artiss.blog

Category: Life

Random thoughts on life

  • Me and my Nikon

    If you’re a WordPress developer you may have come across John O’Nolan, who works on GUI elements for WordPress. However, he describes himself more fully as “a designer, entrepreneur, speaker, author, photographer”.

    Anyway, he recently made a big decision about his life. He’s young, unattached and talented and loves travelling. So, he decided to sell pretty much everything he owns and just head o

    ff into the world, camera and laptop in his backpack. I’m sure he’ll do well.

    Meantime, he’s been selling many of his more precious items via Twitter auctions. His final one, last Friday, was his beloved Nikon D40. A few years old but in very good condition. And, I’m happy to say, I won the auction and have the camera in my possession now. And it is lovely – my first SLR too.

    So, expect the quality of my photography to slowly improve 😉

    And I wish John all the best of luck for the future – but I’m sure he doesn’t need it.

  • Why am I no good at poker?

    Poker was, is, and I’m sure will be for some time to come, extremely popular. Many discount card games as merely games of luck rather than skill, but as someone who has played dominoes and draughts (no, I’m not kidding) to quite a high standard in the past, I know that’s not true. It’s not as immediately thought-provoking and cerebral as Chess but, because there is an element of chance, the real skill is being able to deal with whatever comes your way.

    All of this would suggest I’m good at poker. I certainly have the right facial ability for it. Sadly, like chess, I’m a real amateur – indeed, less than I am with chess. I’ve played with friends but have to be reminded of the rules each time. And then I usually lose quite quickly.

    For an analytical thinking, logical IT professional it’s a bit of a blow.

    It’s not the gambling element which invariably goes along with it either that puts me off – I’m no gambler (insert your own “and I’ll bet you £5 I’m not” joke here). I can understand the rules too. I think it’s down to the fact that I’m turned off by anything where I can’t work out the skill and I haven’t played enough poker games to hone that (a bit of a catch 22 there I guess).

    When I wasn’t playing dominoes endlessly with my gran as I grew up I was playing patience (or solitaire, as it’s mainly known). No, there wasn’t much in the way of entertainment back then. My Solitaire average is 40% – that is, I win 40% of all games I play. The average, in comparison, where no skill is involved is less than 9%.

    Maybe the only conclusion I can come to from all of this is to play more poker. I’ll probably avoid the games that involve money as, at my current skill level, I’d lose an awful lot. But getting together with a bunch of mates with drinks, snacks and poker sounds like a good day to wile away the occasional evening.

  • Firmware update for the Creative ZiiO 7

    Hots on the heels of the 2.2 update to the ZiiO, Creative have released a firmware update with various improvements and bug fixes.

    Changes include…

    • Adds support to enable you to display ZiiO tablet’s screen on a TV or Display Monitor via HDMI.
    • Adds a feature to let you save contact information of friends and associates.
    • Includes function for Skype® voice chat.
    • Supports Creative’s Over-The-Air firmware update application that automatically pushes updates to your ZiiO via Wi-Fi.
    • Ability for user to format the on board memory (internal SD memory) in both Recovery Mode and also in the “Media & Storage” to ensure that it is FAT32.
    • Updates the Amazon Kindle® and Audible® application.
    • Improved microSD card compatibility.

    It is also seems to include various graphical improvements (unless they came with 2.2 and I missed them) including some app launch animation.

    Simply visit the firmware page from your ZiiO and install the update app. Reboot your ZiiO once done and the update is installed!

    Also available is an update to the ZiiO optimised version of Flash.

  • Checking out Marks & Spencer LED TVs

    As LED televisions increasingly flood the market, it is becoming increasingly impossible to deny the benefits in their quality. After all, merely a few years ago these televisions were still somewhat rare, and could only be found in the outlandishly expensive sections of electronic stores. However, if you walk into just about any electronic store that sells televisions today, you will almost certainly be presented with a wall full of LED flat screens, each more sleek and beautiful than the last. If you want a simpler way of shopping for these wonderful items, however, but do not want to sacrifice selection, you may want to take a look at some Marks & Spencer LED TVs.

    In addition to offering you a convenient online browsing option (a nice alternative to having to go out to a store and walk up and down aisles while being advised by an eager salesperson), the Marks & Spencer selection of LED televisions is also unique in that it offers, mainly, “normal” sized televisions. Due to the quality of picture offered by LED televisions most people are inclined to go after 40 or 50″ screens so as to set up a virtual home theatre. Because of this, it is sometimes hard to find more reasonably sized televisions in certain stores (not naming names ;)). However, most of the Marks & Spencer LED televisions have simple, manageable 19 inch screens (though some range into the 20’s), meaning that they are easy to handle and easy to place in rooms. In many instances, these televisions are simply more convenient than some of their gargantuan counterparts.

    Another interesting benefit of the Marks & Spencer selection is the physical appeal of the televisions. Of course, just about any LED television offers a sleek, smooth design, making them all nice to look at. However, in an average electronics store just about all of these televisions are black, leaving you little choice when it comes to the aesthetics of the device. Even within a relatively small selection, however, Marks & Spencer offers a variety of different colours in its televisions, including black, silver, white, and even pink. While this is not a huge deal with regard to the actual quality of your television, it is a nice perk for those who care about the television’s aesthetic appeal, or how the TV will fit into a given room.

    As you’ll be aware I’ve recently moved home and my new bedroom already has a mounting point for a small flat-screen TV, along with power and aerial connections. With small screens and the colour options, the Marks & Spencer range will be an ideal place for me to start (and the one shown in the picture above with wall mounting, Freeview and DVD player looks particularly nice).

    To view the different options, or generally gather more information on the televisions that have been discussed, simply visit the Marks & Spencer “TVs and Accessories” section online.

  • ReTrak high speed HDMI 1.4 retractable cables

    Building on from their success in the United States and Canada, Emerge Technologies is bringing their ReTrak brand of high speed HDMI Cables to the UK.

    Emerge will initially bring 70 of their top retractable accessories products to the UK market, which cover the main categories of mobile and smartphone, iPod and MP3, tablet, eBook reader, notebook and netbook, audio and gaming. The entire ReTrak line-up features retractable cables, which offers convenience and ultra portability. Also, the ‘ThinPlug’ is now integrated into the design of all ReTrak’s electrical wall and combination products and is the world’s smallest folding plug.

    Joining ReTrak’s existing lineup is the company’s newest retractable ‘Standard’ HDMI Cable for HDTV, Blu-ray, PS3 and Xbox; the ‘Mini’ HDMI Cable  for digital cameras, camcorders, and other portable devices; the ‘Micro’ HDMI Cable for mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, camcorders, notebooks and more.  Also available is the unique Retractable Multi Pack which features the ‘standard’ cable plus adaptors for ‘mini’, ‘micro’ and DVI for virtually any audio/video connection. All HDMI 1.4 Cables are 1080p resolution and speed-rated at 10.2 Gbps. The retractable housing makes the cables extremely compact and lightweight, and ultra portable. The whole cable fits right in the palm of your hand.

    ReTrak’s new HDMI Cables are available now, along with the rest of their range, at WHSMITH Travel, Amazon.co.uk, PC World, Currys, Dixons online and in store.