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tech changes

10-Nov-09

I’ve recently got myself a VPS in the cloud (to use all the latest buzz words for stuff that’s been around for decades ;) .. provided by servint.net. it’s relatively cheap and much more stable than running something from the closet at home as this area is very susceptible to blackouts.. especially the block I live on, for some reason.

also had to purchase several new hard drives as the older ones were giving up and/or totally maxed out to capacity.

also went through the trauma of upgrading some blogs (curtiscunningham.com and drumgit.com) to the latest wordpress version. they were very old and am surprised they weren’t hacked already.. they’re now upgraded and running from the new VPS. these upgrades should allow me to access them with the new wordpress iPhone app.

I’ve had some folks approach me to do some blog development for them so this more stable environment should help in that respect.

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I did it! I got the iPhone 3GS with latest software

17-Sep-09

I returned the MyTouch Android powered phone and have been fully assimilated in the Apple world with the purchase on my new iPhone 3GS.

Having had an iTouch for ages now the transition was pretty seamless.. everything just worked.

BUT – my first bill was rushed to me after having the device for less than a week, and it’s asking for over $160, that’s on top of the $300 (+ tax) I had to pay for the device. Shocking. Why do we do this to ourselves?

I’m half tempted to get one of those cheapo sub $50 a month all-you-can-eat pay-as-you-go phones and stick with my iTouch .. but I’ve got about 2-3 more weeks to change my mind on that.

The latest it the iPhone 3.1 software update just came out.. so I like a diligent computer techy downloaded it and pressed the accept/make it so buttons… but it failed to install on my phone, with the following message … :(

2009-09-17 13:32:44.000 iTunes[77330:20b]: restore library built Sep 3 2009 14:39:53
2009-09-17 13:32:44.000 iTunes[77330:20b]: iTunes: iTunes 9.0
2009-09-17 13:32:44.000 iTunes[77330:20b]: iTunes: Current software version: 7A400
2009-09-17 13:32:44.000 iTunes[77330:20b]: iTunes: Software payload version: 7C144
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: iTunes: Specifying Update boot image
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: phoning home to gs.apple.com:80
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: ApECID
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: ApChipID
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: ApBoardID
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: ApProductionMode
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: ApSecurityDomain
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: UniqueBuildID
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: @Locality
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: RestoreLogo
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: RestoreDeviceTree
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: RestoreKernelCache
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: RestoreRamDisk
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: iBEC
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: iBSS
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: KernelCache
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: iBoot
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: BatteryFull
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: BatteryCharging0
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: AppleLogo
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: BatteryCharging1
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: BatteryLow0
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: BatteryLow1
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: BatteryCharging
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: BatteryPlugin
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: DeviceTree
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: LLB
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: NeedService
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: tss_add_entry: RecoveryMode
2009-09-17 13:33:13.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: AMRSendHttpRequestSync: httpRequest={url = http://gs.apple.com:80/TSS/controller?action=2; request = POST /TSS/controller?action=2 HTTP/1.1}
2009-09-17 13:34:53.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: [tss] error from server=24 (An internal error occurred.)
2009-09-17 13:34:53.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: server error (24): An internal error occurred.
2009-09-17 13:34:53.000 iTunes[77330:182d3]: _AMRAuthInstallCopyPreflightOptions: failed to personalize bundle (3124)
2009-09-17 13:35:09.000 iTunes[77330:20b]: iTunes: Restore error 3124

Watch this space for more updates ..

~~~

The latest, a reboot of the iPhone made the update work. It also pointed me at the following URL you might find useful:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1275

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T-Mobile MyTouch3G Wifi fail

31-Aug-09

I’m a huge Apple fan since switching to Mac a few years ago, and even have myself an iTouch (iPod Touch), but could never bring myself to buy the iPhone as I wanted a more open platform.

I’ve been holding out for a later rev of the Google Android based G1 from T-Mobile for some time, and given I lost my latest insurance phone yesterday (think I subconsciously got rid of it as I disliked it so much) I decided to go buy the MyTouch 3G today.

Initial impressions ..

1) not as slick as the iTouch.
As expected, the interface didn’t feel as slick. This could be because I’m just used to my iTouch .. we’ll see on this one.

2) Wifi connectivity problems.
This is a serious problem. I’ve had problems all day getting it to connect to my Linksys WRT54GL v1.1 which was set on WEP encryption (I know, not so secure, been meaning to change it for a while). The MyTouch found the network fine, I entered the password, but it would simply NOT connect. On top of that, my 3G coverage appears to be pretty spotty, so for much of the day I’ve played with this thing it’s been really really sluggish.. painfully so. I even upgraded the firmware on the router to see if that would help.

After some Googling I saw many people complaining about wifi connectivity on the MyTouch… and I was pretty unimpressed as I’m using fairly old technology on the router and no device has *ever* had a problem connecting until now. Seems that it has a problem with WEP security! I changed to WPA2 Personal, AES, added new password, and checked my other regular wifi devices could connect and things were working as before. I tried the MyTouch with the reconfigured security, and this time it connected just fine.

So heads up, the new MyTouch 3G doesn’t play well with older WEP security.

~~~~

EDIT: 2009-09-03

After a few days, some more feedback:
- missing hundreds of contacts, also gone from gmail web contacts
- remaining contacts screwed up, missing details
- fave contacts gone missing/unfaved
- web browser slow and clunky
- email very buggy and intermittent, cant find emails showing up in other email clients

The deleted contact thing is an ultimate no no. I’m done, taking it back to the store and getting an iPhone as soon as I get some time.

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too long no write ..

03-Aug-09

.. I think it’s because I’m not entirely sure folks really are interested in my random wibblings. I need more focus on this blog and get some kind of direction to it. I think.

since my last update, I’ve been contracting, kicking arse on drums, met a lovely new lady, and been best man at my youngest brother’s wedding in ireland.

there. that’s an update.

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She can tell

06-Dec-08

Every now and then I would feel irritated by her as she behaved out of character, would come across all needy for some reason, following me like my shadow from room to room, creep around with her head and tail down, looking sad. If she caught my eye, she would sometimes freeze, maybe her tail would drop down between her legs and she would sit in front of me staring up with sad eyes, ears pinned back, total submission pose.

This is Indy, my pit bull mutt.

DSC_0008

Then it dawned on me the other day why she behaves like this. She is unbelievably sensitive to my moods. When I’m engrossed in my own world, annoyed, angry, deep in thought and far away from her.. she feels it, she really does. More so than the cute little furry lovable Gizmo. Or at least, she shows it more.

My two dogs have really grounded me and taught me a lot about myself in the short time we’ve been friends. I know I need them and the lessons I can learn from them as much as they need me.

It’s sad that she could never come to the UK with me even for a visit, as pit bulls (and cross breeds of them, which she is) have been banned as ferocious, uncontrollable killing machines. Seriously. Whoever initiated that law, needs to spend some time with Indy.

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