The Life and Times of Michael Shadle

It was weird to see a company nowadays still have your password stored somewhere plaintext.

I've been a fan of Backblaze for a long time, and prefer it and recommend it over Mozy time and time again. Mozy was the golden child for a bit, but now the prize goes to Backblaze, with its more efficient backup client, faster network speeds and same price. I've been using Backblaze for over a year by itself on many machines and have been quite happy. For the sake of redundancy though, a couple months ago I decided to subscribe to Mozy as well, just out of paranoia.

Due to the fact that their service always uses over 100 megs of RAM, and seems to continuously get stuck on certain files, I was planning on getting rid of it soon. Today's announcement made this decision even easier though, as now they've decided to go the way of other companies with tiered pricing models. With how cheap technology continuously gets, any company marking prices up really pisses me off.

So, I give a profane salute to you, Mozy, as you have now joined the ranks of companies I feel personally displeased with, and definitely will not recommend (not that I really did anyway.)

Even AT&T (one of the main companies I despise) let people grandfather in their unlimited plans, and cell networks take a lot more beating than a backup service with hard drive prices going down every day. Adding more servers to a rack is a lot harder than adding cell tower capacity. That type of "next month you'll be forced to change" does not sit well with me.

Dear Michael,

Thanks for being a valued Mozy subscriber. For the first time since 2006, we're adjusting the price of our MozyHome service and wanted to give you a heads up. As part of this change, we’re replacing our MozyHome Unlimited backup plan and introducing the following tiered storage plans:

50 GB for $5.99 per month (includes backup for 1 computer)
125 GB for $9.99 per month (includes backup for up to 3 computers)

You may add additional computers (up to 5 in total) or 20 GB increments of storage to either of the plans, each for a monthly cost of $2.00.

While this policy takes effect for new MozyHome customers starting today, your MozyHome Unlimited subscription is still valid for the duration of your current monthly term. In order to ensure uninterrupted service, you'll need to select a new renewal plan.

If you've read some older posts, I have praised Netflix for multiple reasons:

• Great service
• Easy-to-use, feature-rich but not overbearing website
• Fast delivery times
• Actually reduced the price of my plan voluntarily

Today I've got some bad news though. I just received an email notifying me that my plan will increase $3/month. Normally I wouldn't be as vocal, but this is on top of the deals they've made with studios to delay releases ~30 days. Netflix claims it will receive huge discounts and the press release for Fox says it will more of their library to be streamed. It's obvious the studios are supposedly hoping this ~30 day window will encourage consumers to rent/buy DVDs normally. Most sites I've read think it will just cause piracy to rise. I'm inclined to agree.

While the movie delay originally annoyed me, it wasn't enough for me to get too angry over. I'm so busy most of the time that 30 days passes me by in the blink of an eye. I don't believe Redbox has that restriction in place, so one could go rent a movie immediately from them still if they wanted.

However, now they are increasing costs on me while delivering less service. That I can't keep quiet about.

So with a heavy heart right now, I have to -2 Netflix. I kept the original movie delay -1 to myself. But now they get both negative marks at once for this new move. I really need to start a point system.

I got some results back on my credit report.

Choice items such as:

• Length of account history is too short.
• Too long since most recent account established.

What the hell? Don't those basically contradict each other?

But wait, there's more:

• Too many recent inquiries.
• Length of account history is too short.
• Too many accounts with balances.

Sounds like I am being encouraged to open a fresh account, because my "most recent account" was created too long ago. But too many new accounts dings me, on the flip side. I have too many accounts at the same time though. It's a catch 22.

However, the major complaint I have is that applying for loans/doing any sort of shopping that requires someone to pull your credit winds up hurting your credit score. This isn't anything new, but I simply do not get it. Shopping around and applying to things should have absolutely nothing to do with your score. That is like being charged 25 cents for looking at a carton of milk at the store but not buying it. Or having to pay to window shop - before you know whether or not you can even afford what you're looking at. Your credit score should only be altered when your credit situation changes. Not for simply checking to see if you can save money by refinancing or shopping for auto loans.

Unless you are extended a new credit line or something else, there should be no change in score. Especially nowadays with so many companies offering specials that require you to apply, shopping for a refinance (which can be turned down easily) costs you points on your credit score. Shopping does not mean you're actually receiving anything.

Also, I am told that "inquiries within the same industry within the same 45 day period only counts as one pull". I call bullshit. I am sure they're still counting each one somewhat.

While I do believe a credit rating system is valuable in some form, ours definitely needs to be overhauled. With the economy moving so slowly, people are looking for various ways to get more money out of their home or car, applying for more credit cards, etc. Regardless of the approval, it is messing with your credit just for shopping.

Suggestions

• Having your credit pulled should have no adverse affect on your score. Period.
• The time ranges need to be adjusted. "Too long since your latest account was opened" - that's a new one for me. Really contracts the hell out of the "Length of account history is too short" notice.
• Consistency across different bureaus - some tell me I don't have enough accounts. Some tell me I have too many. It is like trying to please a committee - you can't please everyone all at once.

I've had credit being built for 10 years, a couple different credit cards, bank accounts and loans. By now I should be receiving no negative marks for anything I've done relating to too many accounts, not enough accounts, too much time, not enough time, etc. However, it seems like raising the number takes an infinite amount of time, but lowering it happens almost immediately when your credit is pulled.

Once again, a sincere disappointment with how a system is run. I also do not see the reasoning behind some of the rules, either.

Today AT&T reported a bunch of data plan changes, perfectly aligned with screwing over people when iPhone OS 4 comes out.

OS 4 will give us tethering ability with AT&T. Of course, that comes with an additional cost now. If you want to "officially" tether with AT&T, you'll have to switch to one of their two data plans, and THEN buy tethering on top of that. Instead of your $30 for unlimited, you'll be paying $45 for only two gigs of bandwidth, vs. $30 currently for unlimited. Or $35 for a measily 250 megs.

They claim that 98% of its users fall within those tiers. Sounds like they're giving 98% of us a way to save a few bucks, right? Wrong. What people are overlooking is the fact that those statistics don't include the fact that you will be TETHERING. As in, your computer will be transferring data, and you're already accustomed to a much heavier data consumption through that medium. Think of how those little widgets on your laptop grab information off the net every so often, or a single Youtube video could easily be 20+ megs. It does add up, and ultimately anyone who wants to tether with AT&T should use it sparsely - otherwise, they'll be paying $10/gig for your overages.

I'll give AT&T some credit - their marketing geniuses and social engineers are gaming this system well - using the upcoming iPhone and OS for service type changes, some of which require contracts, some don't - helping them limit the impact on their network in creative ways while making you think you're getting a better deal. I especially like the fact once you drop out of an unlimited contract you can't go back, and they're trying to sway you out of it by not changing your expiration date if you drop down, and "allowing" you to switch back and forth between the two plans. Oh, and new iPad users? If you don't have a plan by the time OS 4 launches, you'll be subject to these new limits.

Let's face it - AT&T's network can't handle the iPhone. It's a blame game that ultimately both could be doing better at. I'm sure the iPhone could change it's tower-hogging style behavior, and I'm sure AT&T could be deploying all these upgrades they keep telling us about faster.

For me, if I do decide to go with the next iPhone, I won't be buying it with a contract. I'm going to stay a free agent, and not get locked in to a new agreement, and not buy their joke for insurance (monthly fee and still the cost of buying a refurbished unit for the deductable?!) - and I am getting closer every day to switching over to maybe the Evo 4G on Sprint - a hybrid solution with a limited 4g network around the area. Sprint and Verizon seem to have a much more reliable network, and since this device is still primarily a phone, voice calls do count for something. Sprint's at least would afford me faster WiMAX when I could get it, and openly promote the device's ability to share the connection with up to 8? devices.

I haven't investigated the fees, but when I can't go a single day without a dropped call, and I try to find landlines to fall back on where I can instead of my phone, something has got to change.

Once again I have to show praise for this company. In a time where everyone is cutting corners they are giving proactive discounts when they totally could not bother with even notifying me about a delay.

We're Sorry Your DVD Shipment Was Delayed

Dear Michael,

Due to a technical problem, your DVD shipment was delayed and will ship on Wednesday, May 26th.

We pride ourselves in delighting you, and we've let you down. We apologize, and we will issue a 10% credit to your account in the next few days. You don't need to do anything. Your credit will automatically be applied to your next billing statement.

Wow - two headlines in the same amount of weeks worth screaming about.

They're increasing ETF fees on all devices that actually matter and put any strain on their network. They've reduced fees on "basic and quick messaging phones" - which aren't anything that anyone cares about anymore.

"... the ETF will increase to $325, and be reduced by $10 for each month that you remain with us as a customer during the balance of your two-year service agreement."

Do the math: if you ride out your contract until month #23, you still owe them $95. You can never break even until you've gone out of your contract. I bet this will stay in effect for next year's iPhone refresh (assuming the pattern continues) - which means larger ETFs/upgrade costs for people who want to upgrade to the next iPhone after the 4G. All of us folks who plan on getting an iPhone 4G will be agreeing to these new terms (assuming we buy into a contract.) AT&T's got virtual crack with the iPhone (and iPad, I suppose) - they rope you in with two year agreements but release a new device each year... it would be so great if Apple got out of their damn agreement with AT&T.

Will have to weigh the options - I might be out of my contract soon anyway and it might be cheaper to buy the phone without a contract. Assuming I even stay with AT&T.

Ref: http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=17951

The empty promise fairy is here again.

Remember when AT&T didn't have MMS support, and kept delaying it? "Later this summer" - finally delivered September 25th. Over two years since the original iPhone launched on AT&T's network and MMS support was on just about every phone imaginable.

Or when they would have upgraded capacity? I can't tell anything. Lately it seems I get dropped calls almost 100% of the time.

What about tethering support? Still haven't seen that... the Engadget announcement says "soon" back in November 2008. Tethering support was official in iPhone OS 3.0 in June 2009. "Official" carrier support in the US? Still not an option (unless you jailbreak, etc.)

Now, in the midst of a new iPhone launch this summer they've got another announcement that will make everyone think "our problems will be solved!" - but if history is any guide, it's just a properly timed announcement to gain confidence in a competitive market. The iPhone is an extremely extensible product, but the service lately has literally had me thinking about jumping ship. Sprint and Verizon both have a decent array of phones, and their coverage out here is quite good in comparison; Sprint also offers their hybrid 4g/3g options too.

Anyway, time will tell. It's a shame that Apple is so crippled by AT&T.

"A new website, data.gov.uk, will offer reams of public sector data, ranging from traffic statistics to crime figures, for private or commercial use.

The target is to kickstart a new wave of services that find novel ways to make use of the information."

Awesome. I had an idea like this for infoporn.org a while back - generic data being available for consumption, but I really don't have any origin feeds that aren't already exposed. I'd just be re-syndicating them. But this would be awesome to have, just think of all the mashups you could create depending on what data is exposed.

Ref: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8470797.stm

FUD FUD FUD FUD

So there's more annoyance polluting the blogopshere, and it's about Facebook's privacy practices again.

They keep your data, even if you delete it. Imagine that!

Anyone who thinks that their data is truly deleted because they click "delete" on anything needs to wake up. YOU own your own privacy. If you don't want it to stick around then DON'T SHARE IT. Period.

I'm going to drop some more knowledge for you, and this one is for free. Expect whatever you say, wherever you say it, to be there forever. True deletion should be considered a BONUS, not an EXPECTATION.

FUD FUD FUD FUD

Refs:

• http://technology.globalthoughtz.com/index.php/anonymous-employee-reveals-ugly-details-of-facebook/
• http://www.allfacebook.com/2010/01/anonymous-facebook-employee-interview-fact-vs-fiction/