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markbriton

Listed below are comments made by markbriton between Tuesday, 9th June 2009 and Tuesday, 10th November 2009.

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Vaz v Watson - Modern Warfare 2 1:12pm on 10 Nov 2009 I think the trend towards increasingly violent games is worrying. I do not believe that playing such games leads to acting out violence in real life; unstable people will also be unstable. I do think games are distinct from films. Watching a film is a passive experience whereas a game is an active and rewarding experience. Game designers have created a segment of violence simulators; part of the appeal is the realism of the simulation. Whether deliberate or not, these games appeal to young boys and parents ignore the age ratings. I'm not sure whether it does any harm, but do we really want to move towards a society whereby simulating violence is seen as a normal and healthy way to relax? I just don't see the need for these violent games to simulate 'real' life; what's wrong with shooting zombies and aliens.
Vaz v Watson - Modern Warfare 2 7:29pm on 09 Nov 2009 Finally a headline to knock the disgraceful 'iPhone worm' story from the top of the technology page and even your front page. All day iPhone users have been asking our IT department about it when (a) it only affected jail broken phones and (b) it's not harmful in any way at all. The BBC used to get criticism here for promoting Apple too much and so they've gone in the opposite direction with ludicrous scaremongering rubbish.
A week with Windows 01:38am on 22 Oct 2009 I hope we get to use W7 at work. I miss my Mac when I
at my desk and W7 looks pretty much the same, so it should make my life a whole easier.
Palm Pre and O2 - a marriage of convenience 5:25pm on 16 Oct 2009 Great advert on the BBC for the Pre. Can anyone advertise on here for nothing? You really gave them a tough time - the one and only criticism about not selling as many as the iPhone was really cutting. Paxman must be scared.

In my own experience, most people have been delaying buying an iPhone because they didn't want to change their network to o2. Now Orange and Vodafone customers are getting the iPhone, but if you want a Pre you are back in old iPhone land and need to move o2; a very odd choice by Palm. I think they would have sold more by giving it to another network a couple of months ago.

As for the comment above: "Of course, Apple couldn't care less - as far as they're concerned, after-sales support and networking troubles were/are O2's problem and they'd already made their sale" This is simply not true. o2 will send you to Apple's Genius Bar where you get free support directly from Apple, whether that's just a walk through with the phone or a replacement. If you call o2 for support as an iPhone customer, you actually get redirected to the Apple Care centre. However your comment is absolutely relevant for the Pre, where you will have to put up with o2's call centre staff.
Apple: All sizzle and no steak 11:30am on 11 Sep 2009 Roves33 - I'm interested to know what products you think are more interesting from other technology companies. I assume you're refering to iTunes Store 'locking you in' so I'd also be interested to hear how you think Microsoft, Google and Palm's products prevent this locking in "problem".
Apple: All sizzle and no steak 11:00am on 11 Sep 2009 If you think the N900 is newsworthy, then fair enough (I had thought it was launched before Nokia World so I stand corrected) I guess ditching Symbian is news. But a new phone with a capacitive screen is hardly a headline.
Apple: All sizzle and no steak 01:13am on 11 Sep 2009 Here we go. Apple haters start moaning that BBC's coverage of Apple is too extensive as usual. In fact, I think their coverage is rather constrained in comparison to every other technology news site. iTunes is the number one music seller, yet the BBC are too scared to report about the significant changes. The iPod is the world's biggest selling portable music player, but the BBC is scared that reporting on a new range would make them look like fanboys. By my own argument, Nokia should also get coverage as they sell the most phones. But what do you suggest they report? A rubbish netbook, adding Facebook integration instead of the rubbish Friend View... seriously Londonitis, what do you think is newsworthy from Nokia World? The BBC are too frightened of reporting on Apple events, yet they are frequently the most popular stories they run.
Networks and the iPhone 12:48pm on 20 Jul 2009 The exclusivity deals around the world were necessary for Apple to have some weight to change how the networks operated. People forget what Apple achieved a few years ago when the landscape was quite different.

The networks worked hard to develop their own music stores and wireless services like Vodafone Live! and T-Mobile's Web n Walk to avoid their services just becoming 'pipes'. Unlimited data contracts were extremely rare and expensive at the time the original iPhone was released and a phone's OS would frequently be 'branded' and tied into the network's internet services. Apple's iTunes store is a direct competitor to services like Orange MusicStore.

Apple had to change all of this with the iPhone and they achieved it by doing what they're good at - creating a lot of hype. Then they got the networks to fight eachother to get exclusivity, with Apple imposing conditions like unlimited data, access to iTunes store, no branding in the OS, visual voicemail...

Of course the exclusivity deals will end now the iPhone is a hit. It's obviously in Apple's best interests and in the best interests of their customers. But without the exclusivity deals, Apple would have had to make too many compromises and the iPhone would not be what it is today.
Apple - angering the fans? 5:12pm on 09 Jun 2009 I understand what a contract is. I don't want a Nokia. But nobody with an iPhone 3G will have a contract coming to end right now, that is the problem, EVERYONE has at least 6 months to wait. I am prepared to pay to upgrade, but the situation O2 has created means that no existing iPhone 3G customer can get the new model without paying at least 6 months of their contract and risking missing the boat again 6 months later. That's the issue - the 3GS is limited to new customers only and the people who are most likely to want the new iPhone are those who already have one.

For example, on £45 per month, the new phone is free on a 24 month contract, or £87 on an 18 month contract. Why can't O2 offer me the phone for £87 on a 24 month contract? They get their extra 6 months all the same.
Apple - angering the fans? 11:02am on 09 Jun 2009 I'm furious with O2. I have to wait 6 months to upgrade (I'm not buying myself out of the contract) and by then another iPhone will probably be 6 months round the corner, so I don't have any intention of upgrading to the 3G-S. The tethering plans are also a joke. Unfortunately we have no choice at the moment, but when the exclusivity ends, iPhone fans will hopefully vote with their feet and ditch O2. If O2 had a reasonable upgrade solution, perhaps they could have locked their iPhone customers into a longer contract and avoided this.

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