I switched from iOS to Android when my iPhone 3G (not 3GS) finally gave up the ghost, and by that stage Apple weren't doing any OS updates to it either. That was a few years ago. On the whole I'm pretty happy with Android, since v4 it's felt less like a hobby OS and more stable. Even if it doesn't seem as stable as iOS, which is understandable since it gets skinned for each manufacturers hardware- making it akin to Windows in trying to accomodate everything.
I've got a Nexus 4 (the google phone) so you'd expect Android to play nicely with Googles own hardware, and yeah, upto 4.4.2, it has - it seems noticeably quicker doing things than on equivalent hardware.
So far, so good.
Android 4.4 came out late last year and it's caused problems on a number of devices. But the problem I had was when I made, or answered, a phone call - the dialler pad went black and inactive. The only way I could hang up was by holding the power button, or waiting until the caller hangup. And I couldn't use phone banking, or put the phone on speaker.
Sometimes hitting the power button on the side showed a brief glimpse of the panel. couldn't do anythnig with it, so presume this is Google's attempt at teasing me.
Not really the best look for a device marketed as a phone.
Even for me who doesn't really use the phone as a phone much.
So I've written this summary to bring together the number of pages and things I tried, eventually taking the phone back to Android 4.3.
What did I try
The internet is full of suggestions. Here's what I tried and what happened.
Tried alternative dialler
Kinda improved things, but still when receiving phone calls everything went dark.
Safe Mode
This is similar to booting into Safe Mode on a PC, it disables 3rd party apps etc. Instructions here.
Result: same problem, so it's Android and not an app I installed.
Restore to factory settings
Your phone has a restore to factory settings somewhere. It'll clear everything, so back up if you don't already sync to Google.
Result: as expected, same as Safe Mode.
Clean Install of 4.4.2
I'll give more detailed instructions under the restore to 4.3 section below. But figured before I took it back, I'd try a clean install of 4.4.2.
Result: phone seemed more responsive, but same problem with dialler.
Restore back to 4.3
And so, after being unable to get some voicemail, I decided to go back to 4.3. This involved a few webpages, and wasn't very Mac focussed, so here's my attempt at bringing it together - hopefully making it reasonably straightforward for most users.
Sources for this:
Cult of Android
Android Developer Site
Unlock bootloader for Nexus 4
Software you'll need
Android SDK- Developer Tools and API libraries
Android Factory Images - choose the 4.3 version
Android File Transfer Agent (maybe already installed if you move files/music around)
Instructions
Your Mac should already have the drivers to see the Nexus, if not install the Android File Transfer agent from here.
Extract the Android SDK, it will say you need to have a Java environment installed, but all you want from this large bundle is a small file called Fastboot.
Extract the 4.3 Factory image.
I kept both extractions in Downloads, as it was easier to keep track of where they were. But that's just me.
Find the file in the SDK called 'fastboot' and move this into the extracted 4.3 directory (called occam-jwr66y). Fastboot is probably in a subfolder called 'platform-tools'.
Put Nexus into Bootloader mode
Turn the phone off, then switch on by pressing the power key, and Volume Up + Volume Down simultaneously.
Connect the phone to the computer.
Start up a terminal window (Launchpad / Other / Terminal). Use the cd command to get to the directory you've saved everything into, for example mine was:
cd ~/Downloads/occam-jwr66y
type:
./fastboot oem unlock
You will be prompted on the phone to verify the process.
Open the script flash-all.sh using TextEdit from the occam-jwr66y folder and edit it so that all of the fastboot commands read ./fastboot my script now looks like:
./fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-mako-makoz20i.img
./fastboot reboot-bootloader
sleep 5
./fastboot flash radio radio-mako-m9615a-cefwmazm-2.0.1700.84.img
./fastboot reboot-bootloader
sleep 5
./fastboot -w update image-occam-jwr66y.zip
Back to Terminal, and type
./flash-all.sh
Your phone will automatically reboot, and ask you to set it up again. Things worked fine for me here.
But I also rebooted into the Bootloader, connected my phone up, and typed the following into the terminal window to lock the bootloader again:
./fastboot oem lock
It was then an annoying process of going through the Android store for My Apps, then clicking on the All tab and choosing what I wanted to reinstall.
However the phone dialler now does what I want it to do.
Hope this helps someone...
B
Showing posts with label computers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label computers. Show all posts
4 October 2013
For avoiding the Daily Fail
TBH, I'm more likely to click on a link for Nigerian princes than to the DF, but for those of you less in control of your fingers there are plugins which redirect those links to other pages (http://www.teaandkittens.co.uk/ mainly).
But the point of this blog is to draw your attention to a comment posted on the Firefox plugin site.
So huzzah and stuff to DeadCars for an inspired review :) Personally my love for the comment reached bursting point around the 'Maybe Princess Diana was a bit overrated?'.
>>
I used to be a massive racist and so naturally turned to the Daily Mail and Daily Express websites for my regular dose of ignorance and thinly veiled race-hate. But this plugin has really turned my life around. I've started having thoughts like "Maybe it's not all the fault of the European Court of Human Rights?","Perhaps there are some substances that neither cause nor prevent cancer?", and "Maybe Princess Diana was a bit overrated?" Thanks to Kitten Block, my fear of imaginary crime has rapidly dissipated and so I last week I left the house for the first time in 18 years. I've also stopped endlessly checking the price of my property on rightmove and started, y'know, being nice to people instead. Thanks Kitten Block, I'm not a unthinking dufus anymore. First class.
<<
14 May 2012
aMSN, MacOS 10.7 (Lion), iTunes - music artwork display
Ok, probably of limited interest to 90-95% of readers, but:
Problem:
My iTunes artwork isn't displaying when I use aMSN. This obviously upsets me, hugely.
Lion is a 64bit OS, aMSN (both SVN and standard release) appears to be 32bit. And that's why the two don't play nicely.
But there's a quick fix.
Solution
Close iTunes. Go to the Applications folder, do a Get Info, and select Open in 32-bit mode.
This seems to work. Although I've noticed that you need to start aMSN before iTunes - especially if you use a remote storage location (NAS) for your iTunes library.
Why, of course my life is exciting.
Problem:
My iTunes artwork isn't displaying when I use aMSN. This obviously upsets me, hugely.
Lion is a 64bit OS, aMSN (both SVN and standard release) appears to be 32bit. And that's why the two don't play nicely.
But there's a quick fix.
Solution
Close iTunes. Go to the Applications folder, do a Get Info, and select Open in 32-bit mode.
This seems to work. Although I've noticed that you need to start aMSN before iTunes - especially if you use a remote storage location (NAS) for your iTunes library.
Why, of course my life is exciting.
29 October 2011
A day to myself, and technology
So, I've got the day and house to myself. What to do? Movies, coffee, music, and beer. Simple.
Movie watch (so far): My Little Eye (alright thriller); Badlands (really enjoyed this)
Music (so far): Opeth-Heritage; Dream Theater-A Dramatic Turn of Events
Both albums were loud, as they're supposed to be. And were used as a backdrop to my cooking of some piccalilli. Yes, that's the kind of radical behaviour I get up to when left alone. The house smells of white wine vinegar, mustard and ginger. Works for me. And co-incidently goes well with the Crabbies Black Ginger Beer (6%, aged, and includes other spices - very very tasty - tho not as quaffable as their standard).
I've got left-overs from last night for tea, as I can't be bothered moving.
Technology
usually it pisses me off, but in this case - win. I've got a ReadyNAS duo where I store all my music and stuff that's not in the google cloud. It has 2x1.5TG drives in there, set up for full redundancy, so if one fails, everything is backup on drive2. Mainly as I don't think it would be good for my sanity to lose my music collection...sure I could import it from CD again, but the purchased mp3s and vinyl<->mp3 conversions, not quite so easy to replace.
Anyway, I recently upgraded to the new firmware and noticed it supported MacOS Time Machine backup. I thought, that's kinda useful. And didn't do anything about it. Last week I enabled it, set aside 300GB of NAS space for it (to back up both Mac's, it's done on MAC address, so both machines can share that 300GB), and kicked things off. It's much slower than my firewire800 external drive - taking many hours to do the initial 65GB backup. I'd configured it to not backup the dropbox directory, and may yet remove the Applications directory. But once it had done the first backup, it's been very quick, and runs happily in the background every few hours.
this means at some point soon, I'll have a few external harddrives to dispose of (2x 250gb USB, a 1TB internal loose, and a 750GB firewire800) which will be nice to tidy the electronics up a bit.
Here's the info from ReadyNas.
Right, onto the next movie and some beer. Piccalilli is now bottled.
B
Movie watch (so far): My Little Eye (alright thriller); Badlands (really enjoyed this)
Music (so far): Opeth-Heritage; Dream Theater-A Dramatic Turn of Events
Both albums were loud, as they're supposed to be. And were used as a backdrop to my cooking of some piccalilli. Yes, that's the kind of radical behaviour I get up to when left alone. The house smells of white wine vinegar, mustard and ginger. Works for me. And co-incidently goes well with the Crabbies Black Ginger Beer (6%, aged, and includes other spices - very very tasty - tho not as quaffable as their standard).
I've got left-overs from last night for tea, as I can't be bothered moving.
Technology
usually it pisses me off, but in this case - win. I've got a ReadyNAS duo where I store all my music and stuff that's not in the google cloud. It has 2x1.5TG drives in there, set up for full redundancy, so if one fails, everything is backup on drive2. Mainly as I don't think it would be good for my sanity to lose my music collection...sure I could import it from CD again, but the purchased mp3s and vinyl<->mp3 conversions, not quite so easy to replace.
Anyway, I recently upgraded to the new firmware and noticed it supported MacOS Time Machine backup. I thought, that's kinda useful. And didn't do anything about it. Last week I enabled it, set aside 300GB of NAS space for it (to back up both Mac's, it's done on MAC address, so both machines can share that 300GB), and kicked things off. It's much slower than my firewire800 external drive - taking many hours to do the initial 65GB backup. I'd configured it to not backup the dropbox directory, and may yet remove the Applications directory. But once it had done the first backup, it's been very quick, and runs happily in the background every few hours.
this means at some point soon, I'll have a few external harddrives to dispose of (2x 250gb USB, a 1TB internal loose, and a 750GB firewire800) which will be nice to tidy the electronics up a bit.
Here's the info from ReadyNas.
Right, onto the next movie and some beer. Piccalilli is now bottled.
B
9 September 2010
I am destined for sainthood
Which, as titles go, may rate as most unlikely to see, concerning me.
However, I have proof. Convincing proof. Not only did I manage to get a new version of MSN Messenger onto the parentals computer (thanks R) using the cached MSI files that MS don't tell you are stored locally. But I then proceeded to fix their email using remote assistance via MSN.
Nothing too exciting there, until I mention they refuse to join the 21 C., and connect using a 56k modem. Yes modem. Here is a picture of a 'modem', they connect using an old fashioned communication device termed a 'telephone'. Here is a picture of a telephone.
It took just under an hour, most of which was waiting for screen refreshes, but we got there.
So, although I'm incredibly busy at the moment, it is lunchtime so I'm investigating how to become a saint. Or as we in the biz term it, canonization.
Am keen to avoid the initial criteria of martyrdom, I have too much to offer the world to depart this mortal coil.
Thankfully Pope JP2 (the return of JP, we're still waiting for JP3 when JP loses to Rowan Williams and lands the rematch of the century) codified things a bit in the early 80s. Catholicism doesn't count spandex, lycra, or keytars as essential requirements, but capes, capes are an essential part of religiousness, proving god is a Prog fan boy.
Servant of God. Sadly I have to be dead for this, but no harm in preparing the paperwork early. There are initial technical issues to get over (whose god, what service, etc etc). I'll give Pope EggBene a heads-up, see if he can skip the 'must be dead' bit. Apparently someone needs to be my postulator. Which sounds rather like an outbreak of the black plague, but never mind.
Declaration 'Non Cultus' Someone has to dig up my body. And play with my relics. Those of you wanting a trial period, give me a yell now, play with my pre-relics!
"Venerable/Heroic in Virtue" I think may have to skip the heroic in virtue section, and focus more on venerable as I have to be realistic and focus my, admittedly prodigious, talents. It is at this stage I get to have prayer cards printed concerning me. Again, it seems churlish to wait until I'm dead, I think we should all make a start on this right now. For a start, since I'm not going for the virtue side, we can flog off signed copies on ebay. Help pay for the whole shennanigans. Go Team B !!!
"Blessed" as I'm not going for martyr, I have to be a confessor. This means a documented miracle is required. See earlier section. This usually involves a a miraculous cure, that doctors cannot explain, of some sick loser. I feel it's time for the church to move with the times, embrace technology, and sanctify (your love) me for my techno skillz. See, I'm even down wiv da kidz.
"Saint" booyar. Miracle achieved, I've already got beautific vision, so yet again, another box ticked. I say start building some damn parishes in my honour. Hell, let me open them, it'd be a nice touch (possibly avoid using the word 'hell' too much in the opening speeches...). At this point the faithful may freely and without restriction (mmm badly phrased) honour the Saint. I'm keen if we focus my faithful on hot scantily clad babes. Coffin dodgers pawing at my pre-relics doesn't appeal. At all.
Result.
Love, St. B.
However, I have proof. Convincing proof. Not only did I manage to get a new version of MSN Messenger onto the parentals computer (thanks R) using the cached MSI files that MS don't tell you are stored locally. But I then proceeded to fix their email using remote assistance via MSN.
It took just under an hour, most of which was waiting for screen refreshes, but we got there.
So, although I'm incredibly busy at the moment, it is lunchtime so I'm investigating how to become a saint. Or as we in the biz term it, canonization.
Am keen to avoid the initial criteria of martyrdom, I have too much to offer the world to depart this mortal coil.
Thankfully Pope JP2 (the return of JP, we're still waiting for JP3 when JP loses to Rowan Williams and lands the rematch of the century) codified things a bit in the early 80s. Catholicism doesn't count spandex, lycra, or keytars as essential requirements, but capes, capes are an essential part of religiousness, proving god is a Prog fan boy.
Servant of God. Sadly I have to be dead for this, but no harm in preparing the paperwork early. There are initial technical issues to get over (whose god, what service, etc etc). I'll give Pope EggBene a heads-up, see if he can skip the 'must be dead' bit. Apparently someone needs to be my postulator. Which sounds rather like an outbreak of the black plague, but never mind.
Declaration 'Non Cultus' Someone has to dig up my body. And play with my relics. Those of you wanting a trial period, give me a yell now, play with my pre-relics!
"Venerable/Heroic in Virtue" I think may have to skip the heroic in virtue section, and focus more on venerable as I have to be realistic and focus my, admittedly prodigious, talents. It is at this stage I get to have prayer cards printed concerning me. Again, it seems churlish to wait until I'm dead, I think we should all make a start on this right now. For a start, since I'm not going for the virtue side, we can flog off signed copies on ebay. Help pay for the whole shennanigans. Go Team B !!!
"Blessed" as I'm not going for martyr, I have to be a confessor. This means a documented miracle is required. See earlier section. This usually involves a a miraculous cure, that doctors cannot explain, of some sick loser. I feel it's time for the church to move with the times, embrace technology, and sanctify (your love) me for my techno skillz. See, I'm even down wiv da kidz.
"Saint" booyar. Miracle achieved, I've already got beautific vision, so yet again, another box ticked. I say start building some damn parishes in my honour. Hell, let me open them, it'd be a nice touch (possibly avoid using the word 'hell' too much in the opening speeches...). At this point the faithful may freely and without restriction (mmm badly phrased) honour the Saint. I'm keen if we focus my faithful on hot scantily clad babes. Coffin dodgers pawing at my pre-relics doesn't appeal. At all.
Result.
Love, St. B.
31 March 2010
IT musings
I think it's time to come up with some predictions as to where I see IT for the next 12-18 months. Not much point heading beyond that the speed things move at.
I'm having a reasonably quiet day but have been pondering where I think we need to put resources for growth which has prompted this blog.
Cloud computing
Which has become a buzzword to confuse the crap out of pretty much anyone. Ask for a definition of cloud computing and the sheer variety of answers makes ways to use eggs in cooking seem simple. I think from a user perspective (not enterprise) the move to putting documents, settings, emails up on the website is well established - but will become more common place. Offerings from Google (email, docs, storage), Microsoft (new Live Mesh), and a number of other providers allow storage of, for example, documents, email (webmail), bookmarks, general settings etc. All of which means you can, in theory, have all of your work on the web. There are security issues there, but for convenience, it seems a good thing. I'm quite sold on it, if for no other reason than I don't have to email my documents from home to work etc, and since I use Dropbox, I can access them on the iphone. Seems pointless? It's been useful when I've been trolling vinyl in record shops, since I've got my list on the phone I can check what I've already got.
My concern here is the security, most people don't have secure password, and most people don't change them very frequently, let alone security by the hosting company. This is one reason why I'm using Dropbox over Google for my storage, I'm concerned at the amount of info Google already have about me (from gmail, searches etc), so why stick my documents up there too?
The big corollary is movement to smaller laptops. You don't need power to surf the web, so speed can be sacrificed to make smaller machines. This is where I see the power of the iPad, work on docs, browse the web and listen to music. How many of us really only use the computer for that?
In reality most of us don't use anywhere near the power of the computer we own and, in theory, could get away with a terminal server/thin client connection. This was thrown around a few years ago as the future of computing, but it's not until now that network speed/stability and the potential of the internet, have allowed it to become a realistic approach for users.
For Enterprise users, I see the cloud in the next 6-12 months being a trial period, while security and data storage issues are addressed. Who owns the data and how easily can it be migrated?
Computers
Going on a limb here, but I predict the effective death of the desktop PC in the next 12-18 months. The current economic climate will force a move to greener options (thin client, laptops etc). So outside of the few people who actually need high performance machines (gamers possibly) the rest will continue the move to smaller truly-portable machines. Even for traditionally desktop bound industries, for example movie rendering, there are now options for blade-based processors so thin-client is possible here. In theory anyway.
I think the ipad will really kick start the truly portable PC market. Although I'm in two minds about purchasing one: there is no camera, which limits the use for skype/msn etc, and the multi-threading is a bit pseudo which if you are trying to do a number of things, could be an issue. I also don't see the point of having a 3G one (see below).
Interesting that a number of mobile companies here will give you a 'free' netbook with the purchase of a 3G dongle and plan. I think that's a massive rip-off and have warned a few people off that - see Wireless below.
Wireless
This is where the interesting stuff happens - if we ignore NZs dire ADSL connections and focus on the better UK ones.
I'm currently discussing with our networks team removal of hardwired network connections to the halls. And we all see that within the next year or two, wireless is robust and secure enough to cope with the increased demand. And that's with general student usage of iPlayer, legal (and illegal) P2P usage, movie downloads (via itunes etc).
The ubiquitous nature of wireless means connection is possible pretty much everywhere. So why not kill off hardwired connections - mostly. There is demand for backbones to have the extremely high speed connections being rolled out (100GB+), but whether this needs to be to the users desktop/thin-client is questionable. Actually thin-client entirely negates the use of wired, if the wireless is stable enough...
Another issue I find amusing is people who get cabled connections to their house, then run wireless. Kinda defeats the purpose.
If wireless is going to take over from wired, then I do agree speeds need to be increased - which is likely to mean more connection points, or at least smarter trafficking of data. This isn't an area I know much about...but the hit as more people are connected to the same point is significant.
I also think 3G is dead and shouldn't be used. It's over-saturated as it is, and connection speeds are dire. 4G is on it's way, but can we just go for full wireless? There's big implications for Telco's here as the mobile companies have the investment in 3G, and the traditional (eg BT) telco's have the wireless, could lead to an interesting battle for customers.
That's my point on why I'd be going for a wireless only iPad. All I ever do with my phone is swear when I'm using data over 3G. It would be fine for text, but as sites all use graphics and interaction (eg google maps), 3G kills my battery and my will to live. die 3g, die.
For much the same reason, don't be tempted on the 3G dongle+netbook deals, as they'll lock you into a long term contract (from what I've seen anyway).
OS and Software
I'm sure most of you expect me to say Linux is the way forward. It's not. Or rather, it's nowhere near ready for general users. So for the foreseeable future, it's a niche market and we're stuck with Apple and Microsoft. Both of which I'm fine with, Win7 is good, and I like Mac OS...
What may begin to shake things up is Google when they launch their OS. Given their success and market dominance, and the full integration with GoogleApps/Mail/etc. it could become quite a challenging competition for the two established brands.
Microsoft are obviously concerned, and have responded with the launch of MS Live Mesh. Kind of Dropbox meets Google Apps/Mail. So allows multiple machines access to stuff.
Apple need to seriously rethink their offering, currently MobileMe and iDisk are paid services - which look good, but with the combination of free offers available, I don't see much of a win using them. And cost-wise, they are expensive for what is being offered.
General software has become a web-based service (software-as-a-service), and I think it's ridiculous to expect users to keep paying for basic office programs. Google Apps and MS both offer free web-based options, and OpenOffice has been free for years (and cross-platform). There is the opportunity for enhanced offerings on a cost-model. It's been tried before (Mandriva linux and OpenOffice/StarOffice spring to mind), but never very successfully. Possibly as a lot of them charged beyond what the market was keen to pay.
There is a strong separation here between consumer and enterprise tho', and that's the split that needs to be exploited by software manufacturers. I foresee something like 'buy our enterprise software and get the consumer version free' - or the enterprise comes with a web-based version accesible from outside the organisation. From the looks of Office 2010, and the recent updates to Office 2008 (Mac) that's certainly where MS are headed - as in integration with the MS Mesh Live offerings. Rumours have it that Mesh Live will be synched properly with SkyDrive (25GB online storage for free) in the next few months as well.
eBooks
I can't see the death of paper based books just yet - although as I mentioned in a recent blog, I can see the increasing decline of the newspaper industry.
However with the new Apple iTunes Books section competing head to head with amazon's kindle etc., I think we're in for some fun times as consumers. For ease of use, it's hard to beat itunes, so it's going to come down to compatibility. Amazon have been a bit petty about this recently, but are obviously doing something as ebooks are unavailable on their website.
I can't see a DRM (digital rights management) system working too well here, but there are more limited licensing models available that could work.
Will be interesting times for the book world. We've already seen the death of Borders and the near collapse of other major bookstores, apparently due to a lack of diversification or acceptance of new media forms. Is this the beginning of the megastore (amazon, itunes) and the micro-niche store (indie book shop) with very little as high street stores? I suspect it might be.
Crickey that was a bit of musing.
Links of interest:
MS Live Mesh
Dropbox referral
Apple iPad
Apple MobileMe
I'm having a reasonably quiet day but have been pondering where I think we need to put resources for growth which has prompted this blog.
Cloud computing
Which has become a buzzword to confuse the crap out of pretty much anyone. Ask for a definition of cloud computing and the sheer variety of answers makes ways to use eggs in cooking seem simple. I think from a user perspective (not enterprise) the move to putting documents, settings, emails up on the website is well established - but will become more common place. Offerings from Google (email, docs, storage), Microsoft (new Live Mesh), and a number of other providers allow storage of, for example, documents, email (webmail), bookmarks, general settings etc. All of which means you can, in theory, have all of your work on the web. There are security issues there, but for convenience, it seems a good thing. I'm quite sold on it, if for no other reason than I don't have to email my documents from home to work etc, and since I use Dropbox, I can access them on the iphone. Seems pointless? It's been useful when I've been trolling vinyl in record shops, since I've got my list on the phone I can check what I've already got.
My concern here is the security, most people don't have secure password, and most people don't change them very frequently, let alone security by the hosting company. This is one reason why I'm using Dropbox over Google for my storage, I'm concerned at the amount of info Google already have about me (from gmail, searches etc), so why stick my documents up there too?
The big corollary is movement to smaller laptops. You don't need power to surf the web, so speed can be sacrificed to make smaller machines. This is where I see the power of the iPad, work on docs, browse the web and listen to music. How many of us really only use the computer for that?
In reality most of us don't use anywhere near the power of the computer we own and, in theory, could get away with a terminal server/thin client connection. This was thrown around a few years ago as the future of computing, but it's not until now that network speed/stability and the potential of the internet, have allowed it to become a realistic approach for users.
For Enterprise users, I see the cloud in the next 6-12 months being a trial period, while security and data storage issues are addressed. Who owns the data and how easily can it be migrated?
Computers
Going on a limb here, but I predict the effective death of the desktop PC in the next 12-18 months. The current economic climate will force a move to greener options (thin client, laptops etc). So outside of the few people who actually need high performance machines (gamers possibly) the rest will continue the move to smaller truly-portable machines. Even for traditionally desktop bound industries, for example movie rendering, there are now options for blade-based processors so thin-client is possible here. In theory anyway.
I think the ipad will really kick start the truly portable PC market. Although I'm in two minds about purchasing one: there is no camera, which limits the use for skype/msn etc, and the multi-threading is a bit pseudo which if you are trying to do a number of things, could be an issue. I also don't see the point of having a 3G one (see below).
Interesting that a number of mobile companies here will give you a 'free' netbook with the purchase of a 3G dongle and plan. I think that's a massive rip-off and have warned a few people off that - see Wireless below.
Wireless
This is where the interesting stuff happens - if we ignore NZs dire ADSL connections and focus on the better UK ones.
I'm currently discussing with our networks team removal of hardwired network connections to the halls. And we all see that within the next year or two, wireless is robust and secure enough to cope with the increased demand. And that's with general student usage of iPlayer, legal (and illegal) P2P usage, movie downloads (via itunes etc).
The ubiquitous nature of wireless means connection is possible pretty much everywhere. So why not kill off hardwired connections - mostly. There is demand for backbones to have the extremely high speed connections being rolled out (100GB+), but whether this needs to be to the users desktop/thin-client is questionable. Actually thin-client entirely negates the use of wired, if the wireless is stable enough...
Another issue I find amusing is people who get cabled connections to their house, then run wireless. Kinda defeats the purpose.
If wireless is going to take over from wired, then I do agree speeds need to be increased - which is likely to mean more connection points, or at least smarter trafficking of data. This isn't an area I know much about...but the hit as more people are connected to the same point is significant.
I also think 3G is dead and shouldn't be used. It's over-saturated as it is, and connection speeds are dire. 4G is on it's way, but can we just go for full wireless? There's big implications for Telco's here as the mobile companies have the investment in 3G, and the traditional (eg BT) telco's have the wireless, could lead to an interesting battle for customers.
That's my point on why I'd be going for a wireless only iPad. All I ever do with my phone is swear when I'm using data over 3G. It would be fine for text, but as sites all use graphics and interaction (eg google maps), 3G kills my battery and my will to live. die 3g, die.
For much the same reason, don't be tempted on the 3G dongle+netbook deals, as they'll lock you into a long term contract (from what I've seen anyway).
OS and Software
I'm sure most of you expect me to say Linux is the way forward. It's not. Or rather, it's nowhere near ready for general users. So for the foreseeable future, it's a niche market and we're stuck with Apple and Microsoft. Both of which I'm fine with, Win7 is good, and I like Mac OS...
What may begin to shake things up is Google when they launch their OS. Given their success and market dominance, and the full integration with GoogleApps/Mail/etc. it could become quite a challenging competition for the two established brands.
Microsoft are obviously concerned, and have responded with the launch of MS Live Mesh. Kind of Dropbox meets Google Apps/Mail. So allows multiple machines access to stuff.
Apple need to seriously rethink their offering, currently MobileMe and iDisk are paid services - which look good, but with the combination of free offers available, I don't see much of a win using them. And cost-wise, they are expensive for what is being offered.
General software has become a web-based service (software-as-a-service), and I think it's ridiculous to expect users to keep paying for basic office programs. Google Apps and MS both offer free web-based options, and OpenOffice has been free for years (and cross-platform). There is the opportunity for enhanced offerings on a cost-model. It's been tried before (Mandriva linux and OpenOffice/StarOffice spring to mind), but never very successfully. Possibly as a lot of them charged beyond what the market was keen to pay.
There is a strong separation here between consumer and enterprise tho', and that's the split that needs to be exploited by software manufacturers. I foresee something like 'buy our enterprise software and get the consumer version free' - or the enterprise comes with a web-based version accesible from outside the organisation. From the looks of Office 2010, and the recent updates to Office 2008 (Mac) that's certainly where MS are headed - as in integration with the MS Mesh Live offerings. Rumours have it that Mesh Live will be synched properly with SkyDrive (25GB online storage for free) in the next few months as well.
eBooks
I can't see the death of paper based books just yet - although as I mentioned in a recent blog, I can see the increasing decline of the newspaper industry.
However with the new Apple iTunes Books section competing head to head with amazon's kindle etc., I think we're in for some fun times as consumers. For ease of use, it's hard to beat itunes, so it's going to come down to compatibility. Amazon have been a bit petty about this recently, but are obviously doing something as ebooks are unavailable on their website.
I can't see a DRM (digital rights management) system working too well here, but there are more limited licensing models available that could work.
Will be interesting times for the book world. We've already seen the death of Borders and the near collapse of other major bookstores, apparently due to a lack of diversification or acceptance of new media forms. Is this the beginning of the megastore (amazon, itunes) and the micro-niche store (indie book shop) with very little as high street stores? I suspect it might be.
Crickey that was a bit of musing.
Links of interest:
MS Live Mesh
Dropbox referral
Apple iPad
Apple MobileMe
18 March 2010
When's URLs go wrong
i know there haven't been many updates from me recently, and I'm still refusing to update my Facebook status, but fear not, in depth and possibly surprising blogs will be flowing this weekend.
In the meantime, an example of a company who didn't think through their URL. This time, Microsoft. I've edited out most of the rubbish... Respect.
The solution is to install Exchange 2007 Service Pack 3 on the Windows 7 clients. Yes, you heard that right. Based on customer feedback, the Exchange Product group has decided to release Exchange 2007 SP3 in the second half of 2010, which will add support for installing Exchange 2007 Management tools on Windows 7 clients and Exchange 2007 on Windows Server 2008 R2 servers. You can read more about the plans to release Exchange 2007 SP3 here:http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2009/11/30/453327.aspx.
In the meantime, an example of a company who didn't think through their URL. This time, Microsoft. I've edited out most of the rubbish... Respect.
The solution is to install Exchange 2007 Service Pack 3 on the Windows 7 clients. Yes, you heard that right. Based on customer feedback, the Exchange Product group has decided to release Exchange 2007 SP3 in the second half of 2010, which will add support for installing Exchange 2007 Management tools on Windows 7 clients and Exchange 2007 on Windows Server 2008 R2 servers. You can read more about the plans to release Exchange 2007 SP3 here:http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2009/11/30/453327.aspx.
9 February 2010
google maps, it's not just me
Google Maps and I have had a difficult relationship, my desire to get from point A to point B quickly conflicts with GoogleMaps desire for me to see the countryside (B roads, I kid you not, actually one wasn't even that).
But it appears I got off lightly. Read here how phones for the UK ended up in Uganda. And yes, it's for a google phone.
Pah.
But it appears I got off lightly. Read here how phones for the UK ended up in Uganda. And yes, it's for a google phone.
Pah.
8 January 2010
General Stuff, Dropbox, and Spotify
Well it didn't snow last night, or at least not too much, it's been quite nice walking into work this week. Snow is much preferable to ice, less excitement in the vertical stakes. Wandered in the other day to Marillion's Seasons End, which is such a superb album. Ahh bliss.
I've just been moving a lot of my stuff (documents, photos etc) around, splitting them between google docs, and Dropbox. I like google docs, cos it's simple, but for storage of stuff I prefer dropbox. they give you 2gb free and you can pay for increased sizes - if anyone wants an invite let me know, cos I get an extra 250mb of storage if you click on a link from me :D
Google docs works well for simple stuff, but the biggest problem I've come across, is that date codes and stuff don't work well, no matter what country settings you have (I've tried, as has a minion). It also doesn't like some file types, and won't allow you to upload them - so it's not much use as a backup storage place.
Spotify is certainly a godsend, particularly with end of year best-of CD lists by everyone. Excellent way of spinning tracks to work out if I want the album or not. Listened to the xx earlier (thanks S2H) and now the Doves (thanks psychochicken), long list of stuff to get through today, I guess that means I'll end up getting work done!
For those not in the know, Spotify allows you to listen to albums over the 'net, or your smartphone, without buying them - although you have that option too. there's a few ads in the free version, but seems fine for what I use it for. Paid version is, by all accounts, excellent.
Love, B
I've just been moving a lot of my stuff (documents, photos etc) around, splitting them between google docs, and Dropbox. I like google docs, cos it's simple, but for storage of stuff I prefer dropbox. they give you 2gb free and you can pay for increased sizes - if anyone wants an invite let me know, cos I get an extra 250mb of storage if you click on a link from me :D
Google docs works well for simple stuff, but the biggest problem I've come across, is that date codes and stuff don't work well, no matter what country settings you have (I've tried, as has a minion). It also doesn't like some file types, and won't allow you to upload them - so it's not much use as a backup storage place.
Spotify is certainly a godsend, particularly with end of year best-of CD lists by everyone. Excellent way of spinning tracks to work out if I want the album or not. Listened to the xx earlier (thanks S2H) and now the Doves (thanks psychochicken), long list of stuff to get through today, I guess that means I'll end up getting work done!
For those not in the know, Spotify allows you to listen to albums over the 'net, or your smartphone, without buying them - although you have that option too. there's a few ads in the free version, but seems fine for what I use it for. Paid version is, by all accounts, excellent.
Love, B
7 January 2010
More linux geekery
It's a bit cold in the office today, works boiler blew up or died or something, and had to be relit this morning. So it's likely to stay cold for the next couple of days. I've even got a jersey on in the office, which is a first.
Have finished configuring my linux box now, the last bit of which was to get my drives mapping properly. Nothing very difficult, except I couldn't remember the commands :D
The internet came through nicely tho, initially mapping the drive using terminal was done following this website. And when that worked fine, I edited /etc/fstab so the drive was mapped automatically using:
//server/share /mnt/udrive smbfs credentials=/etc/samba/cred-file,uid=USERNAME,gid=users 0 0
as I'd created a file in /etc/samba called cred-file with my username and password in the format:
username=xxxxx
password=xxxxx
This means I've got networked drives mapping, printing sorted, Pidgin configured, Skype running, and Evolution connecting using IMAP as there isn't an exchange client for 2007 yet.
It's all procrastination from the reading I'm supposed to be doing.
Me
Have finished configuring my linux box now, the last bit of which was to get my drives mapping properly. Nothing very difficult, except I couldn't remember the commands :D
The internet came through nicely tho, initially mapping the drive using terminal was done following this website. And when that worked fine, I edited /etc/fstab so the drive was mapped automatically using:
//server/share /mnt/udrive smbfs credentials=/etc/samba/cred-file,uid=USERNAME,gid=users 0 0
as I'd created a file in /etc/samba called cred-file with my username and password in the format:
username=xxxxx
password=xxxxx
This means I've got networked drives mapping, printing sorted, Pidgin configured, Skype running, and Evolution connecting using IMAP as there isn't an exchange client for 2007 yet.
It's all procrastination from the reading I'm supposed to be doing.
Me
22 December 2009
A slightly geeky day at work
I had a few things to tidy up this morning, and a big meeting for cunning plan implementation. After lunch I decided to boot back into linux and finally finish the configuration. I'm using Kubuntu 9.10 mainly as I like the prettiness of the KDE desktop. The utilitarian approach of Gnome is good, but I like pretty - I'm a Mac boy damnit.
I'd already set up email, sadly Evolution doesn't have a Exchange 2007 plugin yet. I'm thinking of switching to the KDE mail suite, but it's never really rocked my world, so will continue with Evolution (mail) and Outlook Web Access for calendaring etc. I guess I could look at synching my outlook calendar with gmail which would do what I want better. Hmmm. No hurry as it does synch nicely with the iphone so I'm still getting reminders when I need them.
Got a bit sick of Kopete which is the default KDE instant messenger, so I've installed Pidgin since that's what I was using on the Windows side of the box. I've also edited the display settings so it's crystal clear (better than windows, which is odd), although it continues to want to display on the laptop and the external monitor - guess that's something to look at in the new year.
Using Firefox for the browser, KDE's default one is good, but has a few issues with websites that don't follow HTML coding properly.
The big win? Plugging in my Mac formatted ipod, the system recognising it, and Amarok (the KDE default media player) picking it up and playing tracks off it - no problems at all. The Pidgin plugins for 'now playing' are very simple to plug in, and there's a Last.FM plugin built in by default.
I haven't finished configuring my drive mappings, currently I can see the SMB shares, but only as read-only, and I can't be bothered doing much about that today. I'm sure I fixed that on another box, so will see if I made any useful notes concerning it.
Generally, I'm liking it. It's certainly a lot less clunky than it used to be - not nearly as smooth as MacOS, but certainly more is built-in and just works out of the box than Windows. I think I'll continue to use it more in the new year, if only as it reads the ipod and I can play music and tell people what I'm listening to. Yes, I am that shallow.
Oh and the Skype linux version, technically beta, works well. No problems there either.
I also tidied my desk, and starting reading about Prince2, but then decided fiddling with my linux box was more interesting.
Love, B
I'd already set up email, sadly Evolution doesn't have a Exchange 2007 plugin yet. I'm thinking of switching to the KDE mail suite, but it's never really rocked my world, so will continue with Evolution (mail) and Outlook Web Access for calendaring etc. I guess I could look at synching my outlook calendar with gmail which would do what I want better. Hmmm. No hurry as it does synch nicely with the iphone so I'm still getting reminders when I need them.
Got a bit sick of Kopete which is the default KDE instant messenger, so I've installed Pidgin since that's what I was using on the Windows side of the box. I've also edited the display settings so it's crystal clear (better than windows, which is odd), although it continues to want to display on the laptop and the external monitor - guess that's something to look at in the new year.
Using Firefox for the browser, KDE's default one is good, but has a few issues with websites that don't follow HTML coding properly.
The big win? Plugging in my Mac formatted ipod, the system recognising it, and Amarok (the KDE default media player) picking it up and playing tracks off it - no problems at all. The Pidgin plugins for 'now playing' are very simple to plug in, and there's a Last.FM plugin built in by default.
I haven't finished configuring my drive mappings, currently I can see the SMB shares, but only as read-only, and I can't be bothered doing much about that today. I'm sure I fixed that on another box, so will see if I made any useful notes concerning it.
Generally, I'm liking it. It's certainly a lot less clunky than it used to be - not nearly as smooth as MacOS, but certainly more is built-in and just works out of the box than Windows. I think I'll continue to use it more in the new year, if only as it reads the ipod and I can play music and tell people what I'm listening to. Yes, I am that shallow.
Oh and the Skype linux version, technically beta, works well. No problems there either.
I also tidied my desk, and starting reading about Prince2, but then decided fiddling with my linux box was more interesting.
Love, B
13 November 2009
Justin, Journey and Rick
I'm sure at some point this weekend I'll blog more about the UK, it's about time since I've been in the job for a few months...
I was wandering in this morning to the sweet sounds of Justin Timberlake (yes I like him, piss off), and through apathy couldn't be bothered scrolling too far so went for Journey. Ahhh my god it's crap, but such feel good crap. Lyrically, makes prog look good. Well kinda. Ok I gave up after 5 songs, as that's about my limit from the Best-Of, and I wouldn't buy any other album. But fun!!!
So fun in fact, here's a video:
So where does Rick fit into this, and which Rick? Well I do rather like both obvious choices, Wakeman and Astley, so this news item has now done the rounds in the office.
Love, B
I was wandering in this morning to the sweet sounds of Justin Timberlake (yes I like him, piss off), and through apathy couldn't be bothered scrolling too far so went for Journey. Ahhh my god it's crap, but such feel good crap. Lyrically, makes prog look good. Well kinda. Ok I gave up after 5 songs, as that's about my limit from the Best-Of, and I wouldn't buy any other album. But fun!!!
So fun in fact, here's a video:
So where does Rick fit into this, and which Rick? Well I do rather like both obvious choices, Wakeman and Astley, so this news item has now done the rounds in the office.
Love, B
2 November 2009
Twitter - saviour or sinner?
Twitter was launched with very little idea what it was, what it hoped to become, or indeed how to use it. The concept of sending 140 character updates to friends, relatives, stalkers etc., was generally derided as 'something for the young'. In the same way text speak is derided by people who don't text.
This didn't stop Twitter. And one of the selling points was that anyone could sign up to receive your tweets, absolute strangers could hear what you had for breakfast, and why the dog decided to rub mud into your best jersey. Or, if you believe the nay-sayers, why XXX was like a total bitch on Saturday and you'll like never talk to her again.
Twitter began to get more interesting during the Iranian elections, and subsequent protests over the legitimacy of them. The mass protests and information from the left-wing bodies was co-ordinated and disseminated using twitter, proving mass information could be delivered quickly and cheaply. The other advantage was the ability of Twitter to 'tag' similar information, so that even if some users were shut down, others could continue the message.
All well and good, and indeed a good example of grass roots democracy.
Not so good was watching US senators tweeting during debates. I think, if I were American, I'd like my elected representatives to be paying a little more attention to what I'd elected them to do.
But the point of this blog are two recent incidents of twittersphere. One, the breaking down of the injunction from Trafigura on reporting their rather dodgy behaviour when 'disposing' of dangerous chemicals. The Guardian was blocked from reporting who put the injunction in, what the gag was about, who asked the question - everything relevant to the topic. Tweeters found out the info by looking through reports, and disseminated all the info - and Private Eye published it. This proves to be an excellent demonstration of how democracy should work, as the injunction was not in the public interest.
The other example is the Daily Mail's column about Stephen Gately by Jan Moir (summary here), where she managed to piss off a large number of people. This number was increased by tweets and indeed a focus to 'trend' her as one of the days most tweeted topics. Which was successful, leading to many more complaints including threats and publishing her home address.
Not such a great example of democracy.
I find both these examples concerning. Although on the surface the first one is a good example of democracy in action, both of them are, in essence, rapid mobs. People do not stop to consider things, and will generally follow like sheep if (A) says 'this is bad, tell everyone' then most people if they have some form of interest/relationship with (A) will do what they say. This rapidly leads to mob action and the more people, the more inclusive, the more they feel 'righteous'. That's not democracy, that's gang thinking. Or to keep it local, football hooligan mentality.
I have no idea what can be done to solve this, and it's not simply a case of asking people to think before they tweet, or getting those with hundreds of followers to consider implications. As that just won't work. People when annoyed won't think - but that sets off chain reactions.
In fact, the more I think about it, the more I'm very concerned at the uncontrolled power of twitter.
B
This didn't stop Twitter. And one of the selling points was that anyone could sign up to receive your tweets, absolute strangers could hear what you had for breakfast, and why the dog decided to rub mud into your best jersey. Or, if you believe the nay-sayers, why XXX was like a total bitch on Saturday and you'll like never talk to her again.
Twitter began to get more interesting during the Iranian elections, and subsequent protests over the legitimacy of them. The mass protests and information from the left-wing bodies was co-ordinated and disseminated using twitter, proving mass information could be delivered quickly and cheaply. The other advantage was the ability of Twitter to 'tag' similar information, so that even if some users were shut down, others could continue the message.
All well and good, and indeed a good example of grass roots democracy.
Not so good was watching US senators tweeting during debates. I think, if I were American, I'd like my elected representatives to be paying a little more attention to what I'd elected them to do.
But the point of this blog are two recent incidents of twittersphere. One, the breaking down of the injunction from Trafigura on reporting their rather dodgy behaviour when 'disposing' of dangerous chemicals. The Guardian was blocked from reporting who put the injunction in, what the gag was about, who asked the question - everything relevant to the topic. Tweeters found out the info by looking through reports, and disseminated all the info - and Private Eye published it. This proves to be an excellent demonstration of how democracy should work, as the injunction was not in the public interest.
The other example is the Daily Mail's column about Stephen Gately by Jan Moir (summary here), where she managed to piss off a large number of people. This number was increased by tweets and indeed a focus to 'trend' her as one of the days most tweeted topics. Which was successful, leading to many more complaints including threats and publishing her home address.
Not such a great example of democracy.
I find both these examples concerning. Although on the surface the first one is a good example of democracy in action, both of them are, in essence, rapid mobs. People do not stop to consider things, and will generally follow like sheep if (A) says 'this is bad, tell everyone' then most people if they have some form of interest/relationship with (A) will do what they say. This rapidly leads to mob action and the more people, the more inclusive, the more they feel 'righteous'. That's not democracy, that's gang thinking. Or to keep it local, football hooligan mentality.
I have no idea what can be done to solve this, and it's not simply a case of asking people to think before they tweet, or getting those with hundreds of followers to consider implications. As that just won't work. People when annoyed won't think - but that sets off chain reactions.
In fact, the more I think about it, the more I'm very concerned at the uncontrolled power of twitter.
B
26 April 2009
In Bruce we trust, Network toys
Today? well it's pissing down so I'm curled up on the chair thinking about a nice glass of wine or beer - since I only had two all yesterday (but let's not talk about Friday).
I did head into work to try and recover data from a couple of computers. Which I did successfully, to the relief of their owners. But FFSake who doesn't run backups? I've had three data recoveries to do over the last two weeks. Two of them I've got everything back, and the third probably 90-95% back. But still - backups people!! For those of you not on MacOS 10.5 and the superb TimeMachine, you can still drag n drop stuff to an external harddrive. Do you really wanna lose all those photos? the pr0n you've downloaded? There's masses off small apps that will run backups for you on Windows...
Speaking of which, I was getting a bit paranoid about mine, and in particular the iTunes library. So I've invested in a small NAS so I can run that as a multimedia center through the AppleTV as well. I'll let you know how that goes when it's arrived (has a 1TB drive in it, with space for a 2nd if I want to RAID it). I'm intending to tidy up my DVDs lying around the place and get them on there.
Figure the iTunes library can live there and be dragged to the 750GB FW800 drive periodically for redundency. Oohh I could write a script for that. No no no stop it. Geek !!!
I think it's wine weather and a nice classic movie, probably Errol Flynn.
Will just read the paper first.
Me xxx
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