Author: Carrie

  • Using photo library images without permission? Expect a big bill

    There’s a good piece in today’s Guardian Technology about image libraries’ attempts to enforce copyright, and the scary bills resulting from unauthorised use. If someone’s building a site for you it’s a very good idea to make sure that the contract makes them, not you, liable for any nicked pics – or better still, make…

  • Windows Vista: do a clean install with the upgrade editions

    I was talking to David yesterday about Vista, and he’d mentioned an irritating thing about Windows Vista upgrade discs: you need to run an upgrade install rather than a clean one. However, there’s a workaround. Not the quickest thing to do, but it apparently works.

  • Conversations with eBay customer support (includes swearing)

    Remember my eBay problems, where they spotted and removed fraudulent transactions wrongly pegged to my account and promised to credit the listing fees? They’re still ongoing, and my account is still locked. I’m beginning to wonder if their customer support centre was designed by Kafka: 6 Jan: I send a nice email to eBay support:…

  • Should Apple licence OS X to Dell?

    There was an interesting op-ed by Doug Mohney in The Inquirer yesterday, which suggested that the launch of Vista provides a good opportunity for Apple – if it licences OS X to Dell. However, Vista is being beaten like a dead horse by the mass media – most of them already are enthralled to the…

  • A few thoughts about buying Windows Vista

    I’ve spent a few months living with various builds of Windows Vista, from betas to the final release, but don’t worry – I’m not going to duplicate the millions of column inches that have already been dedicated to it. Instead, here’s a few bits of advice for people who would like to buy it. The…

  • Dreamgirls. Aieeeee!

    I’m on various mailing list free ticket things, so I went to see Dreamgirls at the cinema tonight. Not the smartest thing I’ve ever done. It’s particularly disappointing because the first fifteen minutes are brilliant. The music in the early bit of the film is fantastic and really nails the sheer grunt of R&B, and…

  • X-ray cameras on lampposts. This is a spoof… right?

    X-ray cameras could be installed on lampposts on British streets to spot armed terrorists and other criminals, it has been claimed. According to a leaked memo seen by The Sun, “detection of weapons and explosives will become easier” if the scheme drawn up by Home Office officials is adopted.

  • New Mac ads with Mitchell & Webb

    Apple’s latest “get a Mac” ads feature Mitchell and Webb. Maybe it’s a sign of my increasing fogeyism that I identify more with Mitchell. On a related note, I’ll be on BBC Radio Scotland’s MacAulay and Co this morning (at about 9.45, ish) to settle the PC versus Mac argument through the medium of dance.…

  • Games: too expensive for impulse buys

    Mr Biffo’s column in the new issue of EDGE (it’s not online, sorry) raises the thorny issue of game prices among other things, and he makes some good points – the gaming industry is right that films get income from the cinema before they hit DVD and games obviously don’t, but the industry doesn’t tend…

  • We’re gonna need a bigger boat office

    Ah, the glamour of technology journalism. In the Home Office Manual I wrote for Haynes Publishing, I stressed the importance of having adequate space. As you can see, I practice what I preach. (not pictured: PDA, mobile, cameras, TV aerial for Media Center, headset for Skype, speakers and subwoofer, microwave oven and cuddly toy)