Donline is 18 years old today!

It's quite incredible to think that I started Donline Computer Consultancy 18 years ago - on 1st February 2006!

It's such a great Blessing to have so many wonderful clients. Apart from the work (very much appreciated!), we have forged some great relationships & friendships along the way. So a huge thank you to all those who have travelled this journey with me. Good Lord willing: here's to many more years!

So to celebrate the Anniversary: the 18th Trustpilot feedback (click here to leave feedback on Donline) - will be sent a very nice Donline goodie bag! 

www.donline.co.uk

Chris & Denise Arthey - upcoming Speaking engagements

 

Chris and Denise Arthey were involved in a life-changing road accident while on a motorcycle road trip in 2008. They both lost their left legs above the knee.

On work assignment in the USA, they were exploring South Texas when a drunk driver veered into their lane at 80mph, colliding with them almost head-on. They both suffered multiple injuries and Chris was in a coma for many days with internal injuries and severe concussion.

After a long and painful recovery, they were both able to resume the vocations they love. They both enjoy physical fitness, and Chris competes in endurance sports. Using prosthetic legs he has run marathons, competed in the British Paratriathlon Championships, climbed Kilimanjaro and trekked to Everest Base Camp.

They are both ambassadors for Blatchford who make their prostheses, helping with training, trade shows and conferences, product development and testing. Chris now has a master’s degree in Biomechanical Engineering.

Chris & Denise are good friends of ours. They are lovely people & truly inspirational! We originally met at a Motolegends breakfast meeting. Last year they spoke powerfully & movingly at our Church Men's Group. With the extent of their injuries, many people would have given up - but they have both risen above their disabilities to greater heights and achievements. Their faith shines through their book, and is truly an inspiration to us all. I love their book & can highly recommend it - enjoy!

Chris & Denise will be speaking at Beaulieu on 24 Feb 2024:
www.beaulieu.co.uk

Also at IAM RoadSmart Solent club night, Otterbourne, Tue 9 Apr 2024: 
www.iamroadsmartsolent.org.uk

www.chrisarthey.co.uk

And so it begins: BMW will deploy Figure’s humanoid robot at South Carolina plant

Figure today announced a “commercial agreement” that will bring its first humanoid robot to a BMW manufacturing facility in South Carolina. The Spartanburg plant is BMW’s only in the United States. As of 2019, the 8 million-square-foot campus boasted the highest yield among the German manufacturer’s factories anywhere in the world.

BMW has not disclosed how many Figure 01 models it will deploy initially. Nor do we know precisely what jobs the robot will be tasked with when it starts work. Figure did, however, confirm with TechCrunch that it is beginning with an initial five tasks, which will be rolled out one at a time.

www.techcrunch.com

Apple's 1984 advert. You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain

In Apple's 1984 advert, Big Brother said: "Today, we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information Purification Directives. We have created, for the first time in all history, a garden of pure ideology – where each worker may bloom, secure from the pests purveying contradictory truths. Our Unification of Thoughts is more powerful a weapon than any fleet or army on earth. We are one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause. Our enemies shall talk themselves to death, and we will bury them with their own confusion. We shall prevail!"

Apple finished the ad with: "On January 24, Apple Computer will introduce the Macintosh. And you’ll see why 1984 won’t be like [Orwell’s] Nineteen Eighty-Four."

The Telegraph has published an excellent article on the background to the Apple 1984 advert, it's making and where we are now - recommended reading! Funny how Apple were pointing the finger at IBM, but now we are ruled not by Big Brother but tech bros such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and current Apple CEO Tim Cook. 

www.telegraph.co.uk

Open Doors: World Watch List 2024. Where do Christians count the highest cost for following Jesus?

 

Around the world, 365 million Christians count the cost of following Jesus. For some, it means always being treated unfairly and fighting for justice. For others, the price is paid in bruises and beatings; in prison sentences and pain. Some have to give up their home, their family, their security, even their lives.

Today, the new World Watch List 2024 is launched. Read it to see where our courageous church family are paying the highest price for their faith – so you can stand alongside them in prayer, support and speaking out. Their inspiring testimonies and crucial prayer requests can help us unite as one global church, boldly living for Christ.

www.opendoorsuk.org

Post Office latest: Fujitsu boss apologises for Horizon scandal

Fujitsu Europe's boss has admitted the firm has a "moral obligation" to contribute to compensation for sub-postmasters wrongly prosecuted as a result of its faulty IT software.

Paul Patterson said Fujitsu gave evidence to the Post Office that was used to prosecute innocent managers. He added that the Post Office knew about "bugs and errors" in its Horizon accountancy software early on.

The global chief executive of Fujitsu, Takahito Tokita, also apologised. Making his first public comments on the scandal to the BBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Mr Tokita said: "This is a big issue, which Fujitsu takes very seriously."

When asked if he would apologise, he added: "Yes, of course. Fujitsu has apologised for the impact on the postmasters' lives and their families."

www.bbc.co.uk

Reading for today: on hope

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. 

The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Read all of Psalm 118 at Bible Gateway

Windows 11 still unable to escape the shadow of Windows 10

 

Many users are still steering clear of Windows 11 as Microsoft continues to shovel AI into its flagship operating system and prepares updates to mollify regulators.

The latest figures from Statcounter – there are no official numbers from Microsoft itself – paint a grim picture for the Windows vendor. Windows 10 does not appear to be going anywhere: in December 2022 it accounted for 67.95 percent of the market share and by December 2023 the figure was 67.42 percent.

Despite the updates lavished on Windows 11 during that twelve-month timeframe, Windows 10 still reigns supreme.

Windows 11 grew from a market share of 16.97 percent in December 2022 to 26.54 percent in December 2023, although it is debatable how much of that came from Windows 7 hardware being retired. The obsolete operating system's share dropped from 11.2 percent to 3.35 percent in the same period.

Hardware refresh remains a challenge. Microsoft's stringent hardware requirements are a blocker for some users who might otherwise consider moving from Windows 10 to Windows 11. A PC capable of running Windows 10 would likely be just as capable of running Windows 11 if not for Microsoft's insistence that a recent CPU and other hardware are necessary.

www.theregister.com