I've moved!

Yep, I've gone all out and bought a .com domain :o)

Welcome to my new home (and my new blog) at:

olitee.com

Read the welcome message at:
http://blog.olitee.com/index.php/2009/01/welcome-to-oliteecom/

See you soon.

BloggerBeGone

Hi folks,

Hmm. No updates since June 2008. That's not very good is it. To be honest, I'm sick of Blogger. It's such a faf to use, and at the rate I post new entries I usually have to hunt around for my login details each time.

I've decided on a few things...

1. I need my own website, not just a blog.
2. I want to move away from Blogger. Wordpress looks nice, and Phil's using it so it must be cool ;o)
3. I need to stop using my sister's website for hosting my own files!
4. I want a snappy domain name.

All this spells the end of this blog. Thank you all three of my visitors for your support and interest over the years.

I've just setup a new web hosting package, so no doubt a server somewhere in Germany or Canada is whirring to life and installing everything for me. In a couple of days I'll post the details, and the new website address.

So long Blogger.

END.

iPod Repairs

I've finally plucked up the courage to open up my dead iPod. It was working perfectly upto a few months ago, when it just refused to even start up. Its out of warranty, and I've always felt the cost of a repair would be better spent towards a new iPod (particularly if its a new shiny one!).

So I figured, what have I got to loose? I've always wanted to see whats inside anyway. I found some straight forward instructions on the web on how to open it. Forget buying the specialist tools. I used a butter knife, and it didn't leave a scratch!

Once inside, I checked all the usual things I check when fault finding: Loose, dry connections - reseating all the components, etc. To my surprise after doing this, the iPod burst back into life, and has been happily playing songs all afternoon. Hurrah!

But I didn't stop there. I have an old 3G iPod from many years ago. My first ipod, in fact. For the last two years it's been completely dead - not even showing anything on screen, or spinning the drive up. So in I go, performing the same checks, and presto! I now have two working iPod!

It just goes to show what you can achieve with a butter knife. :o)

24 Mbps

It is done.

We've switched to Be* Broadband, and while I wasn't expecting to get the full 24Mbps download speed, I was pleasantly surprised to be getting a healthy 18Mbps on my speed tests.

18Mbps!

The benefit is not immediately obvious - as browsing from page to page is only a tad snappier. The real noticeable difference is with high-bandwidth applications such as video (BBC News website videos load in a flash!), podcast and music downloads, etc.

I've even managed to get HD video streaming from Apple.com's Quicktime website, which I had no hope of doing before.

Probably the most impressive stat I have is when I downloaded Linux Mint the other day. It's a 900Mb ISO file, and it downloaded from a server in the US in just under 3 minutes.

Finally - and coincidentally - the same day we had our connection upgraded, Apple launched the movie download and rental service through the iTunes music store. My Apple TV is very happy now. :o)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll have to put on my safety goggles, and get back to surfin' the web. :o)

Wow

This is a helluva snapshot. It's of Phoenix with its parachute open during the landing on Mars ... view the full resolution picture for the full effect ;o)

Back on the Red ...

It's nice to be back on Mars ... its beginning to feel like the 21st Century now. All we need is those flying cars! Well done everyone involved with Phoenix.