Help wanted: Computers

[Ian]

  A few weeks ago a large pop up, takes up most of the screen, comes up. It's from BT, that's right, BT, and it appears at anything up to a max of every two minutes.  It wants me to use BT fon for wi-fi when I am home or out and about.

Sounds like the wi-fi on your computer is looking for the nearest available wi-fi point and is finding the BT FON spots. If you want to stop it, set the wi-fi to ignore all connections except your usual one.

Hope you read my advice in Stop press about ipads...

[Michael]

  Ian I am amazed. Is that all?  So much for advice from BT and Primus.  Mike

[born2run]

One problem with the new update is that apple have tried to stop 3rd party chargers from charging your i phone.
If you do get the error message when you plug it in, simply turn your phone off and back on with the charger still in and this seems to work.

[Yorkie]

From what one hears, maybe it is time for the Apple to be replaced by a Samsung!   ZXZ

[Ian]

One problem with the new update is that apple have tried to stop 3rd party chargers from charging your i phone. If you do get the error message when you plug it in, simply turn your phone off and back on with the charger still in and this seems to work.

No.  Third party chargers have a history of exploding.

From what one hears, maybe it is time for the Apple to be replaced by a Samsung!

You clearly haven't been on the Samsung Website. Samsung are good at copying and ripping off. Not a lot of good at much else.

[Ian]

The security update for all Mac computers is now available.  Go to Apple menu in top LH side of screen - Software update or start the App store and check for updates. It's a pretty big one - three quarters of a Gigabyte - and millions will be downloading it all day.

[Yorkie]

You clearly haven't been on the Samsung Website. Samsung are good at copying and ripping off. Not a lot of good at much else.

As it happens, I have!   I think it is fair to say that all manufacturers copy each other, in one way or another.   Someone invented the wheel and if it had not been copied there would have been very few chariot races in ancient time.
 

[Ian]

   

You clearly haven't been on the Samsung Website. Samsung are good at copying and ripping off. Not a lot of good at much else.

As it happens, I have

The reason I ask is that the Samsung website is widely described as the worst in the industry - and I agree. Finding anything in their 'support' section is a nightmare.

I think it is fair to say that all manufacturers copy each other, in one way or another.

Well. in the sense that very little is really original in the true sense of the word, there's something in what you say. But plagiarism and stealing are crimes, and although the complete copying of something someone else has thought of might not seem to be wrong, it ultimately costs jobs and destroys companies. Dave wouldn't be very happy if someone were to publish a book using his photos. That's what Samsung has been doing, as court after court rules in Apple's favour.

[DaveR]

Dave wouldn't be very happy if someone were to publish a book using his photos.

Indeed not! Especially as compilation of my own book 'Abandoned, Forgotten & Overlooked' is well underway... 

[Yorkie]

There is a difference twixt copyright and innovation.  It is said that the movies was "invented" simultaneously by different people in different countries, and development in the modern World is moving so fast, that similar  technological advances are being made all the time.  Just depends on who gets the World Wide Patent first.  Even then a subtle change to one small detail can negate any legal claim.
 ZXZ

[Ian]

...and thinking of the wheel, BTW, which came first: the wheel or the roadway?

[Merddin Emrys]

I have just updated my iPad, everything looks different now! Seems to still work well though, hope I've done the right thing!

[born2run]

One problem with the new update is that apple have tried to stop 3rd party chargers from charging your i phone. If you do get the error message when you plug it in, simply turn your phone off and back on with the charger still in and this seems to work.

No.  Third party chargers have a history of exploding.

What a sweeping generalisation! Some third party chargers have exploded - certainley not the majority.
I have my third party charger on a keyring - it means I can always sync/charge my phone no matter where I am - Apple don't do a charger like this and the third party one I have got is yet to detonate  ££$

[Ian]

From the Star Tribune February:

"TECH Only 12 iPod chargers left! After that you’ll have to look elsewhere for things that pop, sizzle, and burst into flames. A sample review:

    This is a cheap imitation copy received just two days after the airing of a BBC documentary following trading standards where people's houses were nearly burned down by such items. This is not something that is a rip off and makes no effort to disguise the fact, this is a completely fake product with the exact same design and copied part numbers, CE logo etc from the genuine article."

There are numerous other reviews about cheap chargers for iPod, iPads and Laptops. And it isn't a generalisation to say "Third party chargers have a history of exploding."  It is fact.  Your chargers might not have exploded - yet. If you want to take the chance, that's up to you. But there's a reason electrical standards exist.

[born2run]

From the Star Tribune February:

"TECH Only 12 iPod chargers left! After that you’ll have to look elsewhere for things that pop, sizzle, and burst into flames. A sample review:

    This is a cheap imitation copy received just two days after the airing of a BBC documentary following trading standards where people's houses were nearly burned down by such items. This is not something that is a rip off and makes no effort to disguise the fact, this is a completely fake product with the exact same design and copied part numbers, CE logo etc from the genuine article."

There are numerous other reviews about cheap chargers for iPod, iPads and Laptops. And it isn't a generalisation to say "Third party chargers have a history of exploding."  It is fact.  Your chargers might not have exploded - yet. If you want to take the chance, that's up to you. But there's a reason electrical standards exist.

Cars also have a 'history' of exploding. Should nobody drive them either?