There's No Place Like 127.0.0.1

Kindle for Android esp Motorola Xoom

2011-05-10T12:39:00.001-07:00

Having problems side loading your own books to the kindle app on android, yes it drove me crazy too!

Easy fix! If you are lucky enough to own an apple mac running osx just download the android connection app and then in the folder list it shows once you connect the Xoom, create a folder called "kindle" and copy your books in....Hey presto all your books now appear in the kindle app.

Take a bow and make a drink, you've earned it :-)

Kindle for Android esp Motorola Xoom

2011-05-10T12:38:00.001-07:00

Having problems side loading your own books to the kindle app on android, yes it drove me crazy too!

Take a bow and make a drink, you've earned it :-)

Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus software is now live and free

2009-09-30T04:06:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus software is now live and free: "

In a move that's sure to please a few million Windows users and break the hearts of a handful of anti-virus companies, Microsoft has now finally made the non-beta version of its Security Essentials software available to the general public, and it's not even asking that you throw a launch party to get it for free. For those not in on the beta or following Microsoft's exciting forays into freeware, the software promises to cover all the security basics and fend off viruses, spyware and other malicious software, and Microsoft even assures us that it'll 'run quietly in the background' and only intrude on your life when an action is required. You'll also, of course, get free updates on a regular basis, and it'll work just fine whether you use Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 -- hit up the link below to grab a copy.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Software

Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus software is now live and free originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Thing I've seen all month

2009-09-08T02:39:00.000-07:00

no description: "
'no description'"

Good morning and coffee drinking!

2009-08-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

mmm coffee :-) Good morning and happy Friday: "

Good morning and happy Friday"

HTC Hero with Sense- First Android Phone with Customized Interface

2009-08-13T00:12:00.000-07:00

I've now recieved my new HTC Hero phone, I'll be updating the site with the apps I use and also how to root the phone - essential for location based profile use at the moment!

Here a quick review/blurb (in case you've been hiding in a box for a few months :-)):

HTC is the largest maker of smartphones in the world after Nokia, and the company behind many of the most popular phones in the Android and Windows Mobile markets. HTC has today unveiled the HTC Hero smartphone with the new HTC Sense interface.

The HTC Hero, which is Android-based, is a thin touch phone with no physical keyboard. The Hero has a 3.2-inch HVGA screen that follows in the footsteps of the new iPhone 3GS with an anti-smudge coating to reduce fingerprints. HTC has included a 5 MP auto-focus camera.

How I setup my Drobo & Droboshare with Sonos

2009-08-11T03:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, how have I setup Sonos to work with my Drobo......well rather than a simple folder share (which I don't think it the best way to share my music) I decided to use a Drobo App to create a UPnP share.

So You need to do 3 things:

1. Ensure that you have your Droboshare setup to run Apps!

2. Install the Drobo Apps Admin utility: http://www.drobo.com/droboapps/downloads/index.php?id=19

3. Install FUPPES UPnP / DLNA app onto the Drobo: http://www.drobo.com/droboapps/downloads/index.php?id=14

Installing the admin utility saves you pulling the power everytime you want to reboot the unit, plus it allows easy install of other apps.... a no brainer!

Ensure that you also use a static IP address for your drobo otherwise it will loose the UPnP share on a reboot & make it difficult to login to the admin page!

Then just add the new share you have created into your Sonos system (I found it easier to use the OSX software vr3.0 rather than using the wireless remote or iphone app).

Bingo, after just a few minutes indexing all your music is ready to play!

On a side note, I still use iTunes to tag & organise all my Music for the Sonos, but now duel boot the iTunes library using Libra - this means I can have all the uncompressed music and different tags on my Drobo, but then use Libra to switch to the library I use for my iPhone with all the podcasts etc...

Let me know if non of the above makes sense and i'll try to clarify :-)

Drobo Noooooooooooo

2009-08-03T12:05:00.000-07:00

Finally after 23hrs my Drobo has accepted the new drive and stopped flashing the red/green (DO NOT! power off) lights.

Now 23hrs seems a long time to move some data around, and I do wonder what would have happened if there had been a power cut during this time......

Inequality in pubs

2009-08-03T07:45:00.001-07:00

Was refused entry today to the Barton Arms as we was in the possesion of a small baby (ours before you ask), and as I walked into the pub was promptly asked to leave by a waitress. With my pride clutched firmly under my arm, I left and headed for the sanctuary of the John Gilbert - well done a classy eater that welcomes babies :-)

-- Post From My iPhone

Finding The Best Storage Solution...Drobo Anyone?

2009-08-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

What kind of things do I want in a home storage system?

Lots of space
Future proof. That is, I want to be able to grow my space.
Reliable. It should not break if a hard drive breaks.
Usable with Time Machine for backups
In total, cost less than £400. Preferably, much less
Easy to use. I don’t want to have to be a full-time system admin at home every evening. I don’t have time for that, and I do it enough at work.
Small and quiet would be nice
Network accessible maybe uPnP server, something I can use with my Sonos setup to remove the need of having a PC on 24/7

Sooooo, 1 Drobo & 4TB drives later I have a working solution.

What works:

It's quiet
You can hot swap a drive out if you run our of space (like i did) or a drive fails
Its networked via a droboshare so I can access it wirelessly via any computer (was disappointing via G speeds but since I updated to N it been a much better experience especially streaming video!)
I've had to split the drives into 2 partitions so it plays nice with the Sonos setup (you cannot access a single folder via the sonos setup, it just picks everything on the drive up hence the need to split your music media)
Time Machine backups - being an MAC user I've been trying to get the Droboshare to play nice with Time Machine - not had much success but it can be done...will detail more later on this (deserves its own post due to the heart stopping and mostly frustrating experience!
The Drobo Apps, very nice especially the Firefly uPnP media server, not too sure about the torrent downloading as not very user friendly :-(

What Doesn't:

This baby is slow! I removed an old 500g drive and replaced it with a 1TB....8hrs later its still processing (although to be fair I cannot see a major performance drop)
This baby is slow!! Got a lot of files, then get ready to see the spinning circle a lot - many a time i've thought that a folder is empty only to have the contents appear after a 5min wait (maybe this is a some effect of using a droboshare?)
This baby is slow!!! (did I mention that?)

Is there a better NAS/backup system...maybe but not that I've seen that offers all the features Drobo does in one device. Oh and as it works with Sonos I'm now its friend again :-)

A few of my favorite things (no kittens...)

2009-07-28T06:08:00.000-07:00

I have the same feeling, sometimes.....

There's an explanation for everything, even one for where all the socks go!

Maybe this explains why there are crap xmas presents.....

The Cardboard Box Effect

2009-07-27T14:49:00.001-07:00

Maybe it's science fact, or maybe not but....

When you put a heavy item in a cardboard box, is it me or does it actually feel lighter?! I'm not saying weightless but it does seem to shave some pounds (grams!) off. Proof:

The amazing gravity blocking effects of cardboard, give it a try!

-- Post From My iPhone

Car Accidents & Karma

2009-07-26T07:49:00.001-07:00

Popped to the petrol station before waterbabies for £5 of fuel and Karma decided to send a small goods wagon past my car to damage the mirror... Does this mean I can now expect the good luck fairy to come a calling?

-- Post From My iPhone

Monday Rat Race

2009-07-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

Found a great way to avoid those Monday work blues – take a day off!!

Visit the tea room at the old Astley hospital site, it will sure cure whatever ails you ( unlike the old hospital )

Hello world! & Waterbabies!

2009-07-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

Went to waterbabies today, the usual girl was off sick and her standin, stoodout! Underwater swims * 3, all with military speed and precision. Never have a day off I say!!

There's No Place Like 127.0.0.1

Kindle for Android esp Motorola Xoom

Kindle for Android esp Motorola Xoom

Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus software is now live and free

Best Thing I've seen all month

Good morning and coffee drinking!

HTC Hero with Sense- First Android Phone with Customized Interface

How I setup my Drobo & Droboshare with Sonos

Drobo Noooooooooooo

Inequality in pubs

Finding The Best Storage Solution...Drobo Anyone?

A few of my favorite things (no kittens...)

The Cardboard Box Effect

Car Accidents & Karma

Monday Rat Race

Found a great way to avoid those Monday work blues – take a day off!!

Visit the tea room at the old Astley hospital site, it will sure cure whatever ails you ( unlike the old hospital )

Hello world! & Waterbabies!

Went to waterbabies today, the usual girl was off sick and her standin, stoodout! Underwater swims * 3, all with military speed and precision. Never have a day off I say!!

Released her twice to swim underwater by herself, it’s weird and not for the clingy parents