Sun - October 17, 2004
Wireless !
Network hunting !
I have to say that the airport card in my new
Powerbook works a treat at spotting wireless networks. It really is so easy to c
networks. Unfortunately on my London trip I could not find any that were not
password protected which was a bit shame but I guess thats life and as I have no
hacking skills most people should be fairly safe. Could be fun to borrow a bit
of bandwith though !!! Handy for surfing in the hotel room. Ah well one day
?!
Posted at 06:25 pm Read More
Autumn Run
Out and About
There is something liberating about getting out in
the countryside and running through it like I did the other morning. It really
is great to feel the cooler air and the smell of autumn as your heart and lungs
pound away. Sometimes you could really be anywhere. It really is a great escape
and a brill way to start a weekend. It was just like this morning when as I
eased up to drink on my bike and just appreciated the hills and fields and the
openness of being out there on my own and that great feeling of almost being on
the edge as I came back down over the speed bumps through Lower Wyke like a mad
teenager ! Well good !!!
Posted at 06:18 pm Read More
Sun - October 3, 2004
Wireless Flash
Flexible but not perfect
I have been using the wireless infra red transmitter
with my new camera and it really does allow you take pictures that were
previously very difficult due to the problem of stretching a cable and time. It
really is quick to place a slave flash on its stand and even place the main
flash somewhere to give the appearance of natural light . It really helps when
working in poorly lit places. BUT the downside is that if the flash is behind
the transmitter it just does not work so that is something I am having to learn
to watch. I guess nothing is perfect in this life.
Posted at 06:29 pm Read More
Brakes !
Essential safety ?!
I was out this AM on my bike when as I approached a
set of lights a gently touched my brakes and the force of breaking almost threw
me off. Why ? Well I had changed all my brake blocks the other week and I had
forgotten just how much better they work so there I was with a water bottle in
one hand hanging on for grim life thinking I was just about to hit the road !
Scary moment but by God they are good brakes now and of course with two hands
much safer. Note to self only brake when not drinking !
Posted at 06:22 pm Read More
Tue - September 21, 2004
A little means a lot
Thanks
Sometimes just a few words can make such a
difference. Like Thanks
Posted at 08:50 pm Read More
Free downloads
iTunes Giveaway
The UK iTunes Music store has caught up with the US
in that every Tuesday it offers one free track to download. No big deal I
suppose but it does mean that you can try an artist that you may never have
heard of. I downloaded the Wire Daisies track last week and enjoyed it and would
even consider buying their album so why dont the record industry wake up and let
us taste more music. One track from an album would be a good idea and lets be
honest it would not cost them much. Mind you I would bet that they would
disagree.
Posted at 08:48 pm Read More
New Machine
Dreams come true
Well I have a new job and with it a new machine. Yes
I now I have an 867 Ti book but now I have an 1.5 G4 aluminium super machine
with built superdrive and well built in everything. It really is great. Fast,
stylish and a pleasure to behold. Even in our Mac clad office with G5s and
cinema displays it has attracted a few lustful glances. The thing that will
shock a few of you is that I am actually using it with a Microsoft mouse.
Initially I have to say that I was not sure about plugging the enemy into my
Apple but I do like scroll wheel and yes I do right click as well. Do I need it
? Probably not as I do still go back to the trackpad and ctrl click but it does
extend the way you work and I suppose reduce the risk of the dreaded RSI.
Actually if you work a lot at your Mac pinch one from your PC using mates and
dive it a go. You never know you might like it !
Posted at 08:44 pm Read More
The Camera
Canon EOS1D Mk2
Now lets get it straight I do like my Canon cameras
having used an EOS1, EOS1V, EOS1D and now the new MK2 so I could be accused of a
slight bias BUT.............
It really is soo much better than the old one. The file size with its 8 megapixel chip is much better giving an A4 size file at 300dpi but really that is the least exciting thing. For one thing the new flash system is just so much better in two words it works. Unlike the old camera which would give inconsistent fill in this camera gives almost perfect light 99% of the time and to be honest its usually a case of that I have not pointed the flash in the right direction rather than an error of its behalf. So in terms of effective usage it is a real joy. The battery life is also greatly improved even on a full day photoshoot filling two 512 cards with lots of previewing and editing the battery just kept going. Brill ! I am also using the wireless transmitter with 2 flashes and gain this works perfectly once I got my head around the instructions ! Actually sat on the train to Birmingham with nothing else to do was the critical moment for me ! If you add the speed of operation and overall quality of the machine then if you need an everyday pro SLR then look no further. The only downside is supply cos at least here in the UK they are quite rare breeds but worth the wait IMHO.
It really is soo much better than the old one. The file size with its 8 megapixel chip is much better giving an A4 size file at 300dpi but really that is the least exciting thing. For one thing the new flash system is just so much better in two words it works. Unlike the old camera which would give inconsistent fill in this camera gives almost perfect light 99% of the time and to be honest its usually a case of that I have not pointed the flash in the right direction rather than an error of its behalf. So in terms of effective usage it is a real joy. The battery life is also greatly improved even on a full day photoshoot filling two 512 cards with lots of previewing and editing the battery just kept going. Brill ! I am also using the wireless transmitter with 2 flashes and gain this works perfectly once I got my head around the instructions ! Actually sat on the train to Birmingham with nothing else to do was the critical moment for me ! If you add the speed of operation and overall quality of the machine then if you need an everyday pro SLR then look no further. The only downside is supply cos at least here in the UK they are quite rare breeds but worth the wait IMHO.
Posted at 08:35 pm Read More
Sat
- September 18, 2004
New Camera
1D Mk2
I have a new camera a Canon EOS1D Mk2 . The new
version of the digital work horse with improved file size, much improved battery
life and flash system. These last two are the big improvements and make such a
big difference to working with the machine. It really is what the first
incarnation should have been. I will tell you more later.
Posted at 07:53 pm Read More
Back again!
Writing again
Well I have written anything on here what with
holidays and a new job so play things like this blog have taken a back seat but
I have decided to get back to jottings. So hopefully there will be a few more
entries on here.
Posted at 07:44 pm Read More
Tue - June 29, 2004
Passport!
What no reminder !
My passport is about to expire and guess what no
reminder ! So to renew in a hurry I have to trail all the way to Liverpool and
pay £70. Can you believe it. In this day and age when you constantly
receive reminders for car tax, insurance, tax etc the passport department think
that you can remember a 10 year expiry date. Dreadful and don t worry when I
have my appointment I will be asking. So watch this space !
Posted at 08:32 pm Read More
Thu - June 17, 2004
More Music
Runrig etc
As I have said before in my blog my iPod has given
me a new interest in music and my latest discovery is the Scottish band Runrig
which I have played to death on the pod and really enjoy. I have just started
listening as well to the latest album by Fleetwood Mac entitled Say You Will
which IMHO is truely brilliant and I really like the track Running Through the
Garden with its evocative lyrics and wailing guitars. It just amazes me that the
record industry still thinks that it is necessary to prevent people ripping
their CDs to listen to on their music player of choice after all since I got the
pod I have bought more music than for years !
Posted at 10:27 pm Read More
Music store arrives !
At long last !
The iTunes Music store has finally opened in the UK
this week and at last Macusers on this side of the pond can use the music store
icon in iTunes. It all seems to work fine from my viewpoint and .Mac users
already have an account set up which is kind of nice. However many users have
noted that tracks are missing from some albums and that not all the tracks that
are listed on the site are actually available in the UK. Lets hope that some of
this is only early days and that things like the free downloads in the US will
arrive here. I guess if the store is as successful here as in the US then the
music industry will just have to sit up and take notice and actually move with
the times. Funny that for an industry that thinks its hip and
happening.
Posted at 10:19 pm Read More
Fri - June 11, 2004
Firefox
Browser for the future ?
I installed the Mozilla developmental browser
Firefox 0.8 on my Powerbook last night and to date I have been very impressed by
the way it works with all the sites that I have thrown at it including a
supermarket shopping site which has previously not worked with any Mac browser.
Also little things like scrolling the forms on the Macuser website actually
works something which Safari stubbornly refuses to do. It seems quite snappy and
works very much like Safari with tabbed browsing and the Google search box in
the top right corner. At the moment I think it is my browser of choice the only
down side is I have yet to find a way to import my Safari bookmarks and of
course it does not sync with .Mac bookmarks which is a feature I do use. So not
perfect but pretty damm good and they have just released 0.9
!
Dont just take my word though give it go. Its a 9.4 Mb download. Im sure you will not be disappointed.
Dont just take my word though give it go. Its a 9.4 Mb download. Im sure you will not be disappointed.
Posted at 08:57 pm Read More
Tue - May 25, 2004
Be Aware !
Important Update for OSX
If you are running OSX and use the internet ( which
if you are reading this then you must fall into one of those categories : ) and
have not run software update recently then I strongly urge you to do do right
now. No not in a minute right now. There is an update, in the region of 300k,
which prevents rogue websites from running code using the help app and the
terminal to delete the contents of your home folder. OK so the risk is slight
but it exists so go on update now. If you don t you could be a very unhappy
bunny.
The reassuring thing is that at least Apple have addressed the problem within a week of it being discovered which in itself is very reassuring. Not sure if the same could be said for the other side but then why do people take such pleasure in destroying other peoples data and machines. Strange world.
The reassuring thing is that at least Apple have addressed the problem within a week of it being discovered which in itself is very reassuring. Not sure if the same could be said for the other side but then why do people take such pleasure in destroying other peoples data and machines. Strange world.
Posted at 07:57 pm Read More
Independent Developers
A Quote
A screen for all seasons
Shuffle !
My Camera Bag
Here comes summer!
Independent Developers
Dressing the iPod
Living with the Pod
Mac/iPod Fellowship
Listed on Google
London
Waterparks
My new toy !
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Published On: Oct 17, 2004 06:30 pm
Published On: Oct 17, 2004 06:30 pm