Introducing Google+ to your friends
I realised today that simply sending somebody a Google+ invite or telling them to go there is not very helpful for most people, they will wonder what it is all about, see very little and probably leave disappointed.
This is not anybody’s fault, just remember that a blank profile is a boring one and wont do much for them but with a few simple steps the beginnings of a profile and some good info may be of help.
I just got an invite to Google+ and I don’t know what to do now…
Most people have a google (gmail) account by now (if you don’t then get one) and you may receive an Invitation from a friend wanting you get into Google+ so where to from here?
Carbon emissions and the big picture – simple
Is global warming happening? Yes
Is global warming caused by humans? Mostly
Is global warming something we can prevent? Maybe
I really want to keep the above simple, it explains the situation and poses the right questions, but let’s look at the answers in more detail…
Yes, global warming is happening. Some island nations are sinking and there is good overall scientific evidence that over the recent 100 years other factors are showing that climate change is real.
If this is being caused by humans (mostly) though is questionable. Again the overall scientific evidence is that over the last 70-100 years CO2 has increased at higher rates than it has at any other previous period of time that we have been able to measure. I am not going to sight some individual factors that may dispute this reality, (more…)
Make your PC faster
New computers are nice, you get them with a basic clean install of windows and it all seem wonderful, you boot it up and blam, there is your desktop. You install a few apps, then you get to Office, Photoshop and some of the bigger things… OK, reboots take a little longer now but it’s still good.
A few months down the track you have all these wonderful unused apps installed, the hard drive is half full of pictures and music and movies, you have two or four user profiles, maybe a little crap-ware, three conflicting virus scanners just to be sure and before you know it you can make and finish a coffee before your computer has finished booting up.
Not only that but as it runs, things get slow,the computer stalls at critical moments for no obvious reason. Well it can be obvious… (more…)
Hackulo.us for the iPhone and iPad
Many of the things available for free on the iPhone and iPad are great, and sometimes there are free versions of the better software out there that help get your interest and try it out.
Other times this is not the case, and the only way to fully try software before shedding out the bucks is to do so by unscrupulous means.
This is a way to do it if you want to.
So you have jail-broken your device, and that’s great. There are a few utilities and things that are fun, but the wonderful apps that made jail breaking so worthwhile are no longer needed.
If you don’t have the latest version of the iOS on your device, browse to http://www.jailbreakme.com in safari and slide the button.
This jailbreaks it and installs ‘Cydia’ as an app.
Cydia gives you direct access to many apps, themes, ringtones that are not listed by Apple on iTunes. But it has another trick up it’s sleeve, repositories.
Select ‘Manage’ from the bottom toolbar and go into ‘Sources’
Select Edit and then Add from the top menu
Add http://cydia.hackulo.us as a repository
Select DOne to complete the additional repository
In the installed ‘Hackulo.us’, select and install the Installous application
Installous is your new application finder/installer
Once you search and find an app, installing takes a few steps
Click the ‘Download’ button to list locations that the file exists
Many of these files come from places like FileDude (below), others may work different ways. Look or wait for the link to be presented on these sites.
For FileDude, you get this page, click the ‘Or just download normally’
Enter the Captcha (image) in the box and select ‘Download’
Then the final ‘Download’ link will be shown.
The Installous download manager will then show the file being retrieved.
Once completed, you can select and Install it, easy.
Stream video to your iPhone or iPad – on demand
Having recently got an iPhone and an iPad (yeah lucky me), one of my desires has been to view my MythTV recordings on the device, wirelessly at home if I wanted to and when I wanted to.
The problem is that most video recordings that MythTV make are huge, and others that you may have downloaded are in various formats of AVI, mpeg and whatever.
Traditionally the method is to use Handbrake, which re-encodes a video file in a nice neat iPhone (or other) format ready to drag into iTunes and Sync (upload) onto the unit so you can watch it later. This is great if you want to put something there to watch on the train or bus or on a plane… but requires planning, preparation and time to do this.
If you want to see something that you recorded on your TV-PC decoder system (like MythTV) last night while still in bed on a Sunday morning then that’s an issue.
Now just to cover a technical point, MythTV records big mpg videos and there are more than 4 solutions I tried such as;
- MythTV – The Web Server
Delivers streaming content to PC’s but this uses flash which does not work on iPhones and is pretty low res. - MythExport supposedly re-encodes recordings and puts them into an RSS feed
Problem: still need to sync with iTunes to view
Problem: the re-encoding doesn’t work, at least in Lucid MythBuntu
Problem: even if it did work I have networking/sync/iTunes issues with it - MythPodcaster does a similar thing above, but live
Problem: Resides in a Tomcat (other) web server
Problem: Doesn’t work, unable to get all components installed on Lucid Mythbuntu
Hello AirVideo, an application I recently and eventually found to do this and it works.
The product works in two parts, the viewer (residing on your iPhone or iPad) and a server, ready and running to deliver and re-encode your movies and recordings on demand.
I first got the server and put it on my work desktop machine, it runs as a service and allows you to ‘point’ it to a directory on your drive where your video files are and can watch them.
This is available in both Mac and Windows and it could not have been simpler.
Second part is the AirVideo iPhone or iPad application or Viewer.
There is a free trial version on iTunes, or the full version for $3.99 AU. (iTunes links)
So, my first try was on my work pc, I downloaded and ran the server, easy, installed the iPad app and then in this added a reference to my server, the network IP address of my desktop pc. Then over my work network it connected to the server, showed all the movies in that directory and allowed me to watch them.
This takes a bit of processing power and may slow your desktop pc down a bit when you do this but it was all just too easy. The resulting quality and speed however was great.
Now onto MythTV. This uses the linux operating system and can be quite fun and a challenge to get running. I have talked about this before.
The issue is that, if Air Viewer Server is only for Mac or Windows, how to use it on this platform?
The answer is here, a basic guide for installing this application using ‘wine’, a windows emulator for unix and have it run on your mythtv system.
Two things I would add to that are…
- Do this on a terminal window on the box itself. Do not just telnet to the system and try it because the install needs a GUI interface while it pretends to be a windows system.
- After step 2 of this guide, you also need to install Bonjour from apple.
Step 2.5:
wget http://support.apple.com/downloads/DL999/en_US/BonjourPSSetup.exe
wine ./BonjourPSSetup.exe
And it works, AirVideo server is running on my Myth box, I can stream and view any recordings or stored video files at will to my iPad.
The one last thing I am looking at is the filenames. Those created in Myth are date/channel/time/length based and not informative of the actual recording. There is a script I am going to try that is intended to produce a list of nicely titled links referring to the videos which should make finding the recordings much nicer… but for another time.
I hope you enjoy and find this helpful.
Edit/Addition
To make this all a little nicer, listing the programs by name rather than the Myth id format would be helpful and this is how I have done it.
On the myth system I now use a perl script called mythlink.pl which makes symbolic links to the recordings.
I made a new directory in my files, next to recordings called airvideo and did chown to the mythtv:mythtv user and chmod to 775
copy /usr/share/doc/mythtv-backend/contrib/user_jobs/mythlink.pl to /usr/bin
mythlink.pl –link /..(location)/mythtv/airvideo
(note, that’s a [double] dash dash link)
Set the airvideo server to the new airvideo directory location instead of recordings
To make this happen regularly I put this script in a crontab so it runs every 30 minutes keeping them updated regularly.
Airvideo can stream and convert on the fly, this works ok but I have found its hard to skip and sometimes drops out when trying this on an iPhone, on an iPad it seems to work better.
Airvideo allows you to pre-convert files allowing much better playback. This is done in the client and on my machine (a fairly nice AMD 64) a 1.1Gb recording (of 40 minutes) was converted to a 188Mb m4v in under 10 minutes.
Having the nicely named program links in a seperate airvideo directory also means the converted files are located and managed there.
Good luck 
Suzuki GSX-250F Across Update
Many of you have been getting the GSX-250F Users manual from my site which is great. It would be good to hear from some of you how it’s going, if your enjoying your ride or if the books are helping you fix and maintain it.
All the same, I have done some updates. This new version of the User Guide is updated to newer versions of Acrobat Reader (8 and above) and also it’s now OCR’d so you can search it.
Get the original (Colour) version (4.5Mb)
There is also the full workshop manuals and extra diagrams for download here too.
I am now nearing 55,000 Kms on my ‘97 across. It’s going great guns after some minor and major repairs to it since I got it. In some order, chronological memory…
- Chain and Sprocket
- Head stem bearings
- Fuel tank sensors (replaced after leaking)
- Temperature gauge
- Front fork bushes
Getting some pretty nice spring and work done by suspensions-r-us. - New rear tire
- Gear lever actuator
So I have been doing some serious maintenance on it. I would rather it was perfect but a 13 year old bike is not without it’s issues but generally I have been happy with it, it rarely lets me down.
I would love some feedback using the form below or direct to warren[@]morgans.cc
Here are some new bike pics, for your entertainment…
Customer service WIN #1 – My new ISP
OK, I moved to a new ISP recently, and got some new equipment, router, VOIP phone and all that jazz. All worked a treat and I have been very happy.
The other day, I noticed the charger for the phone was not on (no light) and it wasn’t charging the handset… Soon it was flat. No big deal as there is also a charger in the base router box I got but all the same I want the second charger unit for downstairs.
Me: Called them up
Them: All our operators are busy, we can call you back in 20-27 minutes…
Customer service FAIL #4 – Even just for a coffee
I enter a popular burger shop that has a ‘coffee’ attachment and stand near the register behind another customer currently being served…. and wait a bit… and wait some more…
Her: You want medium coffee? (Handing me one she just made as I entered)
Me: No, I haven’t ordered anything yet
Her: Oh um… Goes back to serving first person
Customer service FAIL #2 – The telecommunications centre
We had a couple of phone bills to pay, and also since I went naked-dsl I also have a nice credit from my old telecoms provider.
I went into the store, half way in a guy with a clip-board decided he needed to ask if I wanted any help, um, just on my way to the service counter to pay some bills. He nicely showed me toward the service counter that I was aiming for (it’s not a big shop and I didn’t expect to need directions or get lost)…
Customer service FAIL #1 – At the cinemas
I went to see a movie last weekend, Avatar in 3D at an IMAX theatre near me. The movie was great, even going up and buying the tickets was all good and fine. I did have to ask about the 3D glasses though, not offered or mentioned until I raised the issue and was told to collect the specs at the door when I came in later for the movie.
OK, all good, so when we returned later and came in we got the glasses and half my tickets back all usual then we went for some munchies.
It seemed to be taking a while for them to server a group of three people in front of me, glad we were early as they seemed to take ages, not to worry, we waited.
I got BoB
So the story continues, I churned my ISP from TPG to iiNet. All went well and I was back online nice and quick, given I had already the hardware and the necessary smarts to do so. Part of the plan was removing my dependence on Telstra and getting an old-style telephone line, sure I still needed the copper to my house, but no longer needed to pay $30 each month for it to exist.
Damn automated call centres
Yes, I am converting over my ISP, and this includes no longer needing Telstra as a basic phone line system. So I am calling them today to confirm my account has been cancelled.
Ring ring…
So I may be able to help you, please say what this is about…
My internet upgrade – Phase 2
So far so good, the upgrade/churn of my internet connection from my old ISP to iiNet is going well. Last Friday, as planned, the technician transferred my connection at the exchange over. My phone went dead and my old services were off-line, it was all happening.
Churning my internet connection – the upgrade
For two years I have been waiting on my (and other) service providers to get ADSL2+ into my local, suburban, near city exchange. It’s not going to happen, for some reason this is a little box on a reasonable block of land that can’t accommodate new equipment. Of course the behemoth of Telstra has done it, and they have a few resellers, but my provider, TPG which has provided good service, has not even listed my Maidstone exchange for an upgrade any more, no plans, no mention and no light at the end of the tunnel.
Do so much more with dropbox
I have mentioned this program before, and as in the article I am about to link to, this simple program can do so much more than the basic service of ‘synching files’ that it was originally intended.
So what could ‘synching files’ mean to you?
I have a computer at home, in fact a few computers at home and also one at work. I have some files that I like to have on-hand at any of these locations. Even if these files are just some simple backups, chances are you will be in the wrong place at the wrong time to find them, and then when you do drag that old backup cd out of a drawer its scratched and out of date anyway.
This is where dropbox comes in handy. It stores your files in a secure account in the cloud. You can get them from anywhere at anytime and if you use it right, they are always up to date.
Case in point, I like the add-ons and options I have setup in Firefox. Various development and other bookmark plug-ins that come in handy. I got a new pc at work, and I could have gone to the trouble of then doing backups and transfer all these bits over to a backup drive and then re-installed them, but I saved myself a lot of work by having dropbox always running on my pc.
I then use a Firefox add-in called FEBE which every week will backup all my add-ons and settings from Firefox to a location on my drive, I point this to my synchronised Dropbox folder. Seconds after doing a regular backup, these files are also in my cloud-dropbox. I got my new pc, I installed dropbox and I re-installed all my latest add-ins and options there and then, no mess no fuss.
OK, You must get Dropbox and also setup an account which is free and easy. Up to 2Gb can be stored there (more if you want to pay a bit) and that’s it.
Next, to do my wonderful Firefox backup trick, get the add-on for FEBE
OK, the final thing that prompted me to write this article, here is 15 hacks, tricks, tips and other things you can use it for… Read on future dropbox fans.
25+ Free and Hot iPhone 3G(S) applications
We recently got some iPhones around in our office and the app collection ensued. With some hunting and collecting we finally have some good suggestions. We are located in Australia, so some of these are particularly localised, even down to our area of Melbourne, but we hope you enjoy…
Mythtv – More decoder cards
I mentioned the other day about the new MythTV software, all it’s glories and wonderful new features. I am still happy with it, more now than before as I test it further, find it’s features, but also struggle with some issues.
The big thing is the ability to decode digital television signals and turn them into a picture or recording. This is done with set-top-boxes, digital DVD recorders, Tivo, Foxtel IQ’s and everything in that line. The limitation is always that you want to watch one and record another, and for this you would need two decoders.
My MythTV – The return of the king
You may have seen previously that I have been running MythTV as a service at home, it’s like a home-brew version of a Tivo, but it has been around much longer and it has many improved features. Best yet, it’s open-source and flexible.
Seriously, with a decent PC attached to a TV and a Digital Decoder Card it will provide you with digital TV viewing, recording and many other multi-media features.
But is it that simple?
Aaaah,the bus
I have been back on the bus this last week while my bike is in for some various repairs, more on that soon. One thing I have noticed though is the sticky bus floors, spilt soft drink left under the seat and very quick to grab your foot and hold it to the floor. There has been no avoiding it, near the driver or up the back, everywhere… Today soon after 7am you would expect some level of cleanliness, a quick mop over these easy-clean vinyl floors would be the least they could do but alas, the government vows not to change the ticket prices until next years election which will surely just be a reason to tighten any budget further and limit cleaning and maitenance even further. Ironically is that during this freeze period they are to release the new miki or myki system which , no doubt will bring pricing variations, the promise must already be null and void or will the new system stll be another two years away? Public Transport sucks because pollies don’t, won’t but should be required to use it.
iPhone
This is my first iPhone post using a free wordpress app and written while traveling to work on the pt bus. My bike being in the shop for the last week, I have had some good time to play with the new toy, I do think of it more than that though as it has been used a bit for productive things, mostly, I am trying but there so many distractions like these pesky games. Some of the tools like this wp app are great, music and podcasts are fine, converting vids was not made easy and come to think of it, the whole ‘how to use the keyboard thing’ was left up to us to discover the tricks. I think my thumb is a bit big for it and typing is a one fingured affair, but you get that. Well here we go, 3G posting in transit…
New Speed and Red Light cameras for Melbourne
View Red Light & Speed Cameras – Melbourne in a larger map
Not a complete list of all permanent and mobile cameras or speed detection systems.
Five Firefox Features and Four Functions to not Forget…
Firefox is the browser of choice by the people in-the-know, but it’s best feature is that it allows a multitude of add-ons or plug-ins that can help your regular experience of the net and how useful the browser itself can be made.
Of course customisations are just that, a personal selection of changes that you, the individual might want to make so this list is by no means definitive of what you must have, but commonly, for web surfers, I expect these will be of benefit to you.
| The Features | The Functions | |
Amazing, not one book mark and delicious are sorry for that…
On a daily basis I have a look at Delicious, a site that categorises peoples bookmarks into a page of links according to popularity. I like it and daily it shows me things other people have found that I am often interested in.
I believe thousands of people us it and submit links to content to this site continuously, but to day, this morning, at my normal time of looking at this site… Nothing. There are no popular links and the people at delicious are sorry for that.
Recent Comments