Is HTC being completely absurd?

This is the HTC HS U110. It is completely ugly. The headset does not fit into your ears. They’re completely massive and not as shiny as the picture. But why do I want to buy it? It is because I want a simple Mini USB -> Audio adapter which it comes bundled with. Why don’t I just buy the audio adapter then? Well, HTC doesn’t allow you to do that. Not according to their accessory sheet anyway.

Well, the thing is not about bundling, it’s about how expensive the bundle is: $42 on the expansys website.

Now look at the Blueant T8 Micro: http://www.blueant.com.au/T8_micro_Bluetooth_Headset.htm

It is $70. $28 more expensive than there headset but obviously way better. For one it’s wireless. For two you don’t need a silly adapter.

But then, for those prices, why don’t I just get http://www.javoedge.com/reflexeshop/productCatalog/getProduct.do?poid=1472&pbmId=11883 for $11 and use it with my normal iPod earphones? Afterall, it IS only $11.

Final statement: HTC Accessories are over-priced by way too much.

At School (again…)

Does anybody know why in the world there is so much do on the first day back of the holidays? I know I don’t. At least most of the lessons you don’t actually do anything other than listen and write down notes. That is how almost all terms start, really.

There was quite a long assembly today after periods 2 and 3 and that was a much needed break from the earlier maths and english lessons. Imagine. The first hour back from the holidays and you are already doing a practise test for maths. Still, the whole day was 9 periods, 8 hours at school.

That leads me to my rant about maths. Well, not exactly maths. More like the teacher who is teaching us that subject. Despite being the first period of the first day, she still manages to give us something to do which is not related to copying or discussing.

Today brings a lot of new things, including a brand new boring principals address and new homework to do. These may not be good things but when you bundle them with the old items like talking to friends and playing random songs, along with never ending school canteen queues, it provides topics to talk about. Not that there is not anything to talk about from all the separation in the holidays.

Since tomorrow is a “not be at school day”, it provides me with time to start my redesign of my own website. Well, the less I talk the more I get on with it. So I shall leave it here.

Stuff still being updated

I would just like to assure everybody who has doubts that the main website at merelyexisting.com is still being updated. The gallery section is now online also, and more pictures will be added in the near future.

Also, I want to update this blog’s theme to match those of other website areas. Hopefully this will be done soon.

Response to “Why toolbars should be vertical”

I quote Blair’s blog post

Most typed documents are vertical. Most screens are horizontal. Put the two together and you get a whole load of wasted vertical space on either side of the document.

Putting horizontal toolbars on the horizontal screen makes the space for viewing the document even more horizontal. And this is a bad thing. Heck, people spend extra money to buy screens that can rotate so that they can work on vertical documents on a vertical screen, hence not wasting any space. But not everyone has those.

It would be better just to align the toolbars vertically. This way, you make the viewing space for the document just that little bit more vertical, and use up a bit of that wasted space on the side:

http://thebigbox.wordpress.com/2008/04/27/why-toolbars/

Why toolbars should be horizontal.

Yes, surely most typed documents are vertical, and that is why most screens are horizontal. That is why you have widescreen monitors, Blair. Whilst normal monitors are 4:3, widescreen monitors are 16:9. This makes them able to display 2 pages of the document you are trying to edit at the same time: like a book.

Runescape: Account Creation vs Account Deletion

I would like to go over the steps needed to create an account on the MMORPG Runescape:

1. Click Create a free account (New User)
2. Say you are over 18, and live in the US
3. Type in a username. Go.
4. Accept their ToS
5. Choose a password
6. Login

Total amount of time taken: a few minutes.

Now I would like you to see what steps you need to take to delete an account:

1. Contact Jagex Customer Support
2. Receive an automated reply
3. Search for a Jagex email that does not give automated replies
4. Find it in the Terms and Conditions, parents@jagex.com
5. Pretend you are a parent trying to stop a little kid from playing
6. Email parents@jagex.com
7. Receive a reply saying that you must sign an affidavit in the presence of a notary public
8. Email them again, not convinced
9. Receive another reply, saying that even if you know your username, password, secret answers, you can’t skip this process
10. Email them AGAIN
11. Receive a reply, saying that there is no other way to permanently delete an account other than with an affidavit
12. Write what is required for the affidavit on a sheet of paper
13. Go to a lawyer who is also a notary public (hard to find)
14. Sign it in front of them
15. Get them to sign it
16. Go to post office
17. Buy an envelope, put it in, write down the Jagex address in the UK
18. Attach airmail sticker, place postage stamp on
19. Mail
20. Anxiously wait for the rest of your life since they are not going to send any “I have received your letter” back.
21. Hope that your account has been deleted since Game Queries aren’t handled through the postal address given.

Total time taken: a week or more.

Please note that thi account deletion procedure is listed only for people under 18 who have parents who are willing to go to a lawfirm. If you are over 18, bad luck. It is currently impossible to delete your account.

Click to read the messages relayed between Jagex and me.