Uk Events

[GhostShip]

Good news or more over selling that they wont be able to support ?

http://www.slyck.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30419

UK Broadband news:
ntl , now known as Virgin Media are expected to increase users upload speeds on their XL package 10Mbps to 1Mbps (Up from 512K) on/from 14th Feb 2007.

There are currently no official announcements regarding this, but this has been confirmed by customer services.

ntl:Telewest customers will also see their upload increase to 1Mbps (up from 384K) on the 10Mbps package.

So to make it a little clear...

ntl customers on ntl network:

- 2Mbps package will have upload speed of 200K
- 4Mbps package will have upload speed of 500K (Up from 400K)
- 10Mbps package will have upload speed of 1Mbps (Up from 512K)

ntl:Telewest customers on Telewest network:

- 2Mbps package will have upload speed of 200K
- 4Mbps package will have upload speed of 500K (Up from 384K)
- 10Mbps package will have upload speed of 1Mbps (Up from 384K)

Time will tell.

[KM]

PING 80.235.141.1 (80.235.141.1) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 80.235.141.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=255 time=92.9 ms
64 bytes from 80.235.141.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=255 time=59.4 ms
64 bytes from 80.235.141.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=255 time=74.5 ms
64 bytes from 80.235.141.1: icmp_seq=4 ttl=255 time=65.7 ms
64 bytes from 80.235.141.1: icmp_seq=6 ttl=255 time=55.1 ms
64 bytes from 80.235.141.1: icmp_seq=7 ttl=255 time=71.3 ms
64 bytes from 80.235.141.1: icmp_seq=9 ttl=255 time=32.5 ms
64 bytes from 80.235.141.1: icmp_seq=10 ttl=255 time=47.5 ms
64 bytes from 80.235.141.1: icmp_seq=11 ttl=255 time=58.8 ms
64 bytes from 80.235.141.1: icmp_seq=12 ttl=255 time=42.4 ms
64 bytes from 80.235.141.1: icmp_seq=14 ttl=255 time=39.5 ms

--- 80.235.141.1 ping statistics ---
14 packets transmitted, 11 received, 21% packet loss, time 12998ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 32.555/58.207/92.998/16.757 ms

that's to the default gateway - ie. the router sitting on the other end of the cable line, before the data even hits their network

that has been normal for the last few months, and is not an issue I have, as i've checked with several other customers in the area and they all have exactly the same

do they have the capacity to handle the upgrades? yes they certainly do - the problem is they don't seem to care as the majority of it is turned off, the national network has plenty of capacity, and plenty of unlit fiber as well if they need more, the bottlenecks are currently the local connections - the last mile, which also has double the capacity if they wanted it, but the fact that it's oversubscribed doesn't seem to be enough of a reason for them to enable that idle capacity

hopefully the upgrades will force them to actually enable some of the disabled capacity and we can get back to a normal level of service without the latency and packet loss

[GhostShip]

Are UK customers being hoodwinked over line speeds and when is faster net access on the way ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6385631.stm

Broadband is getting faster in the UK but some customers are not reaching the speeds that service providers have advertised, shows a survey.

But the survey shows that whilst a number of providers are marketing products as an 'up to 8Mbps' service, it is clear that some of them have a fair proportion of customers still on fixed 512kbps, 1Mbps or 2Mbps services."
"Because the broadband they are giving people still fits into the description of 'up to 8Mbps' that they are selling people, they think that's fine."

Mr Ferguson said people should be told that the connection they are getting is "rate adaptive".
"People see the 'eight' and that sticks in their heads. Rate adaptive ADSL means it runs as fast as the line can tolerate.

BT Wholesale is currently trialling ADSL2+ technology, which it is expected to roll out to other internet service providers in the next 24 months.
While broadband speeds in the UK are set to improve, the country still lags behind Japan and South Korea where speeds of up to 50Mbps are not uncommon.

Faster broadband speeds over telephone lines could potentially lead to interference with radio stations.
The UK regulator wants these problems fixed before the greenlight is given to technologies such as VDSL and VDSL2, which offer tremendous broadband speeds.

The market it seems shows promise, but until customers are getting exactly what they pay for, we are likely to be hearing more misleading speed claims for a while yet.

[GhostShip]

It seems more folks have found our about the Vista price hike for UK folks, MS are trying to claim it costs them £200 more to sell in the UK  :shock:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/28/blair_windows_vista_price/

British computer users are demanding Tony Blair stand up to Microsoft and stop them being ripped off over Windows Vista pricing.
So far, nearly 5,000 people have signed an official petition on Number 10's website calling on Prime Minister Blair to take action against Microsoft's alleged overcharging.

According to the e-petition, the latest to grace Number 10's beta site since last November's launch, consumers are paying around double for copies of Windows Vista Ultimate simply based on where they live rather than any special features.
"I can see no reason for there to be such a huge difference in prices between the UK and US other than Microsoft's belief that the UK customers will pay more than their US counterparts," the e-petition says.

The e-petition comes as The Register's Thomas C Green flagged up that Microsoft is failing to adjust its pricing for Irish consumers on Amazon to take account of exchange rate differences and the weakness of the dollar.
Windows Vista Ultimate shoppers in the Republic can pay up to €600, the equivalent of $780, compared to US counterparts who are paying a maximum of $450 - depending on their retailer.

According to the e-petition organisers, Windows Vista Ultimate in the UK is priced at £350 but can be purchased in the US for just £195 - again, owing to the weakness of the dollar and to sterling's strength.
A Microsoft spokeswoman defended the company's pricing saying editions of Windows Vista are "comparable" with different versions of Windows XP. The spokeswoman said Microsoft's prices vary by region based on "exchange rate, local taxes, duties, local market conditions, and retailer pricing decisions."

And the same "cry foul" is echoed here

http://software.silicon.com/applications/0,39024653,39166087,00.htm

Anger over the issue even prompted an e-petition on the Number 10 website which claims the premium Vista Ultimate version costs £350 in the UK but can be bought for £150 ($298) in the US.

silicon.com reader Nick Cole wrote: "It's all part of rip-off Britain. Don't charge what it costs to produce or develop, with a reasonable overhead, but charge as much as possible. Swapping a dollar sign for a pound sign is the easiest way of achieving that."

Many other readers echoed this sentiment.
However, readers have also been quick to point out this is not just a problem with Microsoft but one with many products sold in the UK. silicon.com reader Malcolm Wilson pointed out "Apple is just as bad" with its Tiger operating system that retails at £65.50 ($129) in the US and £89 in the UK – representing a 35 per cent mark-up.
He added: "Mac users also get a less than fair deal and it seems that nobody is prepared to do much about it."

It is looking like Microsoft are unfairly penalising those in the UK for its latest DRM infested Bloatware, perhaps to try to recoup some of the fines it has been forced to pay for anti competitive activities it has been involved with inside the EU.

A dirty trick by a dirty company, now seems like a good time to shift to Linux and take part in its lively community, why be ripped off when the competition is free, even computer manufacturer Dell are joining the revolt..

[GhostShip]

A change in the copyright designs and patents act has been pencilled in by the government that signals their dislike of using punitive sanctions in a civil matter.

http://www.out-law.com/page-8044

The Government has proposed a change to the damages available under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, ruling out the possibility of the award of punitive damages in civil cases of copyright infringement.
The Ministry of Justice, which has taken over the duties of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, is operating a consultation process on the changes, which it hopes will clarify the law.

The Act permits a judge to award "additional damages" in a civil case concerning an infringement of copyright or other rights covered by the Act. The phrase is unusual in English law, with other legislation more commonly referring to exemplary, restitutionary or aggravated damages.
The Ministry of Justice believes that the Copyright Act should, like other laws, be more specific about exactly what damages can be awarded by a judge. The consultation also includes the Patents Act.

The Government has long considered punitive damages more appropriate to criminal law. "[The] aim of civil law should be to provide compensation for loss, not to punish the defendant," said the paper

I hope we see more of this sensible style of logic as for too long we have seen the greedy try to take two bites of the cherry of compensation.

 

[Victim]

Damn Tax

[GhostShip]

What tax ???

Whilst we await the answer to that one theres more news on the copyright extension issue here.

http://www.openrightsgroup.org/2007/05/16/house-of-commons-culture-committee-rules-in-favour-of-copyright-term-extension-on-sound-recordings/

The House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport has today released its Fifth Report - an investigation into New Media.
The report endorses performing artists’ call for an extension to the term of copyright in sound recordings (although, as Copyweb points out, this slightly confuses rights in performances with rights in sound recordings).

The Committee’s logic looks simple:

“Gowers’ analysis was thorough and in economic terms may be correct. It gives the impression, however, of having been conducted entirely on economic grounds. We strongly believe that copyright represents a moral right of a creator to choose to retain ownership and control of their own intellectual property. We have not heard a convincing reason why a composer and his or her heirs should benefit from a term of copyright which extends for lifetime and beyond, but a performer should not.”

Gowers did couch his report in economic terms. His idea of balance matched the needs of creators against those of consumers and innovators.
But he didn’t just do this because he was commissioned by the Treasury. He was reflecting the current position of UK law. Current UK law regards copyright as an economic incentive to create, or, as Gowers puts it “a purely statutory right created for the utilitarian purpose of encouraging literary efforts”.

It seems the House of Commons Select Committee is not arguing for an extension to term, it is arguing for a fundamental change to the law, a law for which there are plenty of “convincing reasons” which can all be couched in moral terms

As you can see folks after being shot down on pure logical grounds we are seeing the pro copyright extension folks trying to impress us with claims of some moral highground that in reality does not exist, 50 years protection is enough time to make  substancial revenue and a mark in the history books, but to extend this period to suit the recording industry who in many cases are "managing" the artists royalties under some form of contract lock-in is pure selfishness.