23 Brilliant Logo’s – theres always a message

From the twitter-uni-verse comes this link. Logo’s of course have a meaning or intent, read about the good ones here

Paul

Censorship

Good to see that a little sense, more I suspect fear of vote loss, in the placing of the Federal Governments Internet Censorship intent (policy) on hold for at least twelve months.

Sadly the political, policy, floundering continues. I wonder how long before Federal Politicians of both parties realise that many of their “Policies” do not have a favourable view amongst the majority of voters. Perhaps the loss of touch will only be driven home at the ballot box?

Paul

Staying Connected Whilst Travelling

At 1400GTR’s WEB log a new entry can be found dealing with staying connected whilst traveling. In this case using a motorcycle. Enjoy the read….1400GTR’s web site.

Paul

iPhone 4 – The rubbishing explained – an “English Transaltion” of Apple PR Speak

Far too much (most of it rubbish) has been written in the computer media about the iPhone 4 alledged “antenna issues” and “signal strength”. Understand that this affects very few(but noisy) users (made louder by the “Tech Guru” and anti Apple “world”) and has been driven to some frantic levels by the few, based on “information and self testing” and “Youtube” evidence as well.

Basically if you have a “death grip”, “sweaty palms” and possibly left handed (a “minority group” combination if ever there was one) although any hand, with the previous combination will do, it is possible to achieve a signal loss of a supposedly substantial nature.

With record sales of iPhone 4, when released anywhere in the world, indicating obvious satisfied customers, the tech media frenzy (in some supposedly important circles) continues (USA driven of course).

Apple has felt the need to make a media release on this subject “Letter from Apple Regarding iPhone 4“. Have a read via the link. Daring Fireball (John Gruber) a BLOG for which I have some respect has done a wonderful “to English” translation of Apple’s PR speak in “Translation From Apples Unique Dialect of PR Speak……..“

Read the Apple one first and then the Daring Fireball one.

Finally, any issues anyone may have re the above, is addressed (fixed) by the simple addition of an accessory cover, such as Apples “Bumper” case. Perhaps the next release of a 3G Apple product may be into a better performing 3G network area, such as many Asian/Oceania and European locations.

Enjoy your iPhone 4. I look forward to mine.

Paul

iOS4

Available and installed on my 3G iPhone. No “multi tasking ” – 3Gs and above only for this.  Over an hour was spent installing the operating system around 0700 AM AEST. Good clean install with no issues.

iBooks also available in APP store (AUS). Folders are a great addition along with single mailbox and mail threading. I am looking forward to the new iPhone availability in Australia. The 3G is just about out of contract so a new iPhone 4 is on the horizon.

Paul

Browsers – MiFi

The latest Safari is out. I have had Safari on my MAC for some time and only used it occasionally. With the release of 5 Safari has now made it as my default browser. Fast and a clean interface. Its compliance with HTML 5., H.264 and my strong dislike of anything “FLASH” related, makes Safari my default browser choice over FireFox for the time being and I suspect the future.

As stated above I am not a “FLASH” fan. Crashes in windows when web browsing are often “FLASH” related. I have no current interest in ‘FLASH” heavy sites (I will not browse them) and “FLASH” on the MAC is usually slow and sometime problematic.

Current tech/purchase suggestion. If you are thinking of purchasing a USB 3G “wireless” dongle, the better option will be a MiFi unit. Particularly if you are considering a WiFi only iPad.

MiFi questions to ask

• Does this unit present as WiFi hub when being charged. Some do not.
• What frequencies does this unit support – there are a number of GSM/3G frequencies used around the world depending on the provider and the countries frequency allocations – some MiFi units are CDMA (USA) specific frequencies. Not all frequencies are supported by all units.
• Purchase one that is unlocked – this allows you to put a sim from any (compatible) provider into the MiFi unit – if you are not a “outside your country” traveller a locked one from your favourite provider will work fine.

Tethering may seem attractive but reports suggest that a MiFi device offers better performance.

Have a read of the links above (all WiKi) for good info as well. Currently the WiFi offers on these devices are up to 802.1g only. Expect 802.1n soon. For most current small devices g will be adequate.

Paul

ADF – Submarines

A recent press release states that Australia now has 3 operational submarines, with crews, available for “Operations”. Really!! The press release did not define the current ADF definition of “Operational” perhaps it’s -

• Surface operations only OR
• No submergence below 50 metres OR for more than 60 minutes

Who knows!!! Of the six built at least one and possibly two will never be fully operational (capable of going to war). The ADF’s inability to keep two submarines fully operational at any given time is of great concern. More parked, broken, defence equipment.

The credibility of ADF management is very much in question. Far too much equipment is delayed, not working as expected, faulty. With the home grown list of ADF equipment/projects that are compromised in some way or have exploded in cost or actually failed and /or failed to work growing. The RAAF even leases commercial in flight refuelling capabilities so that it can fly it’s fighters any real distance. Yep the KC30′s are yet to actually show any signs of arriving. “Wedgetail” is suffering from blurred vision, but has established that it can take flight and land. The F-35 continues to make promises and fulfils none, except that it is going to be very very costly when the price is actually worked out and not the subject of yet another “promise”.

My real concern is with those that are expected to do the job. There is no doubt, in my mind, that close to home, the submarines are perhaps not as “confidence inspiring” to sail in as they should be. The Patrol boats are being over worked, along with the crews, in Australia’s appalling efforts at “border protection”. A phone call announcing your illegal arrival is indicative of poor border protection.

Our men and women posted overseas as “peace keepers” and in “combat zones” are protected from public scrutiny, as to equipment levels and working conditions, under the guise of “operational requirements” and secrecy. Much of this is unnecessary and designed to stop genuine and concerned scrutiny of the treatment of our “working military”.

Government sits on its hands. Not game to take the ADF “by the throat” and “give it a good shake”. Concerned that National Security may be compromised and that Government should not interfere with the military.

“National Security” is compromised. Please feel free to interfere.

As a tax payer I am over the moon as I watch millions to billions being wasted on or promised to, yet unpriced/unproved equipment. It’s “Pie in the Sky” stuff. Trouble is it’s yours and my “pie” and the “sky” does not seem to have any limits. Concepts of reality and real “National Security” needs have escaped and been forgotten. A dream is being lived. It needs to come to an end and be replaced by a large dose of reality.

Taking on the “Big Boys”

Media reports show that Senator Conroy is taking on the “Big Boys” again…. ‘Google Creepy” !!!!  Really! I can see my neighbourhoods WiFi systems from my house computer. Nothing ‘Creepy” about that. Standard stuff if you run a WiFi network of your own.

Then I can go for a walk with my iPhone and check out all the neighbourhood WiFi connections with a small APP. If you run a WiFi at home make sure you secure it. That’s all you need to do. The Info about it is available to all who want it. The security is meant to stop misuse.

Poor old Senator Conroy…with his “Internet Censorship” on the rocks (it’s a vote killer and a technical “non event”, but costly to you and me)…he now again “displays his capabilities” by entering into a field that is again, far beyond the expertise of him or (obviously) his advisors.

It is very obvious that Facebook and Googles user do a better job of managing their relevant excesses or slackness than any politician.

Unfortunately doggedly determined , poorly focused men in positions of power, are dangerous, in this case to yours and my internet freedoms. 

Busy Busy

Well I have been a busy boy! Upon deciding to revamp pp.id.au in such a manner that I can actually do quick posts, the answer was of course a BLOG. I host my own sites with a US provider ( far too expensive and restrictive in Ozz). I do obtain my domain names and manage them locally via Cheaper Domains.

WordPress was installed for the ppidau domain at my host and whilst there I also created a blog. subdomain for 1400gtr site.

Twitter integration, comments via DISQUS as plugins plus some anti spam devices and the blogs were basic and functioning.

WordPress, my blogging software of choice, is a nice piece of blogging software. Large numbers of themes (how it looks) with various features and a similarly large number of plugins, make for much exploring and testing.

WordPress is easy to use and manage. It works very well with software packages such as MarsEdit (this entry created and submitted from MarsEdit), MacJournal. Both of which I own and use.

MarsEdit is a recent purchase and for blogging is very nice. WordPress also has available and iPhone APP which I can use when mobile. This APP also handles multiple WordPress BLOG’s.

Having spent a few hours over a few days sorting out and organising my WEB activities I can know get into a little posting and R and R.

Paul

pp.id.au – BLOG

After a little playing and fiddling I know have the BLOG setup and pointing to www.pp.id.au.

The old site suffered from neglect due to my lack of time as life evolves.

This site will allow me to use various tools that will not restrict my blogging to in front of my computer.

The look and feel may change a bit initially until I settle on one I am happy with.

Paul