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The future of Windows business desktops
by Petros 22 Aug '13

22 Aug '13

Hi all, my company still relies on a few Windows applications and runs Windows desktops. The reliance is decreasing however, there are some obstacles if we migrate to "something else" (Linux most likely, maybe some tablets for a few roles) Anyway, I have problems to imagine how other, especially bigger companies dealing with Windows networks see the future. We are still buying Windows 7 licenses, we do not consider Windows 8 as a good option. I have problems to understand how Microsoft itself sees their future in big company environments where people use MS Office, Word, Excel, Outlook.. etc. There are questions about "going touchscreen" or not, there are questions about security issues (apps, even the installation needs a live.com account etc. - that all makes it quite difficult to establish a trusted network sometimes even legally required, e.g. in banks) etc. These questions are "brewing" for a while and I haven't found good answers in my little bubble yet.. Do you see any "movements" in these Windows environments, have own strategies etc? I am really curious. At this stage I consider moving away from Windows (middle term, will take a while and cannot start immediately), establishing a Linux desktop environment with Web applications and LibreOffice and Thunderbird. I have problems to imagine what to do with our engineers using AutoCAD, and there is a bit of software used by our Chief Accountant. Some kind of virtualisation or remote access to windows server with remote services enabled may be in the mix but especially AutoCAD cannot be run that way. For a while we can stall at Windows 7 and just wait.. but in the long run we have to make a move somehow. As said, any thoughts and observations welcome. Thanks Peter

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laptop bags etc
by Russell Coker 22 Aug '13

22 Aug '13

I've been sorting out junk in my house and have a number of laptop bags and conference bags (mostly LCA) that I don't need. Does anyone think it would be useful to bring them to a LUV meeting to offer them to any interested people? Or should I just take them to an opp-shop? -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/

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Where to raise OsmAnd question?
by Carl Turney 22 Aug '13

22 Aug '13

Hi All, First of all, thanks for the helpful responses to my last two posts. A list etiquette question... As a mere (l)user, I'm having trouble getting OsmAnd+ to recognise the Australasian map that I've just downloaded from their website, on my Android smartphone. Should I post my question about this topic ... here, directly to list members who've mentioned OsmAnd in the past, to the AAUG, or to the GTUG? Thanks, Carl

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wireless-IP-CCTV ?
by Rohan McLeod 17 Aug '13

17 Aug '13

Assembled cogniscenti; following a couple of break-in attempts on my van; I thought I might try setting up a remote wireless IP camera; I came across the following device on GumTree "Tenvis Motion Detection Tilt Zoom Wireless Wifi IP Security Cam ($84.95)" seems to "* Support wifi: 802.11b/g wireless networking"; with "* Network connection methods - TCP/IP, HTTP, ICMP, DHCP, FTP, SMTP, PPPOE"; What I can't seem to sort out is whether it is likely to be able to reach me up-stairs , 60 m away on the other side of the block of flats ? Comments, suggestions, flames ? thanks Rohan McLeod

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Smart phones on wifi and GPS only?
by Carl Turney 17 Aug '13

17 Aug '13

Hi All, Three dumb questions, possibly: I've never had a smart phone, and probably need to get one soon. For the time being, I'd rather use it just as a GPS... and as an Android learning tool, when near our home wifi. (Moving up to a voice/data plan some months from now.) So: 1) Could I run it as a GPS to help me navigate on the road, even though it would not have a SIM card in it? (i.e. Load some detailed Melbourne roadmap and a GPS application into it at home via the wifi, and then rely solely on the GPS to help me navigate from spot to spot as I do my part-time casual driving job.) 2) Do (m)any Android smartphones have removable and readily available/affordable after-market batteries? (I tend to hang on to things for a long time, and it's always the batteries that die [over time] on such devices for me. Manufacturer's replacement batteries tend to cost as much as an entire device.) 3) Can one reasonably connect a REAL keyboard to a smartphone? (I hate the absurd tiny touch-keyboards on small devices, and the quasi-Morse Code of using a phone number pad.) Thanks a lot. Carl Turney Bayswater p.s. Anyone living/working east of the CBD got a second-hand Android smart-phone with GPS to sell? Contact me directly, off list. Ta.

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Re: [luv-talk] The future of Windows business desktops
by Petros 14 Aug '13

14 Aug '13

Quoting "Carl Turney" <carl(a)boms.com.au> > Are you talking about full-size, vertically-oriented, desktop monitors, > to be used by people on computers a lot? Yes. I cannot imagine how people would use it, e.g. if they are using Excel most of the day. > > (Back before Windows 3.1) Hewlett-Packard released a DOS-based > touchscreen system -- after great expense and much hoopla. (Light > sensors along top and right edges. LEDs along bottom and left edges.) > > Immediately, the "real world" user base developed severe "gorilla arm", > and the entire phenomenon was quietly strangled in a dark alley. Don't > know how many scapegoats lost their jobs at HP as a result. > > en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorilla_arm#.22Gorilla_arm.22 Interesting, I did not consider that. How does it work out on laptops with touch screen (or the ones where the screen is a tablet you can detach from it)? Given that we have 50+ Windows desktops, I try to understand how Microsoft sees their future here, and what their business customers think. The whole Windows 8 strategy is just confusing.. In the past people (including managers) wanted to have Windows at work because they had it a home. I guess that's what MS has in their mind. I cannot see this working out in a world where more and more people using tablets, which are not really great devices for, let's say, a person working with Excel or Word most of the day. I am pretty sure MS does not want to lose this market but Windows 8 does not seem to be the answer. And I don't have a clear picture how a company network (and ours) could look like in a few years time. I also wonder what bigger companies, banks, big retail companies (the Coles head quarters in Toronga must have close to 10 000 Windows PCs) do about it (to foresee future developments). AutoCAD, e.g. is a market leader in CAD software for 20 years or so. What will they do if the "Windows PC" disappears? How could the engineer's workplace look like then? A snapshot of the diminishing importance of the desktop market: http://venturebeat.com/2012/10/25/mac-desktops-are-now-a-very-lonely-3-of-a… "Mac desktops are now a very lonely 3% of Apple sales" "the once lust-worthy Mac Pro has not really been significantly updated for a whopping 821 days." There is probably even the question whether we return to times as 1986, when the PC (I have a bill for it) was costing $7000 - and was specialised "business equipment"? Regards Peter

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Kogan legal disputes
by Russell Coker 13 Aug '13

13 Aug '13

I just received the below message from Kogan. I don't think I'm at any great risk of losing my phone access. Presumably both Kogan and Aldi hired some good lawyers before starting their mobile offerings and ispONE also hired good lawyers before signing contracts with them. Probably the worst case scenario would be that some greater restrictions are placed on the definition of "unlimited" in terms of phone calls and they reduce the 1G in a day limit. On Tue, 13 Aug 2013, "Kogan Mobile" <koganmobile(a)kogan.com.au> wrote: > Dear , > > Thank you for joining us on the journey to make mobile access in Australia > more affordable. We entered the mobile industry in order to increase > competition and give consumers more choice and better value. Since > starting Kogan Mobile, we are proud to now serve more than 115,000 active > customers. > > We have fought hard for the Australian consumer – there have been endless > negotiations and even the occasional visit to the Supreme Court > [http://www.cnet.com.au/kogan-mobile-claims-win-against-ispone-339344137.h > tm] to protect our customers' interests and ensure that our customers > continue to get the best deals. However, there are forces at play in the > Australian telecommunications market that are beyond our control, very > powerful and impossible to ignore. > > You may be aware that we procure our mobile services for part of the > Telstra 3G Network through Telstra's sole and approved distributor – > ispONE. ispONE is the only company in Australia that wholesales Telstra's > Prepaid 3G Services and is essential to the operation of our and any > business through that network. Telstra's Prepaid 3G Network is not > integrated with any other wholesale platform, other than ispONE's. > > Since day one, Kogan Mobile has complied with all its obligations to its > service providers. We keep our agreements. We have paid every invoice on > time or early. Like our customers, we expect our service providers to > deliver what they have been paid for. > > Kogan Mobile has recently become aware of the following: > > Telstra is in dispute with ispONE, Telstra's sole distributor of prepaid 3G > mobile services and Kogan Mobile's essential supplier Telstra has taken > steps to terminate its contract with ispONE. If Telstra terminates its > contract with ispONE this is very likely to impact Kogan Mobile's own > customers' services (through no fault of Kogan Mobile) ispONE has > commenced proceedings against Telstra in the Federal Court and obtained a > short term injunction to restrain Telstra from terminating its contract > with ispONE The Federal Court ordered Telstra and ispONE to attend > mediation. Although not party to the Federal Court proceedings, Kogan > Mobile is permitted to (and will) attend the mediation > > Kogan Mobile is doing everything it can to protect its customers. > > We are monitoring these developments closely, as they may affect the > continuity of our prepaid mobile services. We will provide a further > update when further information comes to hand. > > You may also wish to contact Telstra directly and ask Telstra what it > intends to do in respect of its wholesale prepaid mobile business and > customers' mobile telephone services if it achieves its goal of > terminating its contractual arrangements with ispONE. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/

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Freudian slip? ...
by Dan062 08 Aug '13

08 Aug '13

I thought that was funny! Scam email received early as is: ** highlight below by me ** ------------------------------------------------- From: support-westpac(a)email.security.90.com.au To: dan062(a)yahoo.com.au Subject: [Bulk] Security Threat Alert Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2013 21:45:00 -0400 (EDT) Westpac Australia You are receiving this e-mail because of our latest update on Thursday, 8 August 2013,. ** Due to our latest fraud attempts **, we updated our security system to a more complex system that will improve security for all Westpac accounts. We are currently performing a full customer database backup, to improve our security measures and reduce the number of inactive accounts. Please follow the link provided in this message and confirm your personal information. Confirm your information now>> Westpac Banking Corporation ABN 33 007 457 141 AFS Licence No. 233714. This e-mail was officialy sent by Westpac Private Bank Executive Team, and your reference number is (4452-3901) --

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Curtains came down on Sunday on the 163-year-old telegram service in India
by Petros 05 Aug '13

05 Aug '13

Pure nostalgia: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-14/india/40569461_1_tel… "Though started as a Morse code service, the telegram service evolved gradually with the use of computers. At the time of its death, it had become a web based telegraph mailing service (WBTMS) which used emails to instantly convey message to the other end." Regards Peter

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"My first smartphone" questions
by Carl Turney 04 Aug '13

04 Aug '13

Hi All, = = = = = BACKGROUND INFO (Questions in the section below.) Just bought my first smartphone. It's a Samsung Galaxy Y Duos, with Android 2.3.6, a 32GB memcard, and WiFi as its only current connection to the net. (1) Tried to get an app via Google Play / Android Market. But there's a damned "pop over" (?) window that says "Apps - My Apps - Shop - Games - Editors Choice". It covers the entire screen of my phone, and I can't continue with the underlying web page to purchase and install the app. So, I went to Amazon AppStore. Better. I was forced to install AmazonApps before getting any real apps, though. But to install AmazonApps, I'm forced to let it: Have full internet access, read my sensitive log data, manage my account list, modify my SD card's contents, read my phone status, prevent my phone from sleeping, view my network state, and discover any of my known accounts! What the!?!? That's absolutely =INCREDIBLE=. Just so I can buy and install an application from them? There were almost as many security vulnerabilities for the app I just (finally) installed (OsmAnd+). So I agreed to all these vulnerabilities, but ONLY because this phone is only a couple hours out of the box and doesn't have ANY information about me (that I know of). Question below. (2) I've started a few programs (like the FM radio and Music) that don't have an X for shutting down. So, I just hit the Home button. I didn't see them linger on my "desktop", so just assumed they shut down. But, when looking in Settings, Applications, Running Services, they're still running! And there are many =other= running processes that maybe I should shut down, but I don't really know which ones... Software update (two entries, with different icons)? Bluetooth share? OPP ? SNS ? Time ? (Is this the system clock?) Google Services (I don't think I want Network Location and Messaging)? Syncmlds ? Swype ? (Can't shut down. But I don't ever want to swype-type.) = = = = = My questions ... (1) Can I uninstall AmazonApps, after I've installed the OsmAnd+ app, without causing problems for continuing to run Osmand+? (2) Any good source of info on what can be shut down and what should not be shut down? Thanks very much, Carl

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