So, it looks like the UK’s most popular (and pretty much only) computer game store “GAME” is going down the pan. Good.

Let me explain that sentiment. It’s not so much that I am pleased that “GAME” is on the verge of disappearing, far from it. The lack of a video games outlet in town centres will certainly make my long “dragging-round-the-shops-while-the-missus buys-a-skirt” trips that much more boring. I am pleased however that such an outdated and arrogant at times method of retail has finally met it’s comeuppance. HMV et al, take note. (continue reading…)

Halfords. Britains one stop shop for all things driving related. Or, in other words, Britains one stop shop for a handful of parts that fit cars nobodies fucking got. Haynes. Britain’s reliable and dependable car manual producer. Or, more accurately, britains top maker of amusing merchandise cashing in on a historical brand they no longer seem interested in developing. (continue reading…)

So according to this article from msnbc customers are “Liking bigger screens” on their smartphones along with the quote “The explosion in Web and video content available for smartphones has caused consumers to rethink their phones’ sizes” from Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD. Well, I’m sorry Mr Rubin, there’s a bit of an error regarding your “analysis”.

You see, the article isn’t referencing a survey of any kind. It’s based on sales figures. And the sales figures certainly show that people are buying bigger screens, of that I’m quite sure. The article also adds that “The market share for iPhones and other smartphones with screen sizes between 3.5 inches and 3.9 inches increased just 2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010” and I certainly don’t doubt these figures.

What I do doubt is their conclusion from this data, summed up by “smartphones with screens smaller than 3.4 inches that were hit hardest by consumers’ preferences for bigger displays”.

Really? Is it not that smartphones with smaller screens were hit by consumers preferences not to have crappy phones with old software and underpowered hardware??

Go find me a phone with a dual core processor, 8mp camera and 720p video recording with a 3.7″ screen size. Oh wait, that’s right, there aren’t any. These “advanced” features are all being reserved for phones with a screen size of 4.3″, with some beginning to arrive with a 4.7″ screen. Dell’s first tablet offering had a 5″ screen, are you really sure that’s a phone anymore?

When asked “would you like a phone with a bigger screen” I bet the average consumer says yes. On the flip side I bet if you asked a consumer “would you like a phone that will actually get through a day of solid smartphone use without you having to take all your charging pack’s with you” they’s also say yes. Forget about taking one of these Godzilla sized phones on a weekend trip without the charger. My old nokias could go for a week without seeing a wall plug!

So, i’m browsing the web. Looking for something for the missus. She needs to find information about the distribution of waterstones loyalty cards in the west country or some such thing. I find a pdf link which looks like it has just the right info. Perfect. I click the link hopefully, waiting for my document to inevitably appear….

It doesn’t. An update to acrobat is available. Can it update in the background. Can it fuck. “Update now” it demands. Fine. I click update. Update complete it says after a few minutes of waiting. I click ok, hoping to see this document on fly fishing in the west indies or whatever.

No such luck. (continue reading…)

Cars. Even if you aren’t a car fan, theres almost noone that doesn’t have a favourite car. Maybe it’s the cute proportions of the mini, the sumptuous luxury of a rolls royce, the sweeping lines of a ferrari or the hippie iconography of the vw camper van, there’s a car to inspire all of use. In recent yeats, the car has become something to many which is indicative of our commercially driven world. A badge. A status symbol. It’s strictly the middle classes, and those aspiring to be so. It’s not longer enough just to have a car, or even a nice car. Even if a car has every feature known to many, it’s apparently nothing without a badge. (continue reading…)

Looking through recent articles, there are many companies at the moment posting “bad” trading results for the fiscal year, with plenty of negative news. An example. As reported by theregister, Dixons online sales only made them £900,000 this year as opposed to  £11.3m a year ago. That’s a big drop, for sure. But that’s 900 grand profit. after paying for their warehouses, staff and operating costs, they’ve made nearly a million in extra cash. In the uk, Dixon’s operating profit was “flat” and provided “little cheer” at only £71.3m profit. I’m sorry, what?? (continue reading…)