The Dell Studio Hybrid desktops come out in the USA tomorow, hopefully we will see them soon here in NZ. They come in 6 colours with interchangerble sleeves.
Introducing the Studio Hybrid
- Sleek and Stylish Design
- Space-Saving form factor to fit where you need it.
- About 80% smaller than a typical desktop.
- Uses about 70% less power than a typical desktop and is Energy Star 4.0 compliant.
- Packaging and printed documentation was greatly reduced and 95% recyclable.
- System recycling kit included.
Read MoreI wouldn't call myself a gamer & the main reason I bought my PS3 was for Blu Ray but this games rocks! Gameplay, graphics, sound, story......
Read MoreI am onto my 4th consecutive Nokia S60 handset now (6680, E90, 6121 classic, E71) and one reason for my loyalty is the stable of everyday apps I am familiar with the operation of. Here, for all to see, is a list of those very apps, all of which can be obtained free of charge, legally (except WinLive for non E/N series handsets).
- Calcium - calculator by mtvoid
- Mobile GMaps - uses the Google map and satellite image tiles with a slight hack and many other maps "out of the box". Allows automatic upload of your position to a public or private map online.
- Google Maps for Mobile - if you don't have a GPS it will use the network to approximate your location. Also allows you to enter start and end address and have it show you the route (no voice directions though)
- Mirggi - S60 native IRC client, under constant development and a very nice app.
- Windows Live Messenger client, found in the "Download" menu on E and N series handsets or here for other handsets
- Qik - a live video streaming app that is still in Beta but works pretty well already
Feel free to comment below with any must-haves that I have missed, thanks!
Read MoreAfter going unbundled with Orcon's Gold+ Account I was having issues getting online and was recommended an Orcon HomeHub over D-Link DST-502T. The 502T was theoretically more than capable of doing ADSL2+ (as I was running it at home on the same plan already). But at $5 a month, and to solve a problem I thought, stuff it, and got one sent out.
The HomeHub is really just a Siemens SX-763 WLAN DSL Router. Its running a slightly modified firmware that has the Orcon settings preset. You can't flash newer vesions of Firmware, although Orcon can from their side of things. This could lead to an interesting future for this little hub - more on that later.
The Homehub features (according to Orcon) -
"This sleek wireless router lets you access your Broadband from anywhere in your house without plugs or cables.On the Siemens site it lists it features as -
What's more, because our network can talk to it, our helpdesk can easily support the device remotely to get you back online faster if there is ever a problem.
In the future, we'll be teaching the Homehub some cool new tricks to give you an even better Orcon experience through new and interesting services, so stay tuned..."
- High-speed wireless data transfer at up to 108 Mbps (compatible with IEEE 802.11b/g)
- Integrated ADSL 2+ modem
- 4 Port 10/100 Hub
- External broadband access modem support (e. g. VDSL, cable)
- Support for up to 6 VoIP public telephone accounts (SIP Protocol)
- USB Support (SMB/FTP/Web/Printer).
The Unit is one of the nicer Routers or modems I've seen, although it does feel a but light and plasticy. All the ports are nicely placed on the back. It can be mounted on a wall or look fine on a desk.
The web inerface is pleasent to look at, and functionally seems to include all the settings. There's wizards both for the absolutely basics and also for the security features. Add to that the normal Advanced Settings, It's feature packed but simple to get around. There's support for all the necessary wireless standards - WEP, WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK/WPA-PSK.
I'd love to go into the VOIP settings but as I have never been too interested in it before, I wouldn't know much. The fact they're there, and are quite feature complete shows a feature I imagine Orcon will use in the future.
Connection wise, the wireless seems solid, although I personally use an Apple Airport Extreme to run a parallel 5ghz Only 11N based network and a 2.4Ghz for older clients. Excessive. Maybe. A bonus of using the $5 a month homehub though.
Internet wise, in the Auckland CBD, just off K Rd I've got a 12286 kbps (upstream) ADSL Connection. Its strange as when the connection was first setup I was getting up to 22500kbps on the connection - close to ADSL2's limit - and now its back down to the top of ADSL1's top....... Orcon?
UPDATE See first comment.
Heres some results from speedtest.net -
Auckland -> Auckland (WorldxChange Communications) - 9907 Down / 354 Up
Auckland -> Christchurch (Snap Internet) - 6587 Down / 266 Up
Auckland -> Sydney (Mammoth Media) - 3327 Down / 333 Up
Auckland -> London (Namesco) - 1723 Down / 180 Up
Auckland -> San Francisco (Unwired) - 2739 Down / 194 Up
Things that aren't cool -
USB only does FTP no SFTP so not great for putting online.
The DHCP server won't list connected devices - Wireless status lists the Host name, Mac and IP's of any wireless clients but for the overall IP's - nothing. The settings are there - just broken, a bug that I hope Orcon will get on to fixing.
UPDATE Orcon do indeed have a forthcoming update. Orcon were nice enough to flash mine and it does indeed fix the issue.
Things that are cool -
USB Features.
Looks good.
A full featured router for only $5 a month (on Orcon).
Assumably VOIP support from Orcon in the future.
Read MoreIt took a while, but I'm finally at it - iPod touch 2.0 now jailbroken for me, using WinPwn.
You'll need:
- WinPwn (2.0.0.3 is what I used, since some bugs were apparently fixed)
- Your iPod 2.0 restore file (please note that it must be 5A347)
- iTunes 7.7
- Some patience
Step 1
Open up WinPwn.
Click "Browse .ipsw" and find your original iPod touch 2.0 restore file.
Step 2
Click "IPSW Builder"
You don't really have to do anything here, but you can select "Install Cydia" if you want it.
Step 3
Click "Build .ipsw", save to a location, and wait a while.
Step 4
Once the whole process is complete, click "iPwner" and click OK to the confirmation message.
Step 5
Open up iTunes, and put your iPod into DFU mode.
I tried to do this a few times, but having a counter on hand is best.
- Connect iPod to PC
- Turn off while connected to PC
- Press Sleep/Wake and Home buttons for exactly 10 seconds. Leave iPod connected.
- After the 10 seconds, release the Sleep/Wake button. Continue to hold the Home button. Leave iPod connected.
- Windows will now see the "new hardware", and iTunes will give a message that it has found an iPod in recovery mode.
- Click OK.
Step 6
In iTunes, hold Shift while pressing "Restore".
Find your custom restore file and Restore. And wait for an extremely long time.
Step 7
Afterwards, iTunes may prompt for a backup restore.
It worked for me, but I'm not 100% sure if this affects anything, but if you don't mind, you can set it up completely from scratch.
The restore took around 25 minutes. Maybe it's because of my apps, but expect to wait.
... and now you should have a jailbroken iPod touch with Software 2.0!
There was one problem - Cydia always hangs when downloading or installing software. A hard reset is required. (Hold Sleep/Wake and Home buttons until it shuts down, then start up normally)
Read MoreWhen you go out shopping, or to a baseball game, or wherever, odds are fair that you lock your car doors when you leave. You probably want to protect your... Read More
You can read the rest of my story on my WordPress blog, but the service these guys have given me is unbelievable, BAD that is.
This is my status for today for the rest follow my link below.
So if you read my previous blog you will know that our phone line died yesterday. So This afternoon I rang Orcon to find ut what is happening. I rang the 0800 number and selected landlines and waited for a response which came pretty quickly and I got a very polite response from Jamie who advised me that she had to pass me on to a different department because the other department was responsible for the port change. She also explained that the port change affected the landline and the broadband connection.
So off to another department and another woman who advised me that they were still waiting for a technician to advise the date when someone would do a port change!
I said “Are you telling me that I have no phone and that you can’t even tell me when someone will advise when they will look at it?” Correct, it might be this afternoon, they do work on Saturdays so someone might turn up then or, well they just don’t know because it is another department.
I asked if they would forward incoming phones to a mobile and they have agreed to do that, but why couldn’t they suggest that in the first place? Basically this now means that people can contact us without having to know our mobile numbers and without having to pay for the toll call, but it does also mean that we have to pay mobile call rates for the outgoing local calls, but at least we have communications.
But we have no idea when our home phone line wll be reconnected.
Since last night I have had 2 people come to me saying that they had been planning to move to Orcon and now won’t. Would you like to be in on a sweepstake as to when I will have a home phone line? Or perhaps hw many times my internet will disconnect today? Yes, funny isn’t it, I still have a Broadband connection at home even if I don’t have the phone. I just checked, so far my broadband has disconnected 18 times today.
Read More(Due to the heavy use of images, I recommend people on dial up to stop loading this page when all text appears)
We used to be with TelstraClear for dial up (with Clear Net, which is now Clearnet), but even after we left them, they still shove us with more marketing!
Here are the images, first of the letter enclosed with the flyer - and now with the power of CSS, you can hover over the "best" whatever parts to see what is says (as it's a flip top flyer):
- Terms and Conditions from the back of the flyer(Click on the image parts to enlarge)
I wish that they could stop sending us more marketing!
We left them. That's it.
We don't want people chasing after us after we left!
At least those new TC ads ("Simple Solutions. Everyday.") are good...
Read MoreSo, I'm sitting here in the Qantas business launge of the Sydney airport, waiting for my flight back to Auckland. A few tables across from me someone has just powered up his laptop. I know it's a business traveler, because his laptop has a business c... (more in the full post)
Read More| Next Cardboard idea > |
I don't want to spend $75 on an iPod dock out there... and I only need USB connectivity to sync and charge. So who cares about spending money on a dock, when you only need cardboard?
Materials:
- Cardboard from a cardboard box
- Some tape
- Your iPod dock connector adapter (usually supplied with many iPods out there)
- Your iPod USB 30-pin dock connector
I'm not for aesthetics - only for practicability, not that beautiful Apple products should come with good looking accessories.
Read MoreOn a rainy day I parked on Tory St, Wellington and used the convenience of paying my parking via SMS. That would be $4 for two hours, plus $.50 for the privilege of not having to carry coins. But instead of getting the little piece of paper with the ticket to put in my windshield, I got an error message:
"Transaction rejected"
Interesting. But I immediately got a SMS back from Telecom saying "thanks, we debited your account for $4.50".
Bummer. So instead I decided to use a credit card. Again I got an error message:
"Transaction rejected"
Hmmm. It looks like the machine may be out of paper, but the developer for this company decided to stupidly save some bytes instead of providing a meaningful message - and a transaction rollback.
So I walk to the next machine, pay and display the ticket in the windshield.
But I wouldn't be short of $9 today, right? I called the Wellington City Council, explained what happened, and was assured someone would call me back to arrange the refund.
You guessed right. No one ever called me back.
Like so many other New Zealand businesses, getting you off the phone is what they want to do. The Wellington City Council is quick to slap a fine on your car if you are over five minutes in the parking lot, but they don't want to move a finger to refund you money that they took without providing the service.
By the way I am looking at my credit card statement. This was on 17 June. More than enough time for the Wellington City Council to come back to me.
End of rant of the day.
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