Welcome to my underground lair, Tumblage was created on 29 April 2002.

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Apple TV Slow Remote Response Fix

My Apple TV stopped working properly a while back. The response to the remote became extremely slow and I haven't had the patience to use it since.

I'm pretty sure this was right after the last system software update which added features to programme third party remotes. Anyhow a quick bit of google this evening and I stumbled across an interesting suggestion for a fix. Tape a piece of white paper over the remote sensor. Surely a joke? No, tried it and it now works perfectly again. The sleek Apple TV design looks somewhat budget with its new sticking plaster but at least it's back in action.

nickyg:20:10 Comments [0] Permanent Link to Tumblog

Tax 22

Tried to renew my tax disc last month using the online service. I did this around the 20th, about 10 days before the tax ran out. The very clever system looks up in a database to confirm you've got a valid MOT. I had a valid MOT when I tried to renew, due to expire a couple of days before the end of last month. The system decides, in its wisdom, that if the MOT isn't valid when the new tax disc will start then you can't have any tax.

So I phoned the garage and booked an MOT, but they only had availability in early October, after the tax had run out.

When I get to the garage I'll probably find out I can't have an MOT until I've got a tax disc.

nickyg:15:12 Comments [1] Permanent Link to Tumblog

Hovis Square Bread

It's neither square nor perfect for toast, the later on account of the former. You might think I've got more important things to worry about, well actually I have - I took these pictures on 2 January so it's taken a good four and a half months to post them. And that's only because I find myself at work on a bank holiday Monday and was in need of the distraction. The sample in question measures around 98mm x 128mm or a ratio of roughly 1:1.3. I know it's not a big deal but surely the USP of square bread is that it's square. Perhaps the marketeers had the idea but the accountants said it was too expensive to change the production process - so they just changed the packaging on a normal loaf?

nickyg:12:08 Comments [1] Permanent Link to Tumblog

Aperture and iLife Integration

OK, I've patiently waited a good six months without complaint but it really is about time Apple properly sorted out the integration between Aperture, its higher end photo managing and editing software, and iLife - the application suite at the heart of the consumer success of Mac OS X.

One of the great ideas behind iLife is that it allows you to share media (your music, pictures and video) across applications. If you want to put music to a slideshow, it's easy. If you want to a photo as a background to a DVD menu, it's easy. If you want to put your music on your iPod and Apple TV, also easy.

But what if you want to use Aperture instead of iPhoto to manage your photo library? Well Apple boasts of Aperture integration into the iLife suite. And it's true you can share your photos but with one small but major flaw. When you put your Aperture photos libraries onto your iPod or Apple TV, instead of being sorted by the order in Aperture, they are sorted alphabetically by filename. The workaround is to bring all the photos albums you wish to share into iPhoto (which is straightforward) and use these to share. But with hundreds of albums this is a pain to administer and keep in sync.

Recently there have been upgrades to how Apple handles this integration and I've also just handed Mr Jobs another 65 notes (of the British denomination) to upgrade to the new version of Aperture. Amongst the 100 new features there is mention of new new publishing capability.

Sadly following the first test of synchronising it seems the ordering problem is still there - on both Apple TV and iPod. How hard can this be to fix? Fair enough don't fix this in the free OS upgrades but if you're going to charge me to develop 100 new features make sure the bug fixes make the final list.

nickyg:13:43 Comments [2] Permanent Link to Tumblog

Steve Jobs Is A Greedy Git

At today's Apple 2008 MacWorld Expo, Steve Jobs announced a bunch of new products and updates. The highlight must be the new MacBook Air - an ultra flat, ultra light portable. It looks amazing but, unsurprisingly given its size, is lacking in beans and hence for many would only serve as a second laptop. For me though it would be ideal, as (outside of PC confined work for my employer) I only use a laptop while travelling for music, pictures, video and internet.

Also announced were five new applications for the iPod Touch. As my phone is on a work contract (for loads of reasons, direct dialling of colleagues' extension numbers being one of them) I've got a Touch as an iPhone isn't a supported option. Of the new apps the one I'm interested in is a Mail client so I can get my email when connected to a wireless network on my iPod. Just went online and installed the new software and no Mail app. A bit more searching and I find a link to the iTunes Music Store and it turns out I can buy them for £12.99. I've not had the iTouch long, only since the day it was released a few months back. I understand these new apps were launched on the iPhone when it came out. So in reality they are not new, they were held back from the Touch which launched first to persuade more users to buy the flagship iPhone.

Compare this with the software update for Apple TV, which frankly has rather bombed as it doesn't really do very much (copies the iTunes media content from one hard drive to another located by your TV and let's you play it on the TV screen). This one is free to all users.

Of course I'm aware that Apple is a business which exists to make money. And I'm not going to have a rant about Apple losing touch with its core customer base as with Apple's massive commercial success that has clearly changed. Today I just think Steve Jobs is a git. And I've already paid my £12.99.

nickyg:21:37 Comments [0] Permanent Link to Tumblog

Tux and April's Wedding, 30 December 2007, Los Angeles

Just back from a few days in Los Angeles. Apart from the obligatory trips to Santa Monica (beach and pier (and the Apple Store)), Sunset Strip, Hollywood Boulevard (Walk of Fame and Mann's Theatre), Rodeo Drive (posh shops) and Venice Beach (Muscle Beach, street performers and tattoo shops) we also managed to fit in a quick wedding.



The Wayfarers' Chapel provided a beautiful setting for the ceremony and the reception was held at the Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club, right on the Pacific Ocean at the King Harbour in Redondo Beach. Check out the photos of the event.

nickyg:12:50 Comments [2] Permanent Link to Tumblog

Branded In The Face Of Defeet

Got some socks for Christmas. Who didn't? But these are special technical socks, ideal for cycling and multi-sport disciplines such as triathlon. The socks claim to lead in terms of durability, wicking, drying, and air permeability. So it may be just me but I can't say the brand name, DeFeet, inspires any great confidence. Still, if I fail to win the next event I enter, which is indeed a certainty, at least I can blame it on the socks.

nickyg:12:30 Comments [0] Permanent Link to Tumblog

Usmanov's A Real Devil

Interesting article about Alisher Usmanov's intentions for Arsenal on The Times website today.

Apparently he'd struck a deal with his business partner that they would buy into Manchester United or Arsenal depending on which they could get shares for first. Usmanov is quoted as saying, "If I had an opportunity to buy United, I would stop acting like a fan of Arsenal."

So he's only acting like he's a fan - brilliant. And even if we put the quote down to unclear English and assume he meant to say he'd stop behaving like a fan of Arsenal then by his own admission, if he'd wanted to buy Man United but ended up with Arsenal he'd have stopped behaving like a fan of Man U. I'm not sure his words have provided fans with much assurance.

Given the current success of the club and the focus on sustained financial success to drive sustained success on the pitch I'm against a change of regime. Sure Arsenal could do with a couple of players, a centre half to start with to replace Ponderous, but I can't see the need for a massive cash injection even if they didn't have £74m in the bank.

The money that clubs (and not just Chelsea - £16.5m Darren Bent?!?) have thrown at players has inflated prices and no longer guarantees quality or an ability to mould with a team. Sure Ronald Weasleyinho is good but I'd take five £6 million players instead - sure two would be crap and two would always be injured like sick note Gallas but one would more than likely do the business. Plus you'd have £10m left in the bank.

An interesting footnote that supports my speculation that Usmanov is secretly a Man U fan, some interesting anagrams: So Man U Lavisher, Ravish Man U's Ole, Shoe Man U's Rival and finally one for the Gunners, A Man U Lover - Hiss.

nickyg:21:24 Comments [1] Permanent Link to Tumblog