co.uk
China is refusing to allow WHO inspectors to investigate the source of the Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan.

The filthy little yellow bastards started this Coronavirus pandemic. The rest of the world should start to apply sanctions and begin moving trade out of China. Inside 20 years the Chinese could be driven back to grazing on rice and mud.
Maybe they don't want the British virus ;) - Poor Moohen Ali on the England cricket tour of Sri Lanka has ended up in the naughty hotel room after bringing it with him. :eek:

 
  • :D
Reactions: oyster and Nev

richtea99

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 8, 2020
441
285

richtea99

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 8, 2020
441
285

Unfortunately Wiki is a lost cause now. It completely misrepresents the truth now on anybody political. I'd advise you not to use it as a source of information if you want the truth.
There is definitely much sense in checking more than just one source, but I generally find Wikipedia isn't too bad - misguided very occasionally, rather than actively misleading.

You shouldn't believe everything you read, as you've just said about Wikiepdia, so where do you go to validate websites such as Project Veritas?
 
  • Informative
Reactions: oldgroaner

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,216
30,616
Breaking it down a little, the problems seem to be:
1. crap signal due to mast objectors
2. crap Motorola phone design
3. crap smartmeters
4. crap Dr. IQ app
Thanks for your detailed reply, I've responded to those below.

1 is not the fault of mobile operators. Look to idiot Britain.
Agreed, but knowing the cause doesn't make it any less an impediment.

2 is definitely poor, I agree. I recommend Apple both for the quality of their physical and their straightforward UI design. They purposefully limit themselves to things that 'just work', which you hanker after. They also have the best radio alogrithms - if there's a signal, an iPhone will find it. Oh, and switching an Apple off is easy - long press for 5s and then just swipe once for off - no other options.
Trouble is I don't want to pay Apple prices for something I'll hardly ever use. Being retired and rarely travelling now I really genuinely have virtually no uses for a smartphone, preferring to use my computers for their many online advantages including the large screen, and my cameras for my specialised photography. As for phone calls, trouble with living a very long time is contacts dying all the time and by the start of 2020 I was down to 3 people I phone very occasionally. But two have died, my brother in May and my longest term friend on 8th December, so I now barely need a phone and anyway have my DECT phone. Any smartphone is just the hassle of keeping it in action with occasional charges and making a phone call every couple of months to keep the PAYG SIM card from being cancelled as I know with the one I do have. I'd be better off binning it and sticking with my old simple mobile which works much more reliably.

3. If point 1 is fixed, this is fixed. Smartmeters could also easily support WiFi, but that would mean setting up each one to hook up to a local (and therefore unique) WiFi point. Not going to happen, really. The only solution there might be to have them search for BT FON.
The energy companies with expressed confidence tried for over three months with all our smart meters, but in the end confessed in letters that they had failed. They included the energy giant EDF, hardly an inexperienced company. Again, knowing the cause doesn't remove the annoyance with this enforced silly program which has cost us all over £18 billions adding to our electricity bills.

4 is specifically the fault of that developer (and your local practice for forcing it on you). I'd agree that for such a vital service, there should be a web interface too. Tell them!
We have all told them and even their own receptionists side with us and openly defy the practice policy by encouraging us to phone instead. But we are totally ignored with not even the courtesy of acknowledgements to emails.

It's an example of how smartphones and their whole subject seem to have a peculiar psychological effect on many people. We all know of the many who individually become obsessively addicted to one and are using it continuously from dawn to bedtime, but this seems to extend to various organisations wanting to use the networks. There's the councils insisting on parking meter access only via an app, excluding many from parking. There's the electric car charging point companies insisting likewise with apps that often prove so unreliable that people are stranded. The government felt compelled to threaten them in the end with law if they didn't provide the obvious commonsense of reliable contactless card access to charge and pay. Yet so obsessed they are with wanting us to use smartphones that after complying with that they now charge much more for the electricity if the App isn't used. And of course there's the idiocy of those like my medical practice who cut off website access to try to enforce app use.

There's many more examples and I could go on for ever, but hopefully my point is understood.
.
 
Last edited:
  • Informative
Reactions: oldgroaner

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
There is definitely much sense in checking more than just one source, but I generally find Wikipedia isn't too bad - misguided very occasionally, rather than actively misleading.

You shouldn't believe everything you read, as you've just said about Wikiepdia, so where do you go to validate websites such as Project Veritas?
We all know of the many who individually become obsessively addicted to one and are using it continuously from dawn to bedtime, but this seems to extend to various organisations wanting to use the networks. There's the councils insisting on parking meter access only via an app, excluding many from parking. There's the electric car charging point companies insisting likewise with apps that often prove so unreliable that people are stranded. The government felt compelled to threaten them in the end with law if they didn't provide the obvious commonsense of reliable contactless card access to charge and pay. Yet so obsessed they are with wanting us to use smartphones that after complying with that they now charge much more for the electricity if the App isn't used. And of course there's the idiocy of those like my medical practice who cut off website access to try to enforce app use.
I very much agree that no-one should be disadvantaged by not having a suitable, charged, mobile on a working network, so far as possible.

In particular, I hate using my mobile to pay for things like parking. The complexity of the few I have used is reason enough. But for many areas, the idea that a flat phone battery can have such a profound effect on people is wholly ridiculous, unfair, and discriminatory. (I have recent changed phone - the last one would sometimes require charging three or more times a day by its demise.) Things like air and train travel.
 

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales

richtea99

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 8, 2020
441
285
There's many more examples and I could go on for ever, but hopefully my point is understood.
It is, and well argued.
> Yet so obsessed they are with wanting us to use smartphones that after complying with that they now charge much more for the electricity if the App isn't used.
They want your data - as simple as that - to use to their advantage, not yours. And as an app developer that's the part I dislike, and it worries me in terms of freedom. The Wild West of the internet is rapidly becoming a Corral instead. But that's a dicussion for another forum.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,216
30,616
Have you not thought about getting a decent phone? What you're saying about wifi dropouts doesn't make sense. It should be using your home wifi. How can that drop out? You can make free calls anywhere in the world using any of the popular VOIP services, like What'sapp, Skype, Facebook, etc.
Perhaps see my reply to Richtea99 on this post which explains much.

I'm well aware of VOIP but don't use social media, it gets bad enough in here without that supplementation. Skype demands all parties use it and my contacts, now down to one only, don't.

I agree my home WiFi problem is baffling, you tell me why the drop outs. It may be that my router is at fault since I've never used it's wireless facility, having it switched off previously and my internal network hard wired for security. Or it may be that the Motorola only wants to connect to an unspecified BT WiFi but then mostly doesn't, telling me there is no internet connection.

If I had some genuinely useful applications for a smartphone I would pursue the use of one until eventually successful to some degree, but I don't have any uses. Therefore I'm not going to spend large sums on a smartphone I won't be using and which will only have nuisance value. Equally I'm not inclined to spend a lot of time on accessing something of no use to me.
.
 
Last edited:

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
I see Sainsbury is stocking Spar products in Northern Ireland. Because of supply chain issues.

Good brexit result - Dutch chain supplies British supermarket.
 
  • :D
Reactions: Nev and flecc

Advertisers