RobiNZ Personal Blog

David Byrne on the Internet Antichrist

Click through for an awesome post from David Byrne about the work of C. R. Licklider.

David Byrne Journal: 10.24.09: Internet Antichrist

“The Internet, the World Wide Web, as much of a boon as it has been, has left an awful lot of wreckage in its wake, beyond just the elimination of those formats we thought of as eternal and the industries that produced and delivered them. Interconnectivity has facilitated the loss of privacy of many of the world’s citizens. We’ve been liberated and captured at the same time.”

“All of which led me back to wondering — how did this get started?”

Upgrade from 32-bit Windows Vista/XP to 64-bit Windows 7

In a few easy steps:

Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: Windows 7 Upgrade Scenarios: Scenario 2: Upgrade from 32-bit Windows Vista/XP to 64-bit Windows 7

While there were once valid reasons for skipping 64-bit versions of Windows, those reasons have disappeared over the past year or so. As a result, it should come as no surprise that many Windows users are now interested in upgrading their 32-bit version of Windows XP or Vista to a 64-bit version of Windows 7. And because all retail versions of Windows 7 Upgrade come with both 32-bit and 64-bit Setup discs, it would seem that doing so is both supported and straightforward.

Well, it's neither: Microsoft does not support a traditional, in-place upgrade of any 32-bit version of Windows to any 64-bit version of Windows…

What of social networks, blogs when you die? Passwords in your will?

Twitter, Blogs and other web content make it easy to create content that becomes a monthly, weekly, daily or even more frequent record of a life being lived. But what happens to it when you die?

I quite like how some blogs live on, the last post being a web memorial to the life that's ended. However I found it a little bit disconcerting when a social network suggested today "You might know".

It was someone didn't know very well, which is why we weren't already connected, but did know was dead.

Should you leave all the passwords and instructions in your will, so those who survive can deal with your web legacy? Have you?

A new way to watch Formula 1 - Live TV + Twitter + Web Timing!

This s an interesting new way to see Formula 1. Of course there is the television satellite feed from the BBC, via Sky N.Z., live Web Timing (as seen by the teams) on Formula 1.com and live Tweets from;

• http://www.twitter.com/5LiveF1
• http://www.twitter.com/Jamesallenonf1
• http://www.twitter.com/grandprixcom
• http://www.twitter.com/F1Wolf
• http://www.twitter.com/grandprixtv
• http://www.twitter.com/formula1blog

Tags: twitter

The Cars Group on Vox

My blogging mate Jack Yan has invited me to co-host a new, Automobile focused, "Cars" Group on Vox. If you like cars and you're on Vox, or considering joining, and have a browse and join in!

Cars Group on Vox

What's Vox?

Vox is a free personal blogging community from Six Apart, who also do TypePad. It gives you a platform to share your content, integrate other media and create a community. Posts and media can be added the Cars Group from your Vox blog as you compose, or after posting. Just use the "Add to Group" option.

"Blogging is fun again. With powerful privacy controls and hundreds of beautiful designs, Vox is a great place to build your online neighborhood. Add seamless integration with popular web services like Flickr and YouTube, and we think you'll agree that... Vox makes sharing your life with friends and family, easy, safe, and fun."

Visit Vox and explore posts,  photos,  videos,  audio,  interests,  and more.

The New Zealand Internet blackout protest

My profile image, across the net, has gone black in support of this:

Join New Zealand Internet blackout protest against insane copyright law

UPDATE 2009-02-19: I've written to several MP's, my local and others in relevant positions, and will be logging who responded here

Ham, not spam, for Christmas

I had ham, while MailWasher dealt to spam!

Life changing software, changing lives

MindManager 8 is life changing software. It enables you to capture, organise, and share your thoughts and related information in an intuitive visual form.

Kiva is a life changing non-profit service. It allows loans to specific low-income entrepreneurs in the developing world enabling them to help themselves.

I'm currently auctioning a MindManager license with all the proceeds going to Kiva, details at:

RobiNZ MindManager 8 for Kiva Auction - Dream It. Map It. Share It.

Test Post for TypePad Support

This post testâ??s if BlogJet + TypePad is workingâ?¦

UPDATE 2008-08-15: I never found out why this happens but there is a fix here

What do you think?

I’ve made a couple of changes to the site & wonder if anyone has noticed?

• Navigation Bar: TypePad have added the “Navigation Bar” which sits below the banner. I’ve currently got links to my other blogs, photos etc.
• Have you noticed, have you used it?
• Talkr audio: Talkr was turning my posts into an audio feed by machine reading them. It appears to have vanished which is a pity as it did a remarkable job.
• Was anyone using them, should I bother setting up another “machine read podcast” feed?
• I suppose I could read them myself but most of the world wouldn’t understand Nu Zild*.

* Kiwis do speak English but I’ve been told it’s a slurred rounded vowel rapid mumble often mis-understood by other English speakers. Even by our nearest neighbours, Aussie, who speak something like English think we have a strange accent, bizarre eh!

Tags: talkr, TypePad

My car gets Wordle'd

It’s the text from this post, made into a world cloud with www.wordle.net found via www.ted.com

Spam Delights...

Mailwasher lets you see the spam, and delete it, before you download it but sometimes it’s actually worth reading:

• What a pace…
• In just as little as 2 *weeks* you can have a masters degree form a national university. Learn in your own home at your own pace.
• I thought I was special but…
• We have over 2 million registered users who are looking for the same things as you.
• I aspire to be…
• AreYou ReallyHappy with BeingAverage?
• Spam Advice;
• Don't gamble take all your savings and buy some good stock and hold it till it goes up. If it don't go up, don't buy it.“
• That which is not good for the bee-hive cannot be good for the bees.
• Quit worrying about your health. It'll go away.
• Life is a perpetual instruction in cause and effect.
• Always remember when you are on top of the world , that the earth rotates every 24 hrs. (Eh?)
• Strangely, for spam, it was talking about stock;
• It is going to be HUGE!!
• Reminds me of the school run in winter;
• Their brave recreational vehiclesDeep in the fog that quenches every ray…
•  Shabby?
• ballerinas remain shabby

Here's the obligatory iPhone post

New Zealand is finally going to get the iPhone. Should I care? How does the iPhone do against my requirements;

• Outlook Sync, finally!
• GPS, cool except I’ve already got a GPS
• Robust? Will it survive in the saddle bag of the bike, will it mind getting wet? No!
• Long Battery life? Not if I’m reading the spec correctly.
• Good reception? Based on previous experience of Vodaphones network… No!

iPhone, not myPhone.

Apple introduces new iPhone (+pics) - Stuff.co.nz
New Zealand will be one of the first countries to offer Apple's new 3G iPhone, which will go on sale on July 11…

C:\Trollhattansaab.net /end

Trollhattansaab.net, the best Saab blog in the history of the Internet, has come to an end.  I thought it was a brilliant read & don’t even like Saab!

Swade sets out the reasons for his decision in a post titled “The End” but I suspect the real reason isn’t mentioned. He’s soon to get an old Alfa Romeo and keeping it going will be a full time job!

Seriously, so long Swade. You had passion for a marque that GM is doing it’s best to kill. I’ll miss your blog, so should Saab.

The End - www.trollhattansaab.net

It’s my very sad duty to inform you that Trollhattan Saab will cease as an ongoing weblog at the end of this week...

RobiNZ Gone

I’m off-line until May. If you wish to leave a comment or trackback feel free but they will be held for approval when I return. If you’re wondering where I’ll be… click here

Hackers are people too...

Is it prejudice that leads you to think of hackers as “anonymous low life somewhere over there” (wherever there is!)?

Then you read the local news and see this prick* who is right here!

* Netherlands authorities established that the New Zealander was responsible for 1.3 million illegal installations of adware.

Qantas adds inflight WiFi to all flights

This is great news for someone who’s a long-haul flight from everywhere! 

TrustedReviews - Qantas Adds Inflight WiFi & PSUs To All Flights
Qantas, the well known letter 'u' hating airline, has announced it will equip every seat of its new Airbus A380s – regardless of class - with laptop power sockets and cover each plane with onboard WiFi from August 2008. Retrofitted 747-400s will also go into service from February next year…

Even cooler, Qantas says the new A380s will provide web and email access through the screens in their seat-back inflight entertainment systems so even if you don't have a laptop with you surfing is still available.

The end VHS, bye bye CRT?

Well you can still buy them, just, but Sony’s Winter Catalogue shows how quickly times have changed.

No mention of VHS and just one page with a few CRT Televisions. They are replaced by LCD screens and Blu-ray DVD in preparation for the arrival of HDTV which means the future looks great. That said I’ll be quite happy with my Sony ES CRT television for a while yet!

WINTER RANGE / Introducing our latest products - Sony New Zealand

There are wet gumboots by the front door, the electric heater in the lounge is set to full, and the best place to go for a walk is the local mall, not the park...

Tags: Sony

The curse of Twitter

Your are browsing a Tweet polluted blog feed thinking:

• I enjoyed your blog, pre-tweets.
• I still enjoy the longer format posts.
• Twitter proves more isn't always better.

Tags: Twitter

What are these "Character lists" all about?

I have RSS feeds for so-called “Vanity Searches” to see where my name & blogs are mentioned. They sometimes show up in “Character Lists”, like the one below, but I’ve no idea what these are used for. Can anyone enlighten me?

mrhangman : character list
character list
Holds? When someone is on hold, all that means is no decisions on the character will be made UNTIL that app. is in. This is not a first come first serve community. The best applications are chosen. Be sure to hold your character! If you don't and still work on an application, it's more than possible that we'd fill the role before you even have a chance to get one in. Limit on holds is five. Comment here if you'd like a character held. Holds last for 48 hours with a 24 hour extension if needed.

Key
Italicized names are being held.
Character names linked or struck out are taken.

Gryffindor
Abercrombie, Euan
Bell, Katie
Brown, Lavender
Coote, Ritchie
Creevey, Colin
Creevey, Dennis
Dobbs, Emma
Finnigan, Seamus
Frobisher, Victoria

Yay, Stuff.co.nz delivered with RSS Feeds

I like the news page “Stuff.co.nz” but once commented, via their feedback form, that the lack of RSS feeds was disappointing. Today I got an email saying they’ve added feeds which is a great improvement and also an impressive demonstration of follow-up response to feedback!

Hi there
 
As you've contacted us at some point requesting RSS feeds from Stuff.co.nz we wanted to let you know that they're now available on the site.
 
We add more than 300 stories to the site every day so we hope you'll find our initial offering of 11 feeds from different sections of the site useful in keeping up with the latest news. You can find our feeds here: http://www.stuff.co.nz/feeds.html
 
If you have any suggestions on how we can improve our RSS feeds please let us know via our feedback page: http://www.stuff.co.nz/feedback.html.
 
Thanks for your support of Stuff.co.nz - happy reading!
 
Kind regards on behalf of the Stuff.co.nz team

I say no to Shutdown Day, I'll have a shutdown week!

Will switching off your connected existence for a day change the world? I doubt it but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth trying. However, I’m not going to do it on Shutdown Day as I’m going further, a Shutdown Week!

OK, time to come clean and admit it’s not going to be that difficult. It’s probably possible to be “connected” while cycling the South Island back country but certainly easier not to be!

It’s not really a green move, as I’m getting there by aircraft, but at least the tour company are green globe certified, carbon neutral and I will be the power source for some of the transport

Going Green - Part 2 - Shutdown Day - hyku | blog
Jeff Risley reminded me about Shutdown Day. The basic premise is that we all shutdown our computers and do something else with our lives, preferably something outside….

UPDATE 02-03-2007: It was pointed out at work that I won’t actually be computer free and will be accessing a global network while cycling. Does using a handheld GPS violate “shutdown day” rules?

Tags: Shutdown+Day

TV3's Website re-launched, for the better?

Following on from recent kiwi print media web page updates, looks like it’s time for TV3 to do the same. While it works OK their new page seems like a bit of a mess to me. The side bar menu layout looks nice, clean and simple, but it all goes wrong on the main page with a mix of text styles, sizes and colours. The banner advert just adds to the clutter…

Hat tip: morph.net.nz

Tags: tv3

A new Granny and Stuff - New image for Kiwi news sites

Granny Herald is getting a revamp, it’s time for new Stuff. Coincidence?

UPDATE 14–12–2006: The new Herald is born. Much cleaner and seems to be more responsive than the old site. Now they just need to get rid of this rubbish: “Premium Content – The content that you have clicked requires a nzherald.co.nz subscription to view.”.

UPDATE 15–12–2006: Now for new Stuff! Even leaner than The Herald, first impressions, I still prefer Stuff but the gap has closed.

IE7, Watch it grow...

Not original but interesting to see how the new browser goes ~ 3% of my visitors today.

Remember, if you don’t block it, you’ll get it by November as a Windows Update with a choice to proceed or abort the install.

Pat Metheny's Flash New Home Page

Pat Metheny Group have a new home page and it’s great. Loads of content but by far the best feature: 

Pat Metheny Radio – All Pat Metheny music, Streaming all day!

Pat Metheny: Home Page - www.patmetheny.com

Tags: Pat+Metheny+Group

XtraMSN have a new Homepage + it has RSS Feeds

XtraMSN have a new look home-page. That’s not big news but they now offer RSS feeds which is a nice way to keep up to date with the content. I’m not sure if these arrived with the updated home-page or it’s the first time I noticed them. Either way it means the new home-page is more user friendly!

RSS is a great addition and nicely set up as you can choose “Channel feeds”, like “Sport”, or specific topic feeds like “Motorsport”. When one of New Zealand’s most visited sites offers RSS perhaps it’s a sign that RSS is moving from geekville to the mass market…

XtraMSN: RSS Feed Overview
XtraMSN offers the latest news across New Zealand and around the world, the hottest entertainment gossip, travel advice and lifestyle tips. Now you can choose what content you're interested in and we'll deliver it to you instead!

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and is a free, time-saving way of getting the latest news and updates from XtraMSN…

now with

Tags: XtraMSN, RSS

Kiwi Foo Report

Russell Brown reports from the Foo conference;

Foo Report | Public Address | Hard News

Well, that's it. Been there, got the t-shirt - a number of t-shirts, in fact - and am now down to processing it all. Foo Camp was very cool, and quite unlike any conference I've been to before….

Dealing with an infected PC

This is here, as a reference for me, next time someone says;

“I was on the Internet last night and something popped up saying I might have spyware and to click “here” to remove it.
So I clicked “here” and it did something then said I had spyware and to install this application to remove it.
So I installed it and it changed a whole lot of files and stuff on my computer, like my browser toolbars and homepage, then asked for my credit card number.
I thought that was odd so I didn’t enter it (RC: Phew, at least they got one thing right) but it’s mucked everything up and I can’t get rid of it…”

Dealing with an infected PC
By Charlie Russel, Microsoft MVP for Windows Server, Security, and Tablet PC

Microsoft Security at Home: Spyware
Learn more about the symptoms of spyware and other unwanted software and how you can help protect your computer.

Formula 1 running on Microsoft in 2008!

The FIA have decided Microsoft will supply standard Engine Control Units to all teams from 2008 – 2010.

Cue jokes about Windows crashing F1…

Will Microsoft brand this effort with something catchy like:

Microsoft WinF1 (it’s in all the cars so they must!)

or will it be:

“Microsoft Windows Engine Control Unit Formula One Motorsport Edition 2008”

World Motor Sport Council - Decisions
FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Bridgestone has been selected as the official tyre supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship in 2008, 2009 and 2010*.

Microsoft MES has been selected as the official ECU supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Due to a significant increase in cornering speeds in Formula One this season, the World Motor Sport Council agreed to consult with the Formula One Technical Working Group regarding possible measures to slow the cars.
*Note to editors: In the absence of a second tyre company Bridgestone will be the sole tyre supplier to the FIA Formula One World Championship for 2007. Bridgestone's contract with the FIA to be the official tyre supplier begins in 2008.

Via Autoblog

Target Indy Race Team Technology

This is an interesting “Geeks Eye” behind the scenes look at the Target Chip Ganassi Indy Car Team.

Robert Scoble grabs a cam-corder and takes a look at the technology the team use including Tablet PC’s, Microsoft software like One-Note, Excel, Office and web collaboration. It’s not all compu-speak as there is a bunch of interesting racing related discussion with team members of the likes you just don’t see on TV (why not?).Unfortunately there is only a brief shot of their Kiwi Driver Scott Dixon.

It’s a big download, 256 MB, so don’t try this on dial-up but well worth a look for car racing geeks (like me!).

Target Indy Race Team - Inside the technology of a race team (3 videos)
In October we travelled to meet the Target Indy Race Team (Chip Ganassi Racing) to find out how the Target team uses the technology.

OK, OK, a Microsoft employee, Eric Maino got us tickets and introduced us to the team. We knew the Target team uses lots of Microsoft stuff, so we were very fortunate to get into the garage and other behind-the-scenes areas…

Fiat + Microsoft = Blue&Me?

Fiat and Microsoft launch Blue&Me. A Windows Mobile based in-car communications & entertainment system.

Fiat and Microsoft launch Blue&Me System - gizmag Article.

An Alfa for Scoble?

It may not seem that remarkable to see an Alfa Romeo 159 except this one was in the USA where Alfa’s have not be sold since the mid ‘90’s. I suspect it’s there because Fiat Group use Microsoft Windows Automotive or maybe Robert Scoble is getting a stylish new car…

Italians Invade Washington: Alfa 159 Spotted! - Jalopnik.
“Saw a new Alfa Romeo 159 in Redmond, WA about an hour ago on the Microsoft Campus….”

Blu-ray Vs HD-DVD - Balance from Sony?

Sony come out with a Blu-ray Vs HD-DVD comparison which, given they are Blu-ray all the way, seems quite balanced.

Blu-ray and HD-DVD - Sony New Zealand PRODUCTS News.

Lee & Sachi LeFever blog around the world

Lee & Sachi LeFever are travelling the world for the next year & they have a rather unique idea for the trip. Most people grab a travel guide, in the hope of seeing the best of a country, but they are using an interactive blog to record their travels and gather advice as they go. They hope to use the experience of locals and other travellers to discover the best of each destination! 

Before leaving Seattle they featured in a TV News interview about the site and technology they’ve packed to blog the world. Their  first stop outside the US is New Zealand and I’ll be seeing them tomorrow evening.

Their Site: http://www.theworldisnotflat.com

Their RSS Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/TwinfDispatches

The worrying "TypePad Service is up" message!

When the message “TypePad Service is up.” appears in my RSS Reader why do I immediately think “What, how long it was down?”.

Is kind of like the return from shopping: “Guess how much I saved!”…

Formula One to help Intel "Leap ahead"?

GrandPrix.com see the link between Intel’s increased profile as a Formula One sponsor and their new “Intel Leap Ahead” corporate image. Suspect this is also prompted by the profile AMD have from their Ferrari sponsorship and FIA partnership.

GrandPrix.com > News > Why Intel is in F1

It's tough being popular...

Networks are wonderful until they stop working as many discovered when a recent network outage caused major disruption . No I’m not referring to TypePad’s recent problems.

On one of the busiest shopping days of the year, the Friday before Christmas, the main EFTPOS network in New Zealand collapsed due to a hardware failure. Backup systems failed and it took a couple of hours to restore service requiring shoppers/retailers to resort to manual credit card transactions.

Of course, you could still use cash but who carries that these days? From the lines seen at ATM machines not many. We are so heavily dependent on EFTPOS that many retail systems could not cope with handling the volume, reported 88 transactions/second nationwide, manually.

Technology is wonderful until it stops working…

The nightmare before Christmas

EFTPOS meltdown frustrates xmas shoppers

Retailers keep their fingers crossed EFTPOS hiccup won't be repeated Christmas Eve

Root out the Rootkit - SonyBMG DRM Customer Survival Kit

Freedom to Tinker have posted a SonyBMG DRM Customer Survival Kit.

Freedom to Tinker » Blog Archive » SonyBMG DRM Customer Survival Kit

The Word Spy - new words with meaning

The Word Spy is devoted to lexpionage, the sleuthing of new words and phrases such as…

Meanderthal (mee.AN.dur.thawl; th as in thin) n. A person who walks particularly slowly and aimlessly.

Via 43 Folders

Watch out Dell - trouble ahead

I predict Dell may soon exit New Zealand or cease trading entirely. Why?

• I purchased a Dell Laptop.

Justification:

• First computer – a 486 dx 33 purchased from a local dealer CADS – Closed down.
• Second computer – a Pentium 160 purchased from PC Direct – They sold to Gateway.
• Third computer – a Pentium 600 purchased from Gateway – They nearly went broke and exited New Zealand.
• Fourth computer – a Pentium 2800 purchased from “The PC Company” – They did go broke.

All these machines are still operating, never had any problems, but the companies that provided them no longer exist in New Zealand.

• This week purchased a notebook from Dell – Don’t say I haven’t warned you…

Travels of a Vespahoon

Via a post on my CAD blog I got an email from Drew in Australia. He was loading up his Etrex with way-points from Google Earth before heading to Europe to tour on a Vespa. He’s going to be blogging during the trip which sounds like it will be a lot of fun!

“I’m off to Europe next week to catch the Belgium GP (my first GP out of OZ). After the GP I’m off to Hamburg to pick up a scooter whereby I’ll scoot down to Italy via central/eastern European countries on the way. I’ve just setup a blog of my own. http://www.vespahoon.blogspot.com”

Have a great trip Drew, I’ll be reading your posts!

TypePad have been busy

Yeah, new tools and toys from TypePad

While they are rebuilding sites to incorporate the new features you may see some weird layout stuff going on.

Everything TypePad - New Design Tools, More Storage, More Bandwidth

Spammers targeting Xtra today?

Seems like addresses pretending to be my net provider Xtra.co.nz are being used by spammers. I've had 4 messages today with dubious .zip file attachments supposedly from Xtra. All deleted thanks to Mailwasher.

UPDATE: Have had bogus emails over the past few days from info @ xtra.co.nz, register @ xtra.co.nz, admin @ xtra.co.nz which were all carrying .zip files. Strangely these got past the Xtra spam filter which I have activated. I downloaded one to see if a virus and Norton detected it was infected with the W32.Mytob.CU @ mm virus. The rest I zapped with Mailwasher before downloading.

No Google = No You?

So if you Google yourself and get no results, do you exist?

View from the Isle - If I Google you, would I find you?

Genesis of some famous sounds

Ever wondered where those computer “sounds” you hear, some daily, came from?

[blog.forret.com]: Genesis of some famous sounds

Mac Startup Sound:

Windows Startup Sound: 1995

Intel Inside Sound

THX Sound

Kiwi wins a top job at Microsoft

Lots of finance to manage!

Kiwi wins a top job at Microsoft | BUSINESS | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz

“Chris Liddell was chief executive at Carter Holt Harvey before he moved to the United States…”

“Liddell's job at Microsoft, where he will also be chief financial officer, will involve accounting, strategic planning and investor relations…”

“He will be responsible for a business worth more than $NZ400 billion - more than three times New Zealand's gross domestic product.”

At last full speed ahead JetStream

I have just upgraded my account to full speed JetStream Swift (2Mbps ADSL) from JetStream Explorer (256Kbps ADSL) – Whahoo!

JetStream/Jetstart Speed Test Meter

Zero   0kB 160kb   20kB 400kb   50kB 800kb   100kB 1.2Mb   150kB 1.6Mb   200kB 2.2Mb   280kB Extreme!   350kB

Your line speed is approximately 1993.6 Kbps or 244.3 K bytes/sec ( Where kb = kilobits and kB = kiloBytes )

Then I find 2Mbps will be old hat soon:

Computerworld - Telecom to offer 15Mbit/s over copper — rollout begins this year.
Replacement technology for current JetStream product family on the way  

NZ Telco news

Some interesting stuff from computerworld.co.nz

Telecom keeping a wary eye on Skype
A third of NZ broadband users have Skype, telco says

But thats only 40,000! There are still only 120,000 Telecom broadband users in NZ?
I wonder what the total for all broadband is?

Kiwis being used as guinea pigs…

Vodafone tries to trump 3G
NZ is 'renowned' as a testbed, carrier says

In 2000 the government gave a charitable trust $5 million to set up a 3rd mobile phone network (after Telecom, Vodaphone). Not much return so far other than “research”. It will be interesting to see how ACT MP Deborah Coddington gets on trying to follow this up…

Little action from $5m loan: 
'I think we can probably kiss that money goodbye,' says MP

 

MCSE feline?

I usually avoid cute:

But this is too cute, and kind of gross all at the same time.

What more can you ask for?

[Via Blankbaby]