Rants

Really TV Guide, This is Breaking News?

Scott Kuhl — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:21:04 GMT

I subscribe to the daily TV Guide e-mail newsletter. They apparently thought this qualified as breaking news so important they needed to let me know immediately because this was certain to change my life.

Jamie-Lynn Spears Is Pregnant at Age 16

Really. Really. That's what your going with as breaking news. I didn't even know who this was without asking my wife. I assumed some relation to Britney because this seems to be one of those important Britney-like news items. But BREAKING NEWS?

Now if it said Jamie-Lynn Spears Pregnant at Age 16 and it's Osama Bin Laden's I could understand. But come on.

Vongo is a Mess

Scott Kuhl — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 15:32:21 GMT

It's time for another complaint post. Yippee!!

First, let me say that the Vongo service itself really isn't bad. I wish it worked with the Zune but it doesn't. The only reason I am canceling is because the client doesn't work for me. I may join again if they fix it.

I just upgraded to the latest version of the Vongo software and it doesn't run on 64 bit Vista. Not a big surprise but the old client did. I can't find a way to downgrade, but it wouldn't matter much because this looks like a mandatory upgrade so eventually it will time out.

I went out to Vongo's site to cancel my account and guess what. You can't do it on the web site. You have to load the client which I can't do. And there is no simple way to contact customer support. You need to go into their help assistant and play a modern version of Zork to get them to talk to you.

"You are facing west, there is a wall ahead of you."

"Please cancel my account."

"You can't pick that up at this time."

"CANCEL"

"Do you want to download Cancel starring Butthole Magoo?"

Okay, so it's not that bad but you get my point. Just put a cancel option on the website or at least an e-mail address. Don't make my only option an automated assistant.

So I finally got Zorko to get me into "ask a billing question" and I find yet another helpful feature. They automatically correct the spelling of my last name from Kuhl to cool. Great, thanks guys.

Here's hoping someone contacts me so I can cancel this thing. Otherwise I guess I'll need to install the software on another machine somewhere just to cancel it and uninstall it.

What's Wrong with Open-Source Software? - John Dvorak

Scott Kuhl — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:46:27 GMT

Another great rant by the master.

And I have to wonder how anything actually gets done in the open-source community. In general, the collective crowd has to be a royal pain to work with. And that's why any large-scale project within that community goes so slowly, unless it's done as a closed shop with a strong leader. And by strong leader I don't mean some overbearing jerk—just someone whom the group respects and follows.

So because nobody is making any money, and because it's done for the utopian oneness, there will be no complaining. If you complain, then you suck!

Is it that simple? Yes, it is.

What's Wrong with Open-Source Software?

Live Search Interface Changes

Scott Kuhl — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:55:34 GMT

Live search is constantly evolving. But forget about all the new features or whatever features you feel are missing (integrated Favorites results). Just look at the user interface.

It sucks.

I hated the Crayola color scheme in MSN Search and was glad it changed in Live. Well, that ugly little sucker is back. Bright blues and greens on a fixed width background. When I first saw it, I thought it must be a bug rolling out version 2 and somehow they redeployed MSN search. Nope. That's it.

And it's in such stark contrast to the soft white of the live.com homepage! Are there two different design groups working on this thing. Or maybe they gave the job to some disgruntled employee.

"Hey, let's make the front page a soft white and drive away all the people that are tired of the Google, Yahoo! plain look, then let's make the results bright clown colors to drive away everyone else!"

"OK, as long as we put a bright green button on the front. Man I loved that XP start button!"

"Hey Ted, when was your last day again?"

Anyone else confused by the new layout and color scheme changes?

Apple Force Installs iTunes

Scott Kuhl — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 13:42:39 GMT

So imagine Microsoft releases a new patch for Windows Media Player. You install it and now you have the Zune software. How many people do you think would be pissed about that?

When I setup my desktop last week I didn't install iTunes because I don't really have a need for it. But I did install QuickTime and Apple Software Update.

This morning Apple software update kicked in and wants to install iTunes + QuickTime to patch iTunes which doesn't exist on my computer. So I thought I would let it update my machine to see if it was smart enough to realize I only have QuickTime and just update that if necessary.

Nope! It installed iTunes. So Apple is installing iTunes using it Apple update process for a product I'm not even using. I can't wait until they push Mac OS X on me.

What Happened to Rocketboom

Scott Kuhl — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:44:53 GMT

Now I don't mean where is it. Rocketboom is still here and Amanda is on ABC here.

But ever since Amanda left Rocketboom, the magic is gone. Both shows are boring.

Everybody's a Victim

Scott Kuhl — Fri, 25 May 2007 14:01:02 GMT

As many of you already know, Cardinal's pitcher Josh Hancock got drunk, got in his vehicle and drove himself to death. But his dad is saying, he was just a victim and is blaming everyone else.

Who is getting sued:

Mike Shannon - owner of the bar where he got drunk
Patricia Shannon Van Matre - manager of the bar where he got drunk
Eddie's Towing - the tow truck company responding to the stalled vehicle he hit
Jacob Edward - the tow truck driver
Justin Tolar - the guy driving the stalled car

Apparently the only person not to blame is the guy that got drunk and got behind the wheel. If he wants to be ignorant about this, Jacob and Justin should sue Josh Hancock's estate for endangering their lives.

Hancock's dad sues over fatal accident

Forgive Apple

Scott Kuhl — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:34:48 GMT

I've noticed that the Apple fans are mostly forgiving Apple for the Leopard delay. Even the ones "reporting" are taking a very nice tone compared to how they treat Microsoft.

And they are right, here is why.

Apple has a lot on it's plate right now with the launch of Apple TV and the upcoming iPhone. They have a lot of products to support unlike Microsoft who only has, what, two? three?
Their brightest engineers are busy working on alternative designs for the mouse so everyone will quit complaining about the lack of a second button.
They have a lot of legacy code in their OS X line to deal with. After all, Leopard isn't a brand new OS, it's really just a service pack they are charging for.
It's a lot harder when you go it alone, and everything is proprietary.
Steve is way busy trying to figure out new ways to conquer everything while still appearing to be your friendly hippie uncle.

DirecTV Ripped Me Off

Scott Kuhl — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 19:25:00 GMT

Their HD service does not work, and if you sign up, you are stuck. It's not the hardware, it's the software, which many people are complaining about, and DirecTV admits is faulty.

I think my complaint letter to the Better Business Bureau sums it up nicely. Notice how their attitude changes on the final comment. Even though they told me they would not take back the equipment, they are penalizing me for not sending back the equipment.

Complaint Description

We signed up requesting a HD DVR that worked using their satellite system. They sold us a Tivo that required an over-the-air antennae which we did not find out until after the install. (The installer said it would work, but when we called DirecTV they said no.) DirecTV promised to ship us a new HD DVR when they released 3 months later. They did not. We had to pay $200. The device did not work and failed repeatedly. We cancelled the service the rep said they would waive the cancellation because of all the problems. They charged us a $150 cancellation anyway. We called to complain but they would not waive the charge.

Customer’s Desired Settlement

Refund us the $150 cancellation fee.

Company’s Response

We are sorry for any inconvenience or misunderstanding. The only way we can waive the early cancellation fee is if you return the equipment to DIRECTV. If you will return all receivers, access cards, and remote controls to: Jabil Global Services

ICO: DIRECTV Dock #22, 4600 Pleasant Hill Rd., Memphis, TN 38118. Please be sure to send them via UPS or FedEx so they can be tracked and verification can be made that they have been received. You may also call DIRECTV at 1-800-531-5000 to order return kits for $20 each, which will include the return shipping label. Once the equipment is received by DIRECTV we will be able to waive the early cancellation fee.

Customer’s Rebuttal

I can not return the equipment. When I called DirecTV to cancel I tried to return the equipment. They said I owned it and they would NOT take it back. Their CSR recommended I sell it to recover some of the cost which I did. DirecTV is giving me conflicting information with each call in an effort to force me to pay as much money as possible. I have been lied to repeatedly and this is unacceptible and on the verge of fraud.

Company’s Final Response

We made the offer to allow you to return your equipment through the BBB website as a one-time customer courtesy. Our records show you accepted a commitment to DIRECTV service in return for equipment, and you have broken that commitment. You were offered a significant discount on the price of the HD DVR, which we do show you own. When you experienced problems due to a known software error, we did not find any record that we offered waive the commitment, but we did offer to replace the receiver at no charge. We show you refused the offer. We find the early cancellation fee is valid.

CBS thinks the PS2 is the hot new game system

Scott Kuhl — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 19:35:00 GMT

In this week's episode of Rules of Engagement, one of the guys gets his hands on a brand new, super hard to find game system, that he pays $500 for and has to bribe his cousin who works at a toy store. They never mention the game system by name, but they seem to be eluding to the PS3. What they are actually playing on screen though is the PS2. Are you telling me not one person on the show knew the difference? Or is CBS just that cheap?

Despite the marketing photo, no orgies have taken place in the show yet. At least on camera.