tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29721873806806446772024-03-13T22:42:16.043-07:00Practical HardwareA blog about hardware you can afford and use every day. None of this concept crap / stuff that doesn't work!!!Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-88079444140192330812010-04-09T15:59:00.001-07:002010-04-09T16:05:28.917-07:00Apple is busy PWNING everyone<p>Some of you may have noticed that Apple has been busy owning Adobe and Google as of late.  This has been getting up quite a few people’s noses – one of the Developers at Adobe on theflashblog <a href="http://theflashblog.com/?p=1888" target="_blank">wrote</a>: </p> <blockquote> <p><del datetime="2010-04-09T21:38:14+00:00">Now let me put aside my role as an official representative of Adobe for a moment as</del> Speaking purely for myself, I would look to make it clear what is going through my mind at the moment. Go screw yourself Apple.</p> </blockquote> <p>Now some of you will be thinking that Adobe has every right to be angry at Apple, as Apple are making it as hard as possible for Adobe to even look at the iPhone OS, let alone execute any Adobe related code on it.  Well I look at it from the consumers POV.  Flash is the number one source of browser problems, this is slightly different to how Jobs worded it,</p> <blockquote> <p>Most of the time if a Mac crashes it is because of Flash in Safari</p> </blockquote> <p>it is different because I don’t have knowledge of why Macs crash and if a browser plug in can ruin the whole system that is poor programming.  This being said I do realise that the biggest problem in the browser and the most unreliable part is almost always flash.  I use one of the most stable browsers about – Chrome, and I use just Flash, no extensions, no addons not even a theme. Yet at least once in my browsing session I am likely to introduced to some instability and this is ALWAYS due to flash.  So from a user point of view the web browser on the iPad is more stable and reliable than the web browser on my desktop.  I know which I would prefer to use.  It isn’t like Apple wants to restrict access to interactive content through the browser, far from it, this sort of Web Application makes the iPhone OS more valuable.  No, Apple wants it’s mobile OS to be the most stable around and until Adobe can sort out it’s act and fix these stability issues I don’t see Apple EVER even considering adding flash to iPhone OS.  Ever. Did I make my self clear here?</p> <p>Another fight that has been hotting up recently we have less information about.  The Google vs. Apple war that has been waging since Google started to really promote Android with the “Droid” release.  Dr. Eric Schmidt has fallen further out of grace with Apple CEO Steve Jobs recently after a phone call made a few days ago to the Google CEO by Jobs, 9to5Mac <a href="http://www.9to5mac.com/google-ceo-eric-schmidt-steve-jobs-4323452245" target="_blank">reports</a>.  At the end of this call the Schmidt lost composure and looked “weird”, I have a feeling that Steve is about to drop Google and possibly move to Bing services from Microsoft instead.  This was rumoured a while ago, but to me this is some more concrete evidence.</p> <p>So at the end of this who is quids in?  Well, I would say the consumer.  Apple is continually trying make it’s platform the best, be it keeping up with the competition with Google’s Android, or fending off companies that could ruin the user experience in some of their flagship products – which by the way happily promotes things like HTML5, a huge competitor and good replacement to Flash.  Well done Jobs, Microsoft is a friend well done for spotting the real enemies here.</p> <p>One last note:  When you buy a product like the iPhone you know you are joining a closed environment and you know what you are getting yourself in for and you can remain cautious..  When you buy or use products from an open company, trusting them with your data and personal information, remember that they may not be the same smiling – trustworthy – company tomorrow.</p> <p align="right">As Always,</p> <p align="right"><font color="#ff0000">graymalkin</font></p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-41361907898649314932010-01-31T13:50:00.001-08:002010-01-31T13:50:56.676-08:00Zune Phone?<p>Many tech journalists, like Paul Thurrott, have speculated that there will be a new Windows Mobile phone released with a “Zune like interface”  well in the latest 4.2 release to the PC software there is a new line at the bottom of one of the configuration files indicating that the new device is on it’s way.  Is this Microsoft letting a test boat out into open waters, or was this just a silly mistake by one of the interns?  Only time will tell, but if this is indeed a Zune Phone that is on it’s way, this Blogger wants</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/S2X7PKjGHaI/AAAAAAAAAMA/gDkawiaXZbs/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/S2X7P2MNcaI/AAAAAAAAAME/SOS63iDP5QI/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="403" height="227" /></a> </p> <p>^^Image:  The line in the configuration file</p> <blockquote> <p align="right">As always, </p> <p align="right"><font color="#ff0000">graymalkin</font></p></blockquote> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-53670438027387254782010-01-09T16:07:00.001-08:002010-01-09T16:07:33.382-08:00First Post Of the NEW YEAR! Running Light<p>So I ordered some stuff off ebay the other day so I could do some cool Arduino projects, the first one I did was a simple running light, the lights move along.  I have put a video on youtube and the code is <a href="http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AQ3TlIhjNsXvZGZ3c2tmNGtfOGNkcjU4ZGRw&hl=en">HERE</a>.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:ece5e446-3664-4a66-8ef6-3bc0c963686f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="d1b883c7-e98b-4b7f-919c-2cc459f9f1f2" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRCxK-vgl1c" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/S0kaRKf-jPI/AAAAAAAAAL8/v4yKClnbhys/videocd7a9e78a6e1%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('d1b883c7-e98b-4b7f-919c-2cc459f9f1f2'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/QRCxK-vgl1c&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/QRCxK-vgl1c&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p> </p> <p>Very simple, next up – THE SHIFT REGISTER!  Dun dun deern, Queue dramatic chick monk / prairie dog.</p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-70767064962005550702009-12-15T13:34:00.001-08:002009-12-15T13:34:35.951-08:00Memory deserves it<p>I used my iPod stand for the memory stick… it deserves it I feel.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SygA5Z5OeyI/AAAAAAAAALs/u3o1nziiJ6o/s1600-h/IMG_0909%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0909" border="0" alt="IMG_0909" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SygA53_8FEI/AAAAAAAAALw/EzBk0H662wo/IMG_0909_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SygA6fOPHKI/AAAAAAAAAL0/0wqG5NBAokk/s1600-h/IMG_0910%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0910" border="0" alt="IMG_0910" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SygA6zsrGjI/AAAAAAAAAL4/jesSNmskxTM/IMG_0910_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a></p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-44611547481667585302009-12-12T08:19:00.001-08:002009-12-12T08:19:26.350-08:00Google DNS Tested<p>I have been testing Google’s DNS services recently, it seems very solid.  My main reasons for using it over my ISP’s default DNS services is that I don’t want a 404 search page, where I get a page of adverts and some search results presented to me when I ping or navigate to a web page that doesn’t exist.</p> <p>I heard that Steve Gibson had made a DNS bench mark too for Windows in assembler, it is about 150Kbs,  the results for google are very good, this is a representation of the speed from the program. The top result, 194.168.4.100 is Virgin Media’s secondary DNS server, it is the fastest but does the 404 search thing</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SyPChAIj30I/AAAAAAAAALc/wVuCTJQSNKo/s1600-h/image%5B10%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SyPCiijpqxI/AAAAAAAAALg/zMUWJeTGDdI/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="401" height="947" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SyPChAIj30I/AAAAAAAAALk/SlwbRsSNEpY/s1600-h/image%5B8%5D.png"> </a></p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-65982949252228471582009-12-07T00:27:00.001-08:002009-12-07T00:27:32.805-08:00Bwa hahahah – bunny got owned!<p>Shot these photo of my sister’s rabbit this morning, it got owned!!!</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Sxy8bcrh0dI/AAAAAAAAALI/JSEyqOyjddM/s1600-h/IMG_0908%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0908" border="0" alt="IMG_0908" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Sxy8b_xZZpI/AAAAAAAAALM/1a4a2LqSANU/IMG_0908_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="168" height="168" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Sxy8cvkhHwI/AAAAAAAAALQ/5SviDYvA2mU/s1600-h/IMG_0907%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0907" border="0" alt="IMG_0907" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Sxy8dLKfwGI/AAAAAAAAALU/4T5N1MSww9E/IMG_0907_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="169" height="169" /></a></p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-45633387918920397592009-12-06T07:58:00.001-08:002009-12-06T07:58:10.310-08:00Are Microsoft Finally letting go of Windows XP?<p>Nearly 3 Years from the launch of XP’s successor and nearly 8 years since the Windows XP launch Microsoft seem to be begining to move towards Windows Vista and Windows Seven as their primary developments Systems, leaving XP behind in their development cycles</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxvUj5BfzPI/AAAAAAAAALA/2YJByDH5vXw/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxvUkfOsmrI/AAAAAAAAALE/xXhMxXejeM8/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="244" height="32" /></a> </p> <p>While Pivot is only a Live Labs project I feel that this is a profound move for the software giant, the choice to leave XP behind is possibly what Windows Seven needs to take off in business and with gamers.  It could be argued that there is aren’t many reasons to switch if you are happy with the OS you are on, and I would agree, but a lack of modern software may see people moving OS.  It is worrying for me though as it could also be a rod for Microsoft’s aging back.  People are more and more often going towards Apples beautiful hardware and staying on OSX.  The actions Microsoft takes here in it’s old age could prove to be rash and jeopardise it’s future to being an IBM like company – making money but not really that interesting.</p> <p>Time will tell</p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-45221863795510590712009-11-30T10:38:00.001-08:002009-11-30T10:39:57.345-08:00Office 2010 is here<p>Some screen shots of Office 2010 beta 1.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQQ6l6sh-I/AAAAAAAAAI4/h5tvYyzVwpE/s1600-h/image%5B41%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQQ7en6wkI/AAAAAAAAAI8/FpnAXss4VRs/image_thumb%5B19%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="35" height="41" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQQ8Za9coI/AAAAAAAAAJA/4yt-2S1XaoE/s1600-h/image%5B42%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQQ842ooFI/AAAAAAAAAJE/kDLgMSNdTUg/image_thumb%5B20%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="78" height="41" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQQ-JOi6GI/AAAAAAAAAJI/22AHpeZSlOY/s1600-h/image%5B43%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQQ-j79dDI/AAAAAAAAAJM/X1TgmpP_Krc/image_thumb%5B21%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="78" height="41" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQQ_SGQrlI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/QLm8kGJEfQI/s1600-h/image%5B44%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQQ_4PQSdI/AAAAAAAAAJU/PctTNQKF-po/image_thumb%5B22%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="78" height="41" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRA34cELI/AAAAAAAAAJY/Iqiok2Qamsw/s1600-h/image%5B45%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRBaGZp_I/AAAAAAAAAJc/uZxbbkD_BHE/image_thumb%5B23%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="78" height="41" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRCPJAZ7I/AAAAAAAAAJg/IC3rFI_-W6c/s1600-h/image%5B46%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRC1R2TaI/AAAAAAAAAJk/0EEYmU4C55s/image_thumb%5B24%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="72" height="38" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRD0vjzHI/AAAAAAAAAJo/hjFKSlHS8zM/s1600-h/image%5B47%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQREcYeQtI/AAAAAAAAAJs/kFm7HfGq3WU/image_thumb%5B25%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="72" height="38" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRFdHcxBI/AAAAAAAAAJw/p4hxkuPthVE/s1600-h/image%5B48%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRFz86HrI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/75BofaF4NHw/image_thumb%5B26%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="72" height="38" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRGq1PAYI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/9kwRb4nnS3U/s1600-h/image%5B55%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRHrFTioI/AAAAAAAAAKU/8kZ19kuzT8E/image_thumb%5B33%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="477" height="56" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRIkVGBZI/AAAAAAAAAKc/3JmyCGsZcco/s1600-h/image%5B54%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRJILBzQI/AAAAAAAAAKo/f7c-bZtTzOU/image_thumb%5B32%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="477" height="56" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRKKSJjfI/AAAAAAAAAKw/cypxu2MiAus/s1600-h/image%5B52%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SxQRKzi_RFI/AAAAAAAAAK4/Y-md_kpAjEs/image_thumb%5B30%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="477" height="56" /></a></p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-20593851233092855912009-11-18T10:31:00.001-08:002009-11-18T10:31:30.349-08:00Physics Fail<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SwQ9dEMRG3I/AAAAAAAAAIw/ebK1yPL3omU/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SwQ9eYqLxBI/AAAAAAAAAI0/_nK8FxMjVxQ/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="244" height="139" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p>V = Delta x / Delta T, this could be >0, = to 0, or < 0</p> <p> </p> <p>SO ANY NUMBER RIGHT?!</p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-46862246942862548072009-11-17T12:55:00.001-08:002009-11-17T12:55:19.258-08:00Wow, a 10 minute feature<p>Ace, that feature lasted about 10 minutes.  Knarly</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SwMNs_lPM7I/AAAAAAAAAIo/y-6tZ_XDouk/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SwMNtvtCPPI/AAAAAAAAAIs/qjUQxwYHzR4/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="389" height="294" /></a></p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-45365732430647689652009-11-17T12:48:00.001-08:002009-11-17T12:48:24.501-08:00Why me?!<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SwMMFDv8LBI/AAAAAAAAAIg/8mWutzFmSB0/s1600-h/image%5B4%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SwMMFtnE0GI/AAAAAAAAAIk/bdNwW7HfTw4/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="381" height="97" /></a> </p> <p>It would seem I have been chosen by twitter for a Beta RT program, cool!</p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-86834959415223619332009-11-14T07:50:00.001-08:002009-11-14T07:51:58.325-08:00Multitasking mania<p>I wanted to test Windows Seven’s ability to manage many applications on a reasonably low powered machine, so I launched some of my development programs, all of office 2007, iTunes (playing some metal), and a whole host of other applications, the results were impresive.  Although performance did take a large hit from all that memory and CPU usage it did not crash and things ran rather smoothly, here is a screen shot of the task manager running on top of all the other windows</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Sv7Rrs74ysI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/h91h8KCrIso/s1600-h/Enough%20Windows%5B12%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Enough Windows" border="0" alt="Enough Windows" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Sv7RsiC2cSI/AAAAAAAAAIY/IJ4kaOaTcQY/Enough%20Windows_thumb%5B10%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="391" height="245" /></a></p> <p align="right">As Always,</p> <p align="right"><font color="#ff0000">graymalkin</font></p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-88649974962441010192009-11-14T07:45:00.001-08:002009-11-14T07:45:37.154-08:00Some new music to program too…<p>For a long time now I have advocated that fast heavy music helps me type, think and program.  Perhaps it is only because my mother played it to me as a baby (did she mis-hear that <em>Beethoven</em> is what makes babies smart?)</p> <p>Now I program away while listening to System Of A Down, or Cradle of Filth – and so on.  Today we got some new music, two System of a Down albums, the new Megadeth album and some more Metallica (7 of 9 are owned now…)</p> <p>It perhaps has escaped your attention why this is important and I am blogging about it, to be honest there isn’t much reason than to add some personality to a not so popular blog.  I am really only writing this so any readers out there know a little more about me as a person.  I will try to follow this post up with similar posts giving some meaning to who I am and what I like and what I do with my time.</p> <p align="right">As Always, </p> <p align="right"><font color="#ff0000">graymalkin</font></p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-16510501907741132442009-11-07T03:45:00.001-08:002009-11-07T03:45:05.432-08:00Space Cadet Pinball for Windows – 7?<p>Disapointingly in Windows version 6.1.x (Vista + Seven) Microsoft have put pinball down after many years of Windows Feature service,  Now though it can be played once more in modern versions of windows.  Well sort of.  I have been running Windows NT in a VM and set Pinball as a start up item.  Now I have pinball for my modern OS!  I am a happy boy.</p> <p>Here is a nice screen shot for you</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SvVduiwBoZI/AAAAAAAAAH8/aXXF9msv9xY/s1600-h/image%5B6%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SvVdwJAr9qI/AAAAAAAAAIE/dEty86UeA9c/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="419" height="262" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <blockquote> <p align="right">As Always, </p> <p align="right"><font color="#ff0000">graymalkin</font></p></blockquote> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-38291387476261881702009-11-03T11:35:00.001-08:002009-11-03T11:35:22.049-08:00Image heavy blog<p>CAUTION – the blog you are viewing is java intensive.  It uses many images too.  If you are viewing this on an under powered machine your computer may explode!  I repeat, because you can’t go back and read it again – your computer may explode.  This blog crashed IE 6 on a school computer, it may do the same to you.  In about a month – or if you had to scroll to view this – it won’t matter because if you can scroll the blog hasn’t killed you.  Too late for those other bastards though.  I encourage you to laugh evilly at this point.</p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-29380028018149947752009-11-03T11:31:00.001-08:002009-11-03T11:31:56.968-08:00What the..<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SvCFKFCUBcI/AAAAAAAAAH0/ePVXNyxrq7A/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SvCFKwpM4pI/AAAAAAAAAH4/PuccC7VLLNw/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="342" height="258" /></a> </p> <p>In what situation would you click this button?!  It is a button to say – no, actually I <em>don’t like</em> my peripherals to work properly.  WTF Microsoft – silly button, take it out for Windows Eight.</p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-18855514869122800052009-10-30T05:54:00.001-07:002009-10-30T05:54:58.979-07:00State of the British economy<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SuriHdI1LdI/AAAAAAAAAHk/vMsRH7URt0M/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SuriITW2_OI/AAAAAAAAAHo/xmWlmu2UsoE/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="410" height="259" /></a></p> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RYA0DsPcbaU&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RYA0DsPcbaU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-39958152799756363402009-10-27T14:07:00.001-07:002009-10-27T14:07:17.745-07:00Granddad + nail painting != fashion statement<p>Ok, so my sister asked my Granddad if he wanted his nails painted, but him being stubborn would not refuse the challenge, here are the results (he did only allow one hand to be painted though :( )</p> <p>I will email this one to <em>all</em> the family</p> <p> </p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Sudg_ApVq_I/AAAAAAAAAHU/ilGbRKSe0LA/s1600-h/IMG_0869%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0869" border="0" alt="IMG_0869" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Sudg_tG04-I/AAAAAAAAAHY/E01u_05-w5c/IMG_0869_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SudhAv_krBI/AAAAAAAAAHc/A0CGNvCUkfw/s1600-h/IMG_0870%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0870" border="0" alt="IMG_0870" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SudhBA_IMkI/AAAAAAAAAHg/-DN_9KIp6YQ/IMG_0870_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-50889866467279926972009-10-27T13:27:00.001-07:002009-10-27T13:27:48.495-07:00Hmmm Guinness<p></p> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SudXwaAV5VI/AAAAAAAAAHM/5lrHJ0VVBxY/s1600-h/IMG_0868%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMG_0868" border="0" alt="IMG_0868" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SudXw46lg8I/AAAAAAAAAHQ/K6XW7s_DUC4/IMG_0868_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-48262458217989453742009-10-24T10:31:00.001-07:002009-10-24T10:33:50.230-07:00Up, running, and not noticing a thing!<p>While this title may seem like I am dissing Windows Seven it is actually one of the biggest products I can make.  The thing Just works!  I have had no problems at all and I am enjoying some of the features, but there is a cool desktop background!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SuM533mfXfI/AAAAAAAAAHE/rGZ8Wp5K-NU/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SuM55X5h_VI/AAAAAAAAAHI/T9bMPY7W6iw/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="439" height="276" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/SuM533mfXfI/AAAAAAAAAHE/rGZ8Wp5K-NU/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"> </a></p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-46244419818474095162009-10-19T10:49:00.001-07:002009-10-19T12:39:25.425-07:00I have the disk…<p></p> <p></p> <p>To my surprise I have just received and unpackaged the Windows Seven box, I took some photos along the way for your benifit.  There isn’t too much that can be said, it seems quite bare, they have made the box in the odd curved shape again but it opens in the traditional manor.  It would seem that Microsoft weren’t sure them selves about the release nature of Windows Seven in Europe as the disk box itself is in a card sleeve that looks like it was designed for easy changing.  Also there is little literature inside, but I have the full version (by sheer luck) and all for £50.  There was only a small A5 booklet in the form of reading material.  Also, as promised, the package includes both 32 and 64 bit versions of the OS.  I know which I will be installing!</p> <p>It is worth noting that I won’t be rushing to install it as I might as well continue with my very stable 7100 install with all the goodies from Ultimate.  Not that functionally there will be any difference to me as a user I feel that it is worth my while just to let time go by for a while until I install 7600, I have been holding off installing things like Visual Studio and Expression studio while I was waiting until the release but now I feel I will install it when I decide I need a full  version of VS installed too, this could almost wait until VS 2010, which will be no doubt be released just after Server 2008 R2 (released with Windows Seven, so a General Availability date of Thursday October 22, 2009 – 3 days from now.)</p> <p>So I am syced that I could be one of the first to show the box and do an undoing of a disk ;) for you, so, with out further ado, here are the photos…</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p> </p> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Stymcmh6MNI/AAAAAAAAAGM/6GSQhQzBWHc/s1600-h/IMG_0835%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0835" border="0" alt="IMG_0835" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StymdAEsSeI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/Pl1kBtqZiZQ/IMG_0835_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>   <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StymdxCTyKI/AAAAAAAAAGU/HPXMN2J2cpQ/s1600-h/IMG_0841%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0841" border="0" alt="IMG_0841" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Stymev47XdI/AAAAAAAAAGY/JgAgP3LxYJw/IMG_0841_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Stymf9nGN4I/AAAAAAAAAGc/1Hmqd205s9I/s1600-h/IMG_0840%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0840" border="0" alt="IMG_0840" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StymgXA-uYI/AAAAAAAAAGg/U7rkX5bfwpQ/IMG_0840_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StymhfvoNAI/AAAAAAAAAGk/KCWc8sTS6ok/s1600-h/IMG_0842%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0842" border="0" alt="IMG_0842" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Stymh52MmOI/AAAAAAAAAGo/biLZNUvearA/IMG_0842_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>  <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Stymi2OaA9I/AAAAAAAAAGs/Vkz9cGhdQmo/s1600-h/IMG_0844%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0844" border="0" alt="IMG_0844" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StymjTSImRI/AAAAAAAAAGw/31YNQz6jGGM/IMG_0844_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StymkTt1q1I/AAAAAAAAAG0/54zZurYoSsM/s1600-h/IMG_0843%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0843" border="0" alt="IMG_0843" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Stymk4jT19I/AAAAAAAAAG4/a4DfflTUh50/IMG_0843_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StymkTt1q1I/AAAAAAAAAG0/54zZurYoSsM/s1600-h/IMG_0843%5B5%5D.jpg"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/Stymlra7DqI/AAAAAAAAAG8/ww6zsrbQVyw/s1600-h/IMG_0845%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMG_0845" border="0" alt="IMG_0845" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StymmW_9WrI/AAAAAAAAAHA/c8OytHinsRo/IMG_0845_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div align="right">As Always,</div> <p></p> <p></p> <div align="right"> <p><font color="#ff0000">graymalkin</font></p> </div> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-26611702835039444652009-10-19T08:24:00.001-07:002009-10-19T08:24:23.268-07:00Fail…<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StyEo9JdUhI/AAAAAAAAAFs/kqAuHnlFE0s/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StyEpgfTa8I/AAAAAAAAAFw/1SHBdCsnIkw/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="244" height="102" /></a> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-60388710748056180902009-10-19T08:08:00.001-07:002009-10-19T08:08:53.259-07:00Windows Seven<p>3 more days – OMG!</p> <p></p> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StyBAe-uSvI/AAAAAAAAAFk/putyi8voat8/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StyBBCyofxI/AAAAAAAAAFo/6XFN67P58Ro/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="227" height="134" /></a> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-9158895315066173372009-10-18T04:51:00.001-07:002009-10-18T04:51:08.614-07:00Windows Seven<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StsBKEHHTBI/AAAAAAAAAFE/keyJY7Bfufw/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StsBK6VkY9I/AAAAAAAAAFI/MF_-9ldBEfQ/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="228" height="130" /></a> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972187380680644677.post-71332492363651512122009-10-17T08:06:00.001-07:002009-10-17T08:06:33.346-07:00Windows Seven in 5 days<p>Woot!  5 days until general availability.  Unfortunately for me, I have to wait a few extra days for delivery.  How I wish I spent more money for next day delivery:( <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StnddfHXfQI/AAAAAAAAAEc/fMJ4kNF5rNM/s1600-h/image%5B2%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_3tUjtBBnmOo/StndeEaW7VI/AAAAAAAAAEg/Z6kTALx_-kA/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="225" height="130" /></a> </p> <p></p> </p> <p> <div align="right"> <p> <p></p> <p>As Always,</p> <p><font color="#ff0000">graymalkin</font></p> </p> </div></p> Practical Hardwarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404527963390265855noreply@blogger.com0