Okay I'm getting abit sick of this now.
So it's been abit of a hard day, it's been hot/cold, I've endured sitting next to general public on public transport back to the park and ride, because the UK cannot create a decent integrated public transport system to get people to work. And/or there's just too many of us crammed into the place that living and working close by is just not possible.
I arrive back at my car waiting for it to be the oven or freezer that seems to be the extremes of our weather recently.
However...
I first have to check round my car an retrieve the umpteen flyer stuck in my door, window, under the windscreen wiper etc. Seriously you're not gaining business through this, you're annoying people ensuring they never wish to trade with you again.
In addition I've already had serious rantings to the owners of the park and ride, who have funded it to encourage use of their service (which I imagine has worked considering it fills everyday), who even fly posted themselves once.
The ensuring fury was over the fact that after they posted, it rained briefly, and the coating on the paper acted as a very good glue. They apologised profusely and vowed never to do it again.
So the ensuing fact I now have a new strategy.
I have a selection of leaflets on my desk. Whenever I need an email address/phone number to access some site...
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Working with colleagues
Life can be stressful. Work can induce a lot of stress for people, especially when you asked to take on problems you have little control over. So regaining control is important to reducing your stress.
Communicate with your colleagues, use simple clear instructions and sentencing. Waffle and indeterminate expression may save some feelings, but it does not help. This is business, get things fixed, make the time for socialization over coffee at other times.
Use sensible lines of communications. Email is not suited to discussion. If you are giving multiple people information or instructions, but require for everyone to know what is going on, make sure each person knows the bits they are responsible for.
Never email some who sits next to you for a rant, if you have some issues. Either talk or if you are unble to talk instant message.
If you are under strain, ask for help, sensible help, make clear what you need, and thank them afterwards. Keep and amend those instructions for next time.
As an admin your job is a bunch of procedures, that hopefully you can put onto a junior. Find those procedures, get someone else to do them, then find a quiet corner to drink your coffee or play with something fun.
Communicate with your colleagues, use simple clear instructions and sentencing. Waffle and indeterminate expression may save some feelings, but it does not help. This is business, get things fixed, make the time for socialization over coffee at other times.
Use sensible lines of communications. Email is not suited to discussion. If you are giving multiple people information or instructions, but require for everyone to know what is going on, make sure each person knows the bits they are responsible for.
Never email some who sits next to you for a rant, if you have some issues. Either talk or if you are unble to talk instant message.
If you are under strain, ask for help, sensible help, make clear what you need, and thank them afterwards. Keep and amend those instructions for next time.
As an admin your job is a bunch of procedures, that hopefully you can put onto a junior. Find those procedures, get someone else to do them, then find a quiet corner to drink your coffee or play with something fun.
Why I like Linux more than Windows
Making black instant coffee
The Linux way
cat water.tap > /dev/kettle
echo 1 > /proc/sys/kettle/power
touch coffee.cup
JAR=`find /home/kitchen/cupboard/* *java*`
head -c $JAR > coffee.cup
while [ ! /proc/sys/kettle/boiled ];do;sleep 5;done
dd if=/proc/sys/kettle/spout of=coffee.cup bs=5ml count=50
exit
drink coffee
The Windows Way
open Coffee Wizard
choose basic wizard option
click next
scroll past eula
tick "Accept EULA" check box
enter your username
enter password
click next
wait for authentication
enter username again
enter password again slowly
click next
wait for authentication
select auto search for mug
select auto search for kettle
click next
curse and swear pointing out kettle with finger
click back
select kettle and watch mug being deselected
try to select mug again, but no longer appearing in list
click back
click back
click back
select advanced wizard option
click next
scroll past eula
tick "Accept EULA" check box
enter your username
enter password slowly
click next
enter administrator username
enter administrator password
browse for kettle file
browse for mug file
fail to fing mug file
search for mug file in windows explorer and find in "My Kitchen"
return to Coffee Wizard and browse to "My Kitchen"
select "show all files"
click on coffee.cup
click next
call Microsoft Technical Support
wait for 2 hours in queue
Close wizard
Open wizard
select advanced wizard option
click next
scroll past eula
tick "Accept EULA" check box
enter administrator username
enter administrator password
browse for kettle file
browse for mug file
explain to support technician about file being in there
open file using notepad
read contents line by line to technician
open regedit
set HKLM\Current Control Set\System\Microsoft\coffeecup\allowothercup => "1"
reboot computer
restart Coffee Wizard Advanced Wizard
curse at "Error, cannot find Water v2.0 SP1" error
Walk to Starbucks
Friday, 2 March 2012
Typing with guantlets
There's a reason touch typing is called as such. You press the keys through touch, much like a guitarist positions his fingers for chords out of practice and muscle memory.
I like to think that it also refers to the mechanism you use in typing. Touching the keys to depress them. It's amazing to hear people typing from the far side of the room, even worse when you happen to be sitting next to them.
I call them Keyboard Barbarians they seem to require bashing away at the keyboard to get the letters upon screen.
"RAWR I'M TYPING, CAN YOU SEE ME TYPE RAWR"
Not only is it annoying, it's also breaking the keyboard. If you think you are a Keyboard Barbarian, please stop.
I like to think that it also refers to the mechanism you use in typing. Touching the keys to depress them. It's amazing to hear people typing from the far side of the room, even worse when you happen to be sitting next to them.
I call them Keyboard Barbarians they seem to require bashing away at the keyboard to get the letters upon screen.
"RAWR I'M TYPING, CAN YOU SEE ME TYPE RAWR"
Not only is it annoying, it's also breaking the keyboard. If you think you are a Keyboard Barbarian, please stop.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Monit - Every admin's little gem
I recently have taken over from a past admin, that set up a number of systems then moved on, leaving the CTO in charge of the systems (woe is me).
So there is a small clustered system, and it appears one of the services is a touch unstable, and the cluster isn't detecting the failure, the solution put in place, make the cluster failover once in a while to restart the services.
Now I just can't figure this out. First, the admin in question had set it to restart the heartbeat (seriously bad idea) on the running active server. So the non-active server starts up the service.
Where did he get that bright idea from. Also the fact of this bludgeoning method. So I start looking round for the method to monitor and manage the cluster. It appears there isn't, the config runs, the heartbeat watches for the server to fail but no actual management. Poor D- for you.
So I look to an old friend, Monit. A simple daemon on the server that can monitor services, files, free space and either alert or restart the service or other things. Simples.
So on it pops and off we go, most Linux distributions have a copy, alternatively the likes of RPMFusion will provide binaries.
Things you need to make sure you setup,
Set an email server
set mailserver <yourhostmailserver or localhost>
Set alert emails
set alert <youremailhere>
Rather than putting your entire config in one file (because it's just plain confusing, or perhaps that's what you like)
Set config file directory
include /etc/monit.d/*
I would recommend this location, because it's a sensible name and we all like being sensible, don't we children.
So in /etc/monit.d/myborkedservice I have the following
check process with pidfile /location/of/pidfile
start program = "/etc/init.d/borkedservice start"
stop program = "/etc/init.d/borkedservice stop"
The system will automatically alert (via the email) on either a failure or a changed pid (i.e the process has restarted)
On the none active server I have the additional line
mode passive
This alerts but does not actually restart the service. When I figure out how to get this to work with HA I'll post again. however, I am going to presume there is a better method (like getting the borkservice(tm) to work and/or HA properly working)
So there is a small clustered system, and it appears one of the services is a touch unstable, and the cluster isn't detecting the failure, the solution put in place, make the cluster failover once in a while to restart the services.
Now I just can't figure this out. First, the admin in question had set it to restart the heartbeat (seriously bad idea) on the running active server. So the non-active server starts up the service.
Where did he get that bright idea from. Also the fact of this bludgeoning method. So I start looking round for the method to monitor and manage the cluster. It appears there isn't, the config runs, the heartbeat watches for the server to fail but no actual management. Poor D- for you.
So I look to an old friend, Monit. A simple daemon on the server that can monitor services, files, free space and either alert or restart the service or other things. Simples.
So on it pops and off we go, most Linux distributions have a copy, alternatively the likes of RPMFusion will provide binaries.
Things you need to make sure you setup,
Set an email server
set mailserver <yourhostmailserver or localhost>
Set alert emails
set alert <youremailhere>
Rather than putting your entire config in one file (because it's just plain confusing, or perhaps that's what you like)
Set config file directory
include /etc/monit.d/*
I would recommend this location, because it's a sensible name and we all like being sensible, don't we children.
So in /etc/monit.d/myborkedservice I have the following
check process with pidfile /location/of/pidfile
start program = "/etc/init.d/borkedservice start"
stop program = "/etc/init.d/borkedservice stop"
The system will automatically alert (via the email) on either a failure or a changed pid (i.e the process has restarted)
On the none active server I have the additional line
mode passive
This alerts but does not actually restart the service. When I figure out how to get this to work with HA I'll post again. however, I am going to presume there is a better method (like getting the borkservice(tm) to work and/or HA properly working)
Monday, 26 September 2011
Wasting Time
I have recently joined a new company, and I know there has been a few issues with trust and time wasting. But just as much of my time is wasted.by being locked off certain things. As the systems administrator, I need access to about everything. I wasted a shed load today by not being able to get hold of certain downloads because torrents are evil.
No torrents are not evil, illegal file sharing is.
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Working with colleagues
Life can be stressful. Work can induce a lot of stress for people, especially when you asked to take on problems you have little control over. So regaining control is important to reducing your stress.
Communicate with your colleagues, use simple clear instructions and sentencing. Waffle and indeterminate expression may save some feelings, but it does not help. This is business get things fixed, make the time for socialization over coffee at other times.
Use sensible limestone of communications. Email is not suited to discussion. If you are giving multiple people information or instructions, but require for everyone to know what is going on, make sure each person knows the bits they are responsible for.
Never email some who sits next to you for a rant, if you have some issues. Either talk or if you are unble to talk instant message.
If you are under strain, ask for help, sensible help, make clear what you need, and thank them afterwards. Keep and amend those instructions for next time.
As an admin your job is a bunch of procedures, that hopefully you can put onto a junior. Find those procedures, get someone else to do them, then find a quiet corner to drink your coffee or play with something fun.
Communicate with your colleagues, use simple clear instructions and sentencing. Waffle and indeterminate expression may save some feelings, but it does not help. This is business get things fixed, make the time for socialization over coffee at other times.
Use sensible limestone of communications. Email is not suited to discussion. If you are giving multiple people information or instructions, but require for everyone to know what is going on, make sure each person knows the bits they are responsible for.
Never email some who sits next to you for a rant, if you have some issues. Either talk or if you are unble to talk instant message.
If you are under strain, ask for help, sensible help, make clear what you need, and thank them afterwards. Keep and amend those instructions for next time.
As an admin your job is a bunch of procedures, that hopefully you can put onto a junior. Find those procedures, get someone else to do them, then find a quiet corner to drink your coffee or play with something fun.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Making things complex
System complexity has little to do with the nuts and bolts of an application.
Take for instance the use of the modern car. You can literally have a start/stop button, the steering wheel and the gas and brake pedals and no other control is necessary to rum the car. Gear changing, lights, wipers are all automatic in higher end cars.
So the fact there maybe 10th individual software apps underneath mean nothing to most administrators of a system. If it has a simple operation and a sensible setup then the system is not complex.
Which brings me to my second point. The last thing you need to care about with a system is wondering if you are on the right one. A half broken system is worse than a broken one. Trying to work around "features" is so annoying I would rather not use it at all. Even worse is working around self induced issues.
Maintain what you have more than work on new systems you have, and stand on your principles if those that be tell you to do otherwise.
And thus ends today's lesson
Monday, 12 September 2011
New job again
I must be an ill contented person. I have changed jobs many many times. Is it so hard to expect to find a decent workplace these days. It is not as if I am looking for am increasing wage, I have often moved for less.
Some respect, a comfortable working environment (I.e somewhere they can keep toilet roll in stock), and a job that you actually get to do and some acknowledgment of a good job.
Now I am not talking constant reminders of what good little engineers we are, but when we pull it out the bag at the last minute, a "thank you" would be nice.
The previous place I was at, we were finally offered to be taken out as a thank-you for a real big ask of our skills. Two months later I left. No meal. Apparently still no meal talking to those left behind.
So the lesson is think of your minions, they give what you put in.
More updates to come, I commute on public transport so more time to blog.
Some respect, a comfortable working environment (I.e somewhere they can keep toilet roll in stock), and a job that you actually get to do and some acknowledgment of a good job.
Now I am not talking constant reminders of what good little engineers we are, but when we pull it out the bag at the last minute, a "thank you" would be nice.
The previous place I was at, we were finally offered to be taken out as a thank-you for a real big ask of our skills. Two months later I left. No meal. Apparently still no meal talking to those left behind.
So the lesson is think of your minions, they give what you put in.
More updates to come, I commute on public transport so more time to blog.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Planning ahead
Communication systems underlay our entire society and economy. Businesses rely on them to function, the loss of email can be more catastrophic than the loss of the telephone system or even a shop.
So as providers of communications, things need to work. They need to be understood, and provide rock solid services.
As such changes, new products, and management requires planning and time. It is not the sort of thing you hash in at the last minute. I believe most customers would prefer a stable working, well supported and understood product.
How frustrating is it when you buy a service and it either doesn't do what it says (or actually not quite in yet but in the pipeline) or stops doing what it did, and then you have to wait for a seemingly uncaring support team to fix the issue.
In defence of the support team, there is probably nothing they can do, it has possibly been passed onto an overworked engineering team, or another third party.
So think again when you design a solution. Is it ready for release, do you understand what is actually wanted. Do not release something before it is ready. Ensure it is supportable.
So as providers of communications, things need to work. They need to be understood, and provide rock solid services.
As such changes, new products, and management requires planning and time. It is not the sort of thing you hash in at the last minute. I believe most customers would prefer a stable working, well supported and understood product.
How frustrating is it when you buy a service and it either doesn't do what it says (or actually not quite in yet but in the pipeline) or stops doing what it did, and then you have to wait for a seemingly uncaring support team to fix the issue.
In defence of the support team, there is probably nothing they can do, it has possibly been passed onto an overworked engineering team, or another third party.
So think again when you design a solution. Is it ready for release, do you understand what is actually wanted. Do not release something before it is ready. Ensure it is supportable.
Monday, 18 April 2011
Pot calling kettle
I know how some people view Google, and I agree they have a lot of dominance in the market at the moment. But I was somewhat gob smacked by the quote in the news today, concerning the Microsoft owned company ciao.co.uk suing Google
"Parent company, Microsoft, claims that Google has used its dominant position to limit rivals' products."
Not like Microsoft has ever done anything like this.
I can't decide whether this is due to Microsoft's fear of Google, or their complete lack of any morales in search of the almighty dollar/pound/yen/etc
"Parent company, Microsoft, claims that Google has used its dominant position to limit rivals' products."
Not like Microsoft has ever done anything like this.
I can't decide whether this is due to Microsoft's fear of Google, or their complete lack of any morales in search of the almighty dollar/pound/yen/etc
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Someone having a rant, other than me
I work in a building that USED to be the local cemetery's chapel of rest. The keywords being "used to". There is a sign on the entrance saying the company name and also saying there is access to the CEMETERY.
The fact that the crematorium is next door (also sign posted), and accessed by a different entrance, is not our fault. We regularly get a few confused and slightly upset visitors.
But today we had a first. An irate mourner complaining to US that the crematorium is not well enough sign posted and it's not good enough (slamming the door on the way out).
Everyone has always been courteous, understanding the that person is possibly a little upset already. However, this slightly angered us and in some way amused us.
The main moral of this is one of general civility. Using abusive and threatening speech to someone who is unrelated to the issue you are complaining about is hardly going to endear them to helping you. If we had not already told them where to find the crematorium I would have given her false directions.
The fact that the crematorium is next door (also sign posted), and accessed by a different entrance, is not our fault. We regularly get a few confused and slightly upset visitors.
But today we had a first. An irate mourner complaining to US that the crematorium is not well enough sign posted and it's not good enough (slamming the door on the way out).
Everyone has always been courteous, understanding the that person is possibly a little upset already. However, this slightly angered us and in some way amused us.
The main moral of this is one of general civility. Using abusive and threatening speech to someone who is unrelated to the issue you are complaining about is hardly going to endear them to helping you. If we had not already told them where to find the crematorium I would have given her false directions.
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Woe is me
Upgrading with yum
To upgrade with yum
1 | Login to the op5 Monitor server via ssh as the root user. |
2 | Check what packages that is pending for upgrade by execute: yum check-update |
3 | If you want to apply the upgraded packages execute: yum update |
These are instructions from a commercial product we have. They provide repositories for the software to provide easier upgrade.
As a note this is definitely not the way to do it. This will update your entire system. I queried how to do this, and they effectively didn't know. The only method they have is to install the new version over the top. Wicked.
As a note this is definitely not the way to do it. This will update your entire system. I queried how to do this, and they effectively didn't know. The only method they have is to install the new version over the top. Wicked.
Commercial vs Opensource Contd...
My fight with the commercialised Nagios continues.
Though they've managed to fix a number of bugs, they seem quite capable of introducing more. Documentation is still poor (one of the support techs actually having to write an upgrade guide for me specifically).
In addition they have committed a most foul heinous crime: changing the architecture mid version.
version x.2 to x.3 totally changes the distribution/load balancing model. In fact in x.2 there was no such thing as load-balancing. beforehand. To me this is a major change in the system, and requires work to accommodate, and should only be done as a new version.
I can see how this is happening, RAD + opensource mentality means, fix the bugs add new features, release it into the wild. Not really what I would expect from a commercial product though. I need stability and bug fixes. New features are great, but I'd prefer to take those as a separate option
Though they've managed to fix a number of bugs, they seem quite capable of introducing more. Documentation is still poor (one of the support techs actually having to write an upgrade guide for me specifically).
In addition they have committed a most foul heinous crime: changing the architecture mid version.
version x.2 to x.3 totally changes the distribution/load balancing model. In fact in x.2 there was no such thing as load-balancing. beforehand. To me this is a major change in the system, and requires work to accommodate, and should only be done as a new version.
I can see how this is happening, RAD + opensource mentality means, fix the bugs add new features, release it into the wild. Not really what I would expect from a commercial product though. I need stability and bug fixes. New features are great, but I'd prefer to take those as a separate option
Android woes
I've now had my android phone for a while now, and I think it's top. I've had the odd crash, but mainly when I've tried to work past it's capabilities. The device I have is an entry model, and sometimes I expect the response I get from my laptop.
Smartphones are probably the future. However, one thing to note: Smartphones are not really phones. They're handheld computers with voice capability, treat them as such.
As to Android itself, it's great. Plenty of apps both free and commercial, all pretty much of high quality. I keep meaning to produce a few myself.
Smartphones are probably the future. However, one thing to note: Smartphones are not really phones. They're handheld computers with voice capability, treat them as such.
As to Android itself, it's great. Plenty of apps both free and commercial, all pretty much of high quality. I keep meaning to produce a few myself.
Monday, 13 December 2010
Cable Hell
I've just travelled some distance to get to a hosting centre my company has kit at. It's not easy or cheap really for us to do work down here, but this is where it's at.
So doing work is a pain, especially when you have to do it at stupid o'clock to cause least disruption to our customers.
So getting in, doing the shizzle and getting out asap is always a good thing. So things need to be prepared beforehand. What,when and by whom.
However arriving on site with barely any of the kit prepared and a few hastily written notes is not good, recipe for disaster.
So we've now discovered in our haste to get down here missing most of the rush hour traffic we've forgotten one cable. Ordinarily we wouldn't need it as it's only for initially setting up a device, the worst thing is the device is used for remote management of all the other kit we installing.
Arse.
So doing work is a pain, especially when you have to do it at stupid o'clock to cause least disruption to our customers.
So getting in, doing the shizzle and getting out asap is always a good thing. So things need to be prepared beforehand. What,when and by whom.
However arriving on site with barely any of the kit prepared and a few hastily written notes is not good, recipe for disaster.
So we've now discovered in our haste to get down here missing most of the rush hour traffic we've forgotten one cable. Ordinarily we wouldn't need it as it's only for initially setting up a device, the worst thing is the device is used for remote management of all the other kit we installing.
Arse.
Friday, 24 September 2010
Commercial vs Opensource
I'm a huge Opensource fan, it's what the web is about. However, commercial offerings have there place. No company can totally support each of the apps it uses, and so commercial offering can be a great resource.
Commercial offerings on opensource products I'm also not an enemy of. However, if I'm paying for something I could potentially get for free I have to see the benefit.
Typically this would be a slicker, more streamlined and documented. Also the support of a team that can go figure stuff out for me.
Recently we've become a customer of Op5, a commercial offering of Nagios. It's a better interface, gui config, but sod all documentation. I don't count a document that says "put the alias in here", and a screenshot of the alias input, as documentation.
I need to know structure design of implementation, what the various options actually mean to me. And perhaps a few examples.
In effect I would have probably been better to tweak the old design I had with nagios, rather than have to decompile their mechanism. Also there helpdesk attitude stinks.
Commercial offerings on opensource products I'm also not an enemy of. However, if I'm paying for something I could potentially get for free I have to see the benefit.
Typically this would be a slicker, more streamlined and documented. Also the support of a team that can go figure stuff out for me.
Recently we've become a customer of Op5, a commercial offering of Nagios. It's a better interface, gui config, but sod all documentation. I don't count a document that says "put the alias in here", and a screenshot of the alias input, as documentation.
I need to know structure design of implementation, what the various options actually mean to me. And perhaps a few examples.
In effect I would have probably been better to tweak the old design I had with nagios, rather than have to decompile their mechanism. Also there helpdesk attitude stinks.
Monday, 16 August 2010
Arggh Android contd...
Well suddenly, later on yesterday downloads suddenly sprung into action. I don't know if it was to do with the googlemaps updates or what, but now I'm able to pretty much download most apps.
The ones I presume I can't are possibly because the the app server is not responding (I'm presuming there is offsite hosting for most of the apps)
So I'm much happier, though a little worried about how often this is going to happen.
As regards the Crackberry. There seems to be a little issue with the account, until later this week apparently the handset won't get proper GPRS, so some functionality is not available yet. i.e Facebook and msn. We're both hoping that facebook is going to work properly too, or I'll be getting some jealous digging in the ribs about my phone.
The ones I presume I can't are possibly because the the app server is not responding (I'm presuming there is offsite hosting for most of the apps)
So I'm much happier, though a little worried about how often this is going to happen.
As regards the Crackberry. There seems to be a little issue with the account, until later this week apparently the handset won't get proper GPRS, so some functionality is not available yet. i.e Facebook and msn. We're both hoping that facebook is going to work properly too, or I'll be getting some jealous digging in the ribs about my phone.
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Arggh Android
My other half has been prodding at me to upgrade her phone for a while (it's my old contract, and to keep the number it has to stay in my name).
So when her boss and a the locum showed her the Blackberry Curve 8250, she increased her prodding. Worse of all, it was on a good deal with our mobile provider.
So I got dragged along to sign her up. The problem was, I was getting a little tired with my old, but venerable, Ericsson K510i. However, it's been dropped a few times and it has sand in it, so occasionally the caller has gravel effect to their voice.
So I thought, why not look at one of these lovely new Android phones. I've seen the iPhone and think it incredibly overpriced and running Linux creates problems with less support. Not only that it seems to just be a cash cow, and I'm not into jailbreaking items. Though I firmly believe in free/open source software, I also believe people should be free to run the revenue streams they want without people stealing their income.
So now to the phones. I've had a Crackberry way back, it was useful tool for what we needed, but not really for me. However, my other half is still new to the InterWeb, so mail and the other few bits server her well. The phone seems familiar to the old style I used and has a few nice extras on top. All in all not a bad phone, especially as they gave her the wrong one, a 9700 rather than 8250.
So far I've yet to see how to download and install extra apps, or other capabilities. The keyboard is small, but very usable for our hands and is a good competitor to the touchscreen technology. However my other half has noted that it does make the web pages small.
The major gripe so far: Apparently it can't cope with YouTube vids of more than 5MB in size, which seems to be a real issue.
Now to the HTC Wildfire Android. First impressions are fantastic. It required me to almost double my monthy fee, but hey that's what promotions are their for. (I got one recently.) The touch screen works well, it took only a few minutes to get used to it.
I've hooked it up to my internal mail (I'll test out other options at other times). WiFi is working a treat. Overall it really looks good. I have seen a good bunch of apps I'd like, including some ssh stuff, which I really hoped it had.
What made me plunge for the extra expense was the fact I had a 28 day return on the item, if I decided I didn't like it.
So to the apps reviews, which I have to give 0 out of 5 for every single one. Why? Because I can't download a single one. The googlemail (which I HAD to, I mean it refused to use the existing login, my previously used none googlemail account), and the google talk work a treat, but I just can't download a single app, I wasted most of yesterday and half of this morning on.
And this is not isolated, apparently it has been ongoing for about a year (perhaps even more hard to tell), thousands of people complaining that the marketplace download just stops. Some people have attributed it to moving to gmail from googlemail in the UK, others to not logging in on gtalk. But in the main it just stops work. For me it's just not working, even after a reset of the phone.
This is a major show stopper. If this affects this amount of people I could see the whole project failing and I can't believe the manufacturers and Google are looking at this more.
So for the moment I'm somewhat angry and annoyed. I'll wander around abit and see if I can pick up a decent 3G signal somewhere (I live out in the sticks, so dependent on the wifi for data, though apparently the Crackberry is picking up a signal)
So long for now.
So when her boss and a the locum showed her the Blackberry Curve 8250, she increased her prodding. Worse of all, it was on a good deal with our mobile provider.
So I got dragged along to sign her up. The problem was, I was getting a little tired with my old, but venerable, Ericsson K510i. However, it's been dropped a few times and it has sand in it, so occasionally the caller has gravel effect to their voice.
So I thought, why not look at one of these lovely new Android phones. I've seen the iPhone and think it incredibly overpriced and running Linux creates problems with less support. Not only that it seems to just be a cash cow, and I'm not into jailbreaking items. Though I firmly believe in free/open source software, I also believe people should be free to run the revenue streams they want without people stealing their income.
So now to the phones. I've had a Crackberry way back, it was useful tool for what we needed, but not really for me. However, my other half is still new to the InterWeb, so mail and the other few bits server her well. The phone seems familiar to the old style I used and has a few nice extras on top. All in all not a bad phone, especially as they gave her the wrong one, a 9700 rather than 8250.
So far I've yet to see how to download and install extra apps, or other capabilities. The keyboard is small, but very usable for our hands and is a good competitor to the touchscreen technology. However my other half has noted that it does make the web pages small.
The major gripe so far: Apparently it can't cope with YouTube vids of more than 5MB in size, which seems to be a real issue.
Now to the HTC Wildfire Android. First impressions are fantastic. It required me to almost double my monthy fee, but hey that's what promotions are their for. (I got one recently.) The touch screen works well, it took only a few minutes to get used to it.
I've hooked it up to my internal mail (I'll test out other options at other times). WiFi is working a treat. Overall it really looks good. I have seen a good bunch of apps I'd like, including some ssh stuff, which I really hoped it had.
What made me plunge for the extra expense was the fact I had a 28 day return on the item, if I decided I didn't like it.
So to the apps reviews, which I have to give 0 out of 5 for every single one. Why? Because I can't download a single one. The googlemail (which I HAD to, I mean it refused to use the existing login, my previously used none googlemail account), and the google talk work a treat, but I just can't download a single app, I wasted most of yesterday and half of this morning on.
And this is not isolated, apparently it has been ongoing for about a year (perhaps even more hard to tell), thousands of people complaining that the marketplace download just stops. Some people have attributed it to moving to gmail from googlemail in the UK, others to not logging in on gtalk. But in the main it just stops work. For me it's just not working, even after a reset of the phone.
This is a major show stopper. If this affects this amount of people I could see the whole project failing and I can't believe the manufacturers and Google are looking at this more.
So for the moment I'm somewhat angry and annoyed. I'll wander around abit and see if I can pick up a decent 3G signal somewhere (I live out in the sticks, so dependent on the wifi for data, though apparently the Crackberry is picking up a signal)
So long for now.
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Things to do when asking for help in an IRC Chat Room
1) Post your entire live firewall on a pastebin site
2) Post passwords for your system so people can help diagnose your current issue.
3) Rant about completely off topic problems, then wonder why the operators kick you out. When it says ##networking be sure to start asking questions on why your visual basic script won't connect to a server.
Yes we really do see things like this on a daily basis in chat rooms trying to help people. Remember these folks are not being paid for this and probably using up time they could be dedicating to solving problems at work that they are being paid for,
2) Post passwords for your system so people can help diagnose your current issue.
3) Rant about completely off topic problems, then wonder why the operators kick you out. When it says ##networking be sure to start asking questions on why your visual basic script won't connect to a server.
Yes we really do see things like this on a daily basis in chat rooms trying to help people. Remember these folks are not being paid for this and probably using up time they could be dedicating to solving problems at work that they are being paid for,
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