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• My brand new LG blu ray / netflix player, which used to play them fine, just today started to say "Unable to connect to Netflix. Select OK to check connection" immediately after it finishes buffering. Perhaps a licensing server issue since it clearly can download (buffer) the content.
  
  The frustrating thing is that Netflix says this service is a 'free' service offered to its subscribers. Thus, they won't offer any compensation when its broken. Same thing for their Watch on PC option. It's a nice 'out' for them when they have a problem with the service. Not quite fair to consumers, since really they ARE paying for it. Apparently Netflix disagrees with my views. In reply to: "Netflix fixes streaming-video glitch"

  December 5, 2008

  1 reply

• Tracking down a device on the network is NOT hard. Either the San Francisco IT people have no idea what they're doing, or else they're trying to make the jailed network admin look really bad and just toy with the press. Obviously nobody in the press knows the technical questions to ask to prove how silly SF is being... but get any knowledgeable IT admin in there and they'd solve the problem fairly quick. In reply to: "Report: SF officials looking for hidden network device"

  September 11, 2008

  0 replies

• Of everyone I know, nobody likes Comcast. Every story is a bad story. So, how does Comcast get away with this? Simple: they're the only choice in many markets (ie, DSL unavailable, etc). This is exactly why regulation is important. It's a similar story with gas, electric and other utilities... when customers MUST use a particular company and there is no viable competition, the government must step in to protect customers and ensure a company doesn't take advantage of their position.
  
  For some reason, Comcast has gotten away with a lot more than other utilities though. Imagine if your gas or electric were capped at a certain level, which you could not check, and the company just shut off your service if you exceeded your limit.
  
  ... it just amazes me that Comcast gets away with this. In reply to: "Comcast to cap monthly consumer broadband"

  September 4, 2008

  0 replies

• It's Congress' job to *make* our laws. Raising an inquiry into a legally gray area is perfectly reasonable - it's their job. On the other hand, if the Judicial branch / DOJ were raising concerns, then they would need to have the valid legal issues you describe in your post because they are responsible for interpreting existing laws. Congress raising concerns about this practice and having inquiries is an indication that perhaps in the future our laws may change to prevent NebuAd from engaging in certain practices. Any reasonable company would stay away from these 'gray' areas when determining their long term strategy. Additionally, this concept that Congress is bullying NebuAd is not true - certain Congresspeople have raised concerns. Before any laws could be created to address this issue, or before any Congressional action could be taken, the entire Congress would need to be on board (subject to the percentage requirements, etc). As YOUR elected officials, Congress represents the collective desires and perspectives of all Americans. If you don't like how they do their job, vote for someone else next time. In reply to: "NebuAd suspends Web-monitoring plans"

  September 4, 2008

  0 replies

• Good to see that the politicians can bring about some positive changes rather quickly. Let's just hope they can keep this from reappearing in a few years. In reply to: "NebuAd suspends Web-monitoring plans"

  September 4, 2008

  0 replies

• My guess is that Comcast is reacting to its tight spot:
  
  It cannot slow down certain protocols because of Net Neutrality laws, so it is slowing down ALL traffic during peak times for heavy users - however, this presents a problem because that deteriorates the quality of their other product offering, Comcast VOIP. They cannot provide an exception to this bandwidth-throttling for their own VOIP product as that would violate Net Neutrality laws, so instead, they reach out to Vonage and will probably work to exempt all VOIP services from these throttling rules they impose. So, in my opinion, this "outreach" to Vonage is simply a survival move designed to allow them in the future to exempt their VOIP service (and others' VOIP services) from their throttling rules, legally (we'll see...). However, in the meantime, they get to play up the "cooperation" angle so they look good and try to prevent new regulations from being imposed while the focus is on them. In reply to: "Comcast and Vonage collaborate on network management"

  July 10, 2008

  0 replies

• Waiting to prorate a 2 year contract until only 6 months is left is silly; they should use a straight-line prorating scheme where an equal amount is taken off each month until it hits zero at the end of your contract (similar to Verizon). If they really are trying to recoup their costs, then each month you are with a cell phone carrier should reduce your obligation under your contract; the way TMobile is doing it is quite greedy and is one of the worst proration schemes of all the carriers. In reply to: "T-Mobile to prorate early termination fees"

  June 23, 2008

  0 replies

• The video doesn't work... says "We're Sorry, This Video Is No Longer Available". Good article, but some more technical info about how their systems work and the logistics involved would make it better. In reply to: "UPS and the art of sorting nearly a million packages a day"

  June 23, 2008

  0 replies

• Lunar country code?
  Wonder if they'll need to add a Lunar Country Code or "spacial object code" for calling the moon colonists... and whether ATT/Verizon will have 'extraplanetary' rates in addition to their international calling rates. Business opportunity...?
  
  "... and just dial 0008 plus the country code to reach earth from the moon, or 0007 plus the colony code to reach the moon from earth."

  February 19, 2008

  0 replies

• Competition will improve customer service
  Once customers have a choice about where they get broadband internet from, cable companies will have to stop treating their customers like crap. Either way, cable companies should be scared. For the first time, they'll actually have to EARN customers. It will be one sweet day. In reply to: "Wireless and fiber add to Verizon growth"

  January 28, 2008

  0 replies