Archive for August, 2006

Computerland – Gimme back my Archos

Posted 25 Aug 2006 — by Alex
Category Technology

Theres been no ‘this week I’ve been mostly listening to….’ simply because over a previous weekend I had a few friends round, whilst supping some Marlon’s my small, hairy and successful chum who looks like Teenwolf….for those who don’t remember he looks a little like this only he’s a company director……


Managed to pull the corner edge protector off, so it’s back with Archos to be mended, so far it’s taken over 2 weeks to get a quote out of them to fix it. Well I suppose they are French and probably still smarting about Agincourt or busy blockading some port on account of the new EU rulings on selling onions off a bicycle and generally hating the English ‘ Rost Biffs’.

Don’t get me wrong I like France, I even go on holiday there even though they think all us English are uncouth hooligans just gimme back my Archos and stop sulking about the EU banning you’re beloved ‘squat and drop’ and ‘pissoires’.

Here endeth the lesson

Computerland – Abe’s iPod

Posted 23 Aug 2006 — by Alex
Category Technology

I’d recent sent a note to PCW magazine who did a piece on podacsting. I was and still am a disliker of iPod’s, yes I know they are the most popular mp3 player and don’t they look great and the little wheel thingy is truely innovative and Jonathon Ive is a great British desinger and this and that and something else. But, and here’s the big but…..Microsoft get a continual berating over their dominance, profiteering and just about everything is blamed on them and Apple tend to get away with murder because of their more, how can I put this in a global sense, Bohemian perception where they cater for the inner artist and a claimed better OS. They build iPod’s with battery problems, poorly protected screens, software lock in’s and protected formats with a complete disregard for environmental impacts in a chinese sweatshop to bolster their own profit’s yet still they are considered untouchable.

I think this is getting like one of Abe Simpsons long stories that goes nowhere, just like the time it cost a nickle to get to Shelbyville, but it wasn’t called Shelbyville then……..

Bear with me

The intention of the note was to draw attention to other ways of getting audio and video content into your eyes and ears. I did make a sly mention of Hubdog but not a blantant plug. The march of technology helps to bring alternative ways of electronic consumption but reporting this march in paper form comes with a responsibility to tell the whole story and that’s all I was after.

Unsurprisingly I didn’t get a mention or response. Although whilst writing this I did begin to boil about iPods, just to be on the safe side I’ll do it quitely in a corner so I don’t worry the sheep.

Hubdog – Help documents

Posted 16 Aug 2006 — by Alex
Category Pocket PC

Owing to Yanick’s document and my over enthusiasm the new help doc is here………………………………………….

http://www.hubdog.com/help.aspx

Computerland – Ubuntu update

Posted 15 Aug 2006 — by Alex
Category Technology

I’ve been using it for a while now and am getting quite used to it……but…..there’s always a but. Setting up third party software is still more onerous than it was with Windows, but I’m still going for it.

Story so far.

Installed AMD64 version
Fiddled about and found that loads of the applications don’t seem to work. Got annoyed and binned it.

Installed 32bit version
Much less fiddling around. Much happier. Even the missus started using it without having to ask me questions….where’s this? or what the hell is that? are now things of the past (well almost). Even got Picassa (Linux version)…hurrah

Nova S Plus satellite card not recognised but not really surprised. I ‘ve had a quick look about but not found anything concise (note to self…have a rant about Linux HowTo’s and how absurdly verbose they seem to be, why say it in 10 words when 4000 will do!). Have taken the last resort and posted a ‘help me’ on the Ubuntu forums, shame really but I’m not getting anywhere with this one fast.

To Do List
1. Install Google Earth
2. Install MythTV and get it to recognise my MCE remote
3. Tidy up the OS, remove the programs I’m just not going to use and keep the system clean.
4. Buy a better monitor
5. Leave it alone for a while by which time the next version will probably be ready for installation

Sport – Bass weeks is over

Posted 14 Aug 2006 — by Alex
Category Sport

Battered

Bruised

Broken

Bass week

All of the above have made it a difficult week. My lack of ability gave me a 28th out of 46th over the whole 16 race where I managed to get in 5 races and 2 retirements. Once for a broken clew tie down and the second down to the 4 dunkings I got on one leg, not surprisingly a run. Still I did manage to almost hit the laser logo on one of the ‘offs’ just goes to show the power in the wind by throwing a 85Kg man 3 metres through the air!

The bruises on my shines have nearly gone, the one on my forearm has turned a lovely green colour and the chunk that is missing from my right hand is growing back nicely. All things considered quite injury free.