Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Sony asks for my opinion - and gets it
Yesterday, I had to reprogram my mom's Sony RM-V302 universal remote. It seems that when you remove the batteries, the remote loses the code for the TV, and has to be reprogrammed. Even though Sony did put a sticker on the battery door to record the codes, I forgot to jot down the code. Besides, this was the first remote that forgot the codes. Since I'm in the middle of fixing mom's PC, I had to call Sony for the codes. The next day, I got an email with a request to fill out a survey about my support experience, and wrote the following in the comments:
While Telephone Customer Support provided good support, good support is not enough. Through no fault of Telephone Customer Support, I will never recommend Sony products to anyone for three reasons: 1 - Sony quality has fallen much, much lower than before; 2 - Sony's insistence on heavy-handed DRM is ridiculous, and 3 - Sony's constant pushing of new formats (Beta, Mini-Disc, Memory Stick, ATRAC, Blu-Ray) that are ALWAYS detrimental to technological progress and punish the consumer more than anyone else. I had to call support because I still have a Sony universal remote, and unlike every universal remote I have ever used, this remote forgets the TV code when the batteries are replaced. you may ask - if you are so against Sony, why do you still use their products? Because it was cheap, and my mother enjoys having four huge buttons for channel and volume. Personally, I only use Logitech's Harmony line. I used to be an ardent Sony supporter, and had the Trinitron Wegas, an XBR, PlayStations, VCRs, DVD players, VAIOs, etc. Now, I don't own a single Sony product for the 3 reasons I listed above. Two weeks ago, I tossed a Sony 16x DVD-RW drive that was in my girlfriends' PC, and that was the last Sony product in our house. I'm in the IT business, and that Sony was the first drive that I threw away because it stopped reading and writing discs. I still use 4x and 8x burners by other brands that work, but this was the first one that failed on me (and we have about 5 PCs in our house). Here's an example of how Sony frustrates me: I had an RM-v60 that was perfect in every way, and I used it for years until the silk-printing wore off. I replaced it with an RM-VL1000, and was so frustrated by the buttons, the programming, and the UI, that I threw it away, and bought a Harmony remote- and haven't had a problem since.
While Telephone Customer Support provided good support, good support is not enough. Through no fault of Telephone Customer Support, I will never recommend Sony products to anyone for three reasons: 1 - Sony quality has fallen much, much lower than before; 2 - Sony's insistence on heavy-handed DRM is ridiculous, and 3 - Sony's constant pushing of new formats (Beta, Mini-Disc, Memory Stick, ATRAC, Blu-Ray) that are ALWAYS detrimental to technological progress and punish the consumer more than anyone else. I had to call support because I still have a Sony universal remote, and unlike every universal remote I have ever used, this remote forgets the TV code when the batteries are replaced. you may ask - if you are so against Sony, why do you still use their products? Because it was cheap, and my mother enjoys having four huge buttons for channel and volume. Personally, I only use Logitech's Harmony line. I used to be an ardent Sony supporter, and had the Trinitron Wegas, an XBR, PlayStations, VCRs, DVD players, VAIOs, etc. Now, I don't own a single Sony product for the 3 reasons I listed above. Two weeks ago, I tossed a Sony 16x DVD-RW drive that was in my girlfriends' PC, and that was the last Sony product in our house. I'm in the IT business, and that Sony was the first drive that I threw away because it stopped reading and writing discs. I still use 4x and 8x burners by other brands that work, but this was the first one that failed on me (and we have about 5 PCs in our house). Here's an example of how Sony frustrates me: I had an RM-v60 that was perfect in every way, and I used it for years until the silk-printing wore off. I replaced it with an RM-VL1000, and was so frustrated by the buttons, the programming, and the UI, that I threw it away, and bought a Harmony remote- and haven't had a problem since.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Glendale hit-and-run suspect arrested in Mexico City - Los Angeles Times
Glendale hit-and-run suspect arrested in Mexico City - Los Angeles Times
By Ari B. Bloomekatz, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
2:31 PM PDT, July 18, 2007
U.S. marshals arrested a Glendale man in Mexico City today in connection with a hit-and-run accident that killed a 24-year-old woman. Ara Grigoryan, 20, was arrested after he tried to board a flight to Spain, authorities said. He is wanted in connection with the July 10 death of Elizabeth Sandoval of Glendale.
Grigoryan had fled to Mexico City and hoped to fly to Europe, said John Balian, spokesman for the Glendale Police Department. But Grigoryan's travel papers were not in order and authorities became suspicious, Balian said.
"He didn't have the proper documents to leave the country," Balian said. "He was trying to go to Madrid."
The black Mercedes-Benz officials believe was involved in the accident was found Saturday near a Van Nuys body shop, Balian said. The car's license plates had been removed and the front and passenger sides repaired.
Sandoval was struck by the car about 9:45 p.m. while she was walking on Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road. Her body was thrown at least 75 feet, Balian said.
"The pedestrians were crossing on a red light, so traffic did have the right of way," Balian said last week. "However, it is a crime to commit a hit-and-run, and the motorist left the scene."
Grigoryan, who was escorted by marshals back to Los Angeles today, was charged with felony hit and run.
By Ari B. Bloomekatz, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
2:31 PM PDT, July 18, 2007
U.S. marshals arrested a Glendale man in Mexico City today in connection with a hit-and-run accident that killed a 24-year-old woman. Ara Grigoryan, 20, was arrested after he tried to board a flight to Spain, authorities said. He is wanted in connection with the July 10 death of Elizabeth Sandoval of Glendale.
Grigoryan had fled to Mexico City and hoped to fly to Europe, said John Balian, spokesman for the Glendale Police Department. But Grigoryan's travel papers were not in order and authorities became suspicious, Balian said.
"He didn't have the proper documents to leave the country," Balian said. "He was trying to go to Madrid."
The black Mercedes-Benz officials believe was involved in the accident was found Saturday near a Van Nuys body shop, Balian said. The car's license plates had been removed and the front and passenger sides repaired.
Sandoval was struck by the car about 9:45 p.m. while she was walking on Glendale Avenue near Windsor Road. Her body was thrown at least 75 feet, Balian said.
"The pedestrians were crossing on a red light, so traffic did have the right of way," Balian said last week. "However, it is a crime to commit a hit-and-run, and the motorist left the scene."
Grigoryan, who was escorted by marshals back to Los Angeles today, was charged with felony hit and run.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Things I hated about my last job
- No blue jeans on casual friday
- Prayer before meetings
- Prayer before staff lunches
- Office full of untrained, unproductive women
- Clueless HR
- Clueless CEO
- Clueless IT
- Ridiculous policies
Saturday, December 16, 2006
¿ Mundu or Don't ?
Want to put your PDA/Treo/WinMo to good use?
- Go to http://radio.mundu.com/
- Create an account
- Add your favorite internet radio stations to your account
- Download the software to your device
- Listen to internet radio stations you picked on your web-connected PDA/Smartphone
Make sure you have wifi or a great data plan, since this eats up lots and lots of data.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
NY police kill man on wedding day
NY police kill man on wedding day
 No gun was found in the car which was hit by 21 bullets |
Two of the man's friends were hurt in the shooting, which occurred outside a strip club where they had been celebrating before the wedding.
Police fired 50 bullets at a car carrying the men after it reportedly struck an unmarked police vehicle.
New York's mayor says police had acted fearing an armed "altercation".
"Officers on the scene had reason to believe that an altercation involving a firearm was about to happen and were trying to stop it," Michael Bloomberg said.
The club was under surveillance because of its long history of weapons complaints, drug-dealing and prostitution, New York's Police Chief Raymond Kelly said.
"Gunshots all over the place. This is outrageous at best," he said.
He also criticised the police for handcuffing the two men receiving emergency care for their injuries in hospital.
Denise Ford, the mother of one of the men hurt in the shooting, is quoted as saying her son was shot in the hand, right leg and buttocks.
"I think this is messed-up on the cops' behalf," Ms Ford told New York newspaper Newsday.
"They're too hotheaded and something needs to be done about it."
Police suspicions
A total of 21 bullets hit the car the men were in as they left the strip club, police said.
The driver, Sean Bell, was to be married later on Saturday. He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
One of his passengers, Joseph Guzman was hit by at least 11 bullets and is in a critical condition in hospital.
The other passenger, Trent Benefield, was hit three times and is in a stable condition.
Police Chief Kelly said the three men were also being watched.
He said an undercover officer at the club had reported that the men were in a group that was involved in a dispute with another person outside the club.
The officer had reportedly called his colleagues saying he feared a gun would be produced.
As the men left the scene, a car they were driving struck an undercover officer on the shin.
It also hit an unmarked police vehicle, which is when five of the seven police officers on the scene opened fire, Mr Kelly said.
No weapons were found on the three men or in their car. An investigation is under way.
In 1999, New York police fired 41 bullets at unarmed Amadou Diallo, killing him. The four officers involved were acquitted of all charges.
How did this story make you feel?
Whos at fault?
Who do you blame?
This is something I left out of the story "Civil rights activist Al Sharpton has demanded the police explain its actions."
Al Sharpton said the police must explain its actions
Has your opinion changed?
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