COMPUTERS, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

[Stanley]

[Tizer]

This is one of the reasons we always keep our Thunderbird email software in default plain text mode instead of HTML. The trouble is that some people send their email messages with a file which the recipient wants they send it the form of remote content rather than attached to the message.

'Spy pixels in emails have become endemic' BBC
`The use of "invisible" tracking tech in emails is now "endemic", according to a messaging service that analysed its traffic at the BBC's request. Hey's review indicated that two-thirds of emails sent to its users' personal accounts contained a "spy pixel", even after excluding for spam. Its makers said that many of the largest brands used email pixels, with the exception of the "big tech" firms. Defenders of the trackers say they are a commonplace marketing tactic...
`Tracking pixels are typically a .GIF or .PNG file that is as small as 1x1 pixels, which is inserted into the header, footer or body of an email. Since they often show the colour of the content below, they can be impossible to spot with the naked eye even if you know where to look. Recipients do not need to click on a link or do anything to activate them beyond open an email they are embedded in. British Airways, TalkTalk, Vodafone, Sainsbury's, Tesco, HSBC, Marks & Spencer, Asos and Unilever are among UK brands Hey detected to be using them...'.

[Stanley]

I took your advice Peter and have Thunderbird in plain text mode. I didn't know about these little buggers! Is nothing safe and straightforward these days?

[Gloria]

I’ve been having on/off problems with my EE WiFi, when I go on the internet and look at their outage problems I’m not in my own. I suppose it’s understandable with so many working from home for work and school. I’ve just run a test and get ping 18, download 62.9, upload 18.5 is this okay?

[Tripps]

Just did an Ofcom speed test.
I get Down 35.9, Up 9.2 - so I'd say you're doing OK.

[Pluggy]

Mine is give or take the same as tripps. No outage problems though.

[Gloria]

Thankyou both, look like I’m ok then, apart from the outages.

[plaques]

I’ve been having on/off problems with my EE WiFi, when I go on the internet and look at their outage problems I’m not in my own. I suppose it’s understandable with so many working from home for work and school. I’ve just run a test and get ping 18, download 62.9, upload 18.5 is this okay?

Gloria, I posted this on 'Barlick Broadband' the other day '''

I've been experiencing a number of internet dropouts where one minute its OK and the next no DNS server which doesn't correct itself. TalkTalk is my supplier with the latest router. Switching the router off, leaving for a few minutes and then switching on again solves the problem.

It may help you, it costs nothing to give it a try.

[Stanley]

I'm on roughly 13ms, 36 down and 9 up so in line with the lads. Yours is fast by comparison Gloria.

[Gloria]

I’ll try that Plaques, I usually just reboot the iPad which sorts it for a while. Glad I’m not trying to work on it, it would get frustrating.

[Tizer]

Ping 10 ms, down 48.83 Mb/s, up 17.95 Mb/s here.

[chinatyke]

Ping 9ms, Down 189.6 Mbps; Up 58.41 Mbps.
That's not the full story, though.
No Facebook, Youtube, BBC, Wikipedia, Google, truth, etc!!!

[Tripps]

No Facebook, Youtube, BBC, Wikipedia, Google, truth, etc!!!

I think I prefer to be able access those sites - if a bit more slowly.

[PanBiker]

I think I prefer to be able access those sites - if a bit more slowly.

Aye, but even at our reduced speeds we are not talking dial up.

Mine currently 50,707 down a 5,994 up, normally better than that on the upload but they are fiddling around with the network.

[Stanley]

I agree Ian, I'm sure if I was to nag Talktalk they would come up with a better speed but do I need it? It's faster than I am as it is!

[PanBiker]

I'm sure if I was to nag Talktalk they would come up with a better speed but do I need it?

I assume you are on the fast fibre deal which is 39mbps max. I upgraded to the fibre 65 deal as they were advertising it at the same price. My router shows 61mbps as the top speed available from the exchange at the moment. It will be interesting to see what happens when they connect fibre to the pole which will only leave about 15 -20m of copper to my house.

[Tripps]

I’ve been having on/off problems with my EE WiFi,

I've just watched an EE TV commercial, in which they boast of having been voted "the UK's most reliable network".

*************************************************

Radio 4 this morning did a promotional piece / advert for this website Radio garden I've had it on my tablet for quite a while and it's amazing.
Quite why they would do anything to reduce their audience is a puzzle to me.

[Stanley]

Yes Ian, I think that's what I have.
David, I had a look at that site. Quite amazing, I can see me going there to find some of my old favourites!

[Tizer]

This seems strange...perhaps it's aliens trying to contact us!
`Apple users targeted by 'mysterious' malware' LINK

[Stanley]

I favour the 'wake up call' theory voiced at the end of the article.

[Tizer]

This story is for the lovers of vintage IT (I wrote IT, because `vintage technology' to me means steam engines, Bugatti racing cars etc)...
`Vintage technology: 'It sounds so much cleaner'' LINK

[Tripps]

psion.jpg

I agree -

I bought one ( Series 3a) on ebay about a month ago .

[Stanley]

I had a series 3 for years, don't know what happened to it. What I do remember is that Janet and I bought the same one at the same time and there was a bug in one of the functions. Big Harry took them and went into the OS and repaired both of them while we were having dinner. A great loss!

[Tripps]

I had a series 3 for years, don't know what happened to it

I might have known - when am I ever going to be one up.

The one I got replaced one (Psion Revo) I had a long time ago. The attraction of the Series 3 is that it uses AA batteries. I used it when I got it and it was fine - tried it again yesterday and it didn't work.

There was a slight gap between the two batteries. I was scared of bending the spring ends - my attempts at repairs usually end in disaster - so I made a 'bridge from aluminium foil, and got it going. Then the small memory data retaining battery showed flat so I've ordered some replacements on ebay.

File under ' boys and their toys' .

[Stanley]

Give up David! It isn't a competition. If it was you are definitely in front, you have one!
I bought mine at the airport as I flew out to drive Route 66 from LA to St Louis. I used it to keep a diary. That would be interesting if I knew where it was!