Axis M1031-W

No secret that Axis make some of the best IP security products around, and this is no exception. We have this, as well as the normal security system at the office, and it sits in the top right of the reception, with a cat5 and power running to it. As well as being incredibly handy to watch the front door if anyone is coming in through a browser, it’s also got great scheduling and recording functions, with it’s PIR detector (similar to that of an alarm system) it can turn on the lights in the building, and start recording the footage, while sending it straight off site through the internet. Very hand and very useful.

Windows 7 + SSD Workstation

This has to be one of the major ones for me – Windows 7 just creams XP, and not comparable to Vista. It really is a great OS from Microsoft, and I’ve loved using it since the betas in 2009. But what has really made my workstation a delight to work on, is the investment in solid state drives (SSD). Some tech you buy, and months later you’ve forgotten about it. I still think, wow, sometimes when I can boot in a few seconds, and then a few more seconds, have everything open and running. Finally a computer that can keep up with me. I just LOVE It. I have a Corsair 120GB SSD, about 275/250mb read/write.

13″ Macbook Pro

I flogged off the old 15″ Macbook Pro and downsized to the 13″. My main reasons for this was the ability to use it more easily in tight places, like planes etc. The 15″ was just to hard to use on a small plane or if the person in front put their seat back. It also has a 6-7hr battery & LED screen which is so epically handy on long days or when it follows me around from meeting to meeting etc.

El Cheapo Astone Media Player

When I do get time at home to watch movies/tv shows, most are recorded on the iMac at home, and I’d normally hunt around for a VGA lead, and hook a laptop up to the plasma, and then connect back to the iMac etc, then plug everything back how it was, which was a pain. I bought one of these $60 astone media players off ShoppingSquare.com.au which plays every codec under the sun, and connects to SMB shares over the Wifi, so I can turn it on, it just scrapes the folders and plays what is there. It doesn’t try and organise stuff – which always annoys me, it’s just a player, and for me, brilliant! Makes life much easier.

iPhone 4

A few weeks after they came out, I traded in the 3GS for a 4. Some terrific improvements I’ve found. Better reception (I’m with Optus), better battery life (I almost get a day and a half now), screen is great and just so much snappier and faster with all the newer, more intensive apps around. There has been a heap of media lately that the back is more prone to cracking than the last one, well, I’m not science teacher, but, GLASS CRACKS EASIER THAN SOFT PLASTIC, what are you expecting? Put it in a case or don’t drop the thing! Wow, Glass cracks when it hits concrete, who knew?!

iPad

This was the tech fail of the year for me. I pre-ordered my iPad, and it arrived at 8am the morning they were released in Australia which was pretty amazing, so kudos to Apple for that. I played with the iPad for a couple of days, and decided that it had no purpose for it. My reasoning is very similar to that of the guys at ZDNet

13″ Macbook Pro with extra WOAAAH

As if I didn’t love the Macbook Pro enough as it is, but the SSD in this little baby has just tripped it’s power. It is so awesome to use, so snappy and responsive, makes life remote just awesome.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

My most recent purchase, and I do love this thing. It does everything the iPad doesn’t. It’s a bit easier to hold and read from. It has a better battery and outdoor screen. I am really happy with the thing. Being able to write an email and attach a word doc, or even open a file and edit and save it again is great. Android has some little quirks about it, but all pretty minor and things you learn after a while.

My first, and to what I thought was the most logical step, was to ring Optus and enquire about upgrading an iPhone mid contract.

As I was only very early into a 2 year contract, I knew there was going to be a cost involved, which there was, Approximately $600 – which was fine.

I was told that there was going to be a 5 day delay for shipping, so I rang my local ‘YES’ (Optus) Store, and asked if they had any 3Gs’s in stock, which they said they did.

I asked the Optus Sales consultant if I could just go into the store and get the phone, as I don’t really want to wait that long.. I was told, to just wait for it to come, as it’s easier that way, and will just be easier for everyone..

Taking the consultants advice, I agreed to the terms of the contract re-negotiation, and was told that the phone would be delivered to me on Monday  (Being told this on a Wednesday).

I then sold my 3G iPhone to someone, and swapped that phone over on the Friday before I got the new 3Gs. Monday, expecting my phone, I got a text from Optus, saying that there would be a 2 – 3 week delay on the new phone..

In the mean time, I was using a Pocket PC – HTC Diamond, which was a good phone, 12 months ago, but compared to the iPhone, it’s just useless.

After about 3 days of fighting with the HTC Diamond, I was at the local Optus store and asked if I could do the upgrade there, they said Ofcourse.

The next day, I rang up Optus, Canclled their upgrade, went back to the store, got the deal done, handed over the phone, and hey presto, DONE. That hour.

This whole dilemma was rather concerning to see that the Online/Phone consultants at Optus would rather keep me waiting from 1 to 3 weeks, for a new phone, when right at the onset of the investigation into the upgrade, I could have been advised that the upgrade was possible in store, and saving me, the customer a lot of time. The Optus YES store, representative told me that it would have most likely been because Optus make a greater commission if they do the sale online / over the phone.

Every now and then I logon to the App Store, and see what’s around. One day I found an app called “Pocket God” – at a special price of only $1.19 AU ($99c US).

I bought it, installed it, and loaded it up. The Game was very odd.. no levels, nothing to achieve.. The Game featured 10 little natives on some little island, and you could pick them up, drop them, make them get zapped by lightening, and drop in the water… fun for about  a minutre and that’s it.

What I love about the iPhone Apps concept, is that even this little game that is done very nicely, can be sold 100,000 times or more for $1, and the developer has made a very nice bonus!

The Came Pocket God, has had a tonne of revisions / new versions and every time, adding new features to the game. It’s actually quite exciting.

The Game is really just a very brain dead game, there is nothing to it, just a bit of fun. But as everyone knows, when someone has fun, it’s bound to Offend someone else.

A popular iPhone game that depicts the torture and murder of “primitive islanders” has been labelled disgusting and degrading by Pacific people.

Pocket God is one of the most heavily downloaded games in Apple’s online store but indigenous groups have started to take offence at the use of grass-skirted islanders who are set on fire and tossed to the sharks

Via the Sunday Mail

The question on everyone’s mind is always, “Should I buy it?” The answer lies mainly on whether you believe the developers will continue to provide updates as promised. Some updates (ability to fry islanders with lightening) have already been added, so it does look promising. In the end, this app will be something of a gamble depending on how long the updates continue and how good they are. Personally, I think it is worth a buck to see just how far this app can go.

Via iPhone Review Apps

Below are some screen shots of the game being played;

What makes this really really good, is when you’re on a 3G network, you’re even able stream a 96kpbs stream without missing a packet!

Most radio stations now also stream online, so if you wanted to listen to Jamie Dunn, who is now at 4BC in Brisbane, I  can put in the stream address and start listening.

Another Feature I really love is the fact that you can administer your favourites via a web browser on your computer! Save typing in those long streaming addresses in by hand.

(Click image to enlarge)

For More information on FStream, visit Mac360