Just another bunch of stuff pouring out of some guy’s head

iPod update using iTunes sucks

So iTunes tells me there’s an update for my iPod Touch (1.1.1). I click the ‘Update’ button and the 150Mb (!!) download begins. I disconnect the iPod and come back (much) later when the download has finished. I reconnect the iPod but can’t find any option to install the download. (more…)

Using the Flash ‘Nested Ojects’ method in ASP pages

Occasionally I want to use Flash on a web page. Tragic, but true. I’ve been looking for an accessible, valid method for doing this. There are few candidates. I settled on the ‘Nested Objects’ method. It seemed quick, painless and didn’t require javascript. But there was a hitch…

Active Server Pages error 'ASP 0139'
Nested Object
An object tag cannot be placed inside another object tag.  

IIS’s ASP interpreter wouldn’t pass the page with nested <object> tags. (more…)

Alas, the neGcon (an open letter to Kazunori Yamauchi)

A PS3 is (hopefully) going to be gracing my lounge room soon. If that arrival coincides with the release of Gran Turismo™5 Prologue then there might be a HD TV too. But still this wonderful day will be tinged with a touch of disappointment. “Why?” you ask? Because despite having one of the best racing games ever made I won’t be able to use the best game steering controller ever made with it. (more…)

WoW, it’s over

It’s official. I’ve cancelled my World of Warcraft subscription. I’ve reached 70 but couldn’t really be bothered to find a guild (and all the politics that goes with that) so all that’s left is the grind and I’m just not interested in doing that.

It’s simply not fun anymore. (more…)

Logitech Harmony 785 Universal Remote review

Having become tired of the gaggle of remotes on my coffee table I’ve ventured once again into the one-remote-to-rule-them-all world of universal remote control. My prior purchase was a $20 cheapie that relied on the input of ‘device codes’ to identify your hardware. The Harmony line of remotes are a whole different kettle of fish.

The ’secret weapon’ of the Harmony is that it’s ‘programmed’ using a PC. It’s a USB device. The interface used to configure the remote is even more sophisticated (and problematic) but I’ll get to that later. (more…)

Lord of the Rings Online - first impressions

Lately I’ve gotten a bit tired of WoW. I made the mistake of rolling on a PVP server (I wanted to play with my friends) and I’ve gotten to the stage where I’ve been ganked one time too many. I also routinely try other MMO’s to see what’s out there.

This time I’m trying Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar (LOTRO for short). (more…)

Switching views in VS2005

I use DreamWeaver. A lot. I also write ASP but have realised that it’s probably time to move to ASP.NET now that 2.0 is claiming to make a lot of things easier.

In making this move, I’m having to come to terms with the Visual Studio 2005 IDE. It’s formidable. The more I can get it to behave like DreamWeaver the happier I’ll be. (more…)

My iPod is psychic

As a fairly hardcore nerd I sometimes have a tendency to anthropomorphise technology and, well.. completely in line with this thinking (I guess), I am slowly becoming convinced that my iPod is psychic. (more…)

Yahoo mail? Not quite

It seems Yahoo are in the process of revamping their online e-mail application. The only thing is, it’s not ready yet. And they appeared to have screwed up the old version as well. (more…)

Anarchy Online part 1

I spent a few hours on Saturday night in Anarchy Online. I had previously downloaded the game client in the hope of finding a free trial and they have done just that. Here is a brief rundown of my experience so far. I won’t call it a review. (more…)