Choppers grounded for eight years because of avionics software issues
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2207412/90m-chinooks-fly-3752977
Living about 3 miles from RAF Odiham should I be worried about Chinooks with potentially dodgy avionics software flying over my house?
Submitted by garan on Thu, 01/17/2008 - 13:29
garan's blogMacbook Air
Even Terry Wogan knew about the new Apple Macbook Air, mentioning it by name on yesterday morning's Wake Up With Wogan! What a great piece of marketing Apple!
It doesn't stop there.. The spec of the box is lower than the entry level MacBook which is half the price, or a third of the price if you don't the flash memory based version.
So do I want one? Well if you're feeling extremely generous then feel free to visit the Mac Store and pop one in the post to me, oh and make it the more expensive flash based version. But to be honest I don't want one. I'm quite happy with my bullet proof 13" Power Book so I'm going to stick with it until it stops... or I win the lottery. Ha ha.
My mate David pointed me at the Airmail laptop sleeve. At first I thought they were taking the mick but then I read the blurb and it's a vinyl, fleece lined affair. Genius! I think that they're selling it cheap though - someone who's willing to drop $2k on a low spec but sexy looking laptop would pay more than $30!
Submitted by garan on Thu, 01/17/2008 - 12:17
garan's blogBirdsong is back!
From the latest Digital Radio Newsletter
How have I managed without this for the last three years?
DAB digital radio listeners are again going to be treated to a relaxing rural soundtrack. Following the closure of Oneword, at midnight tonight, listeners tuning into Oneword will find the Birdsong channel has been reinstated for a limited period.
The audio was originally recorded for the test transmission of Classic FM prior to its launch in 1992. It was last used three years ago for the imaginatively named station "D1_temp" and won plaudits from listeners who complained when it was taken off air in June 2005.
Listeners and Birdsong enthusiasts should note the transmission could cease at any time and that the recording is not commercially available.
Birdsong will be broadcast between 0600 and midnight each day.
Submitted by garan on Sat, 01/12/2008 - 00:37
garan's blogADSL24 payments
ADSL24 allowed me to pay on my Capital One card with no extra fees and setup a recurring payment. That's an extra 4% back on this month and next month's bills followed by 1% back ongoing when my initial 3 month bonus period ends with Capital One. Nice.
Submitted by garan on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 13:06
garan's blogChanging ISPs
I've been with the geeky ISP, Andrews and Arnold, for the last couple of years and been happy with the service that I get. I've never used the huge IPV6 or VoIP services that they gave me for nothing though. I pay a premium as it costs £39.99 per month for my ADSL service, which gives me 8Mb down, 832kb up, 3GB per month peak usage and unlimited off peak.
I'm trying to cut a few of the recurring monthly costs at the moment, one of which is a second BT line which used to be a dedicated business line. The problem I've got is that the ADSL is on the business line. To move lines I need to pay the BT Wholesale standard conncection fee of £34.86 +VAT to get the other line activated. It's a little more annoying as that line used to have ADSL on it but it was turned off when I migrated to A&A.
ADSL24 get good reports on DSL Zone, only have a one month minimum contract period and don't add £12 profit on the connection fee like A&A do. So I'm going to give it a go and see what it's like. ADSL migrations between ISPs is free so I've not got a great deal to lose if I find it isn't good.
ADSL24's Office 45 product gives me 45GB per month of peak traffic (A&A are giving me 3GB) along with 300GB of off-peak traffic per month (A&A are giving me unlimited off-peak but I've never gone over 100GB in a month total at anytime over the last year). ADSL24 include 8 static IP addresses too.
Submitted by garan on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 12:51
garan's blogMy old mobile number
I've had my old mobile number turned off today. If the mobile number that you've got for me ends in 743 then you've got the wrong one. Drop me an email and I'll send you the new one.
Submitted by garan on Wed, 01/09/2008 - 11:29
garan's blogSmarter than a 10 year old?
From the American version..
http://www.vidmax.com/index.php/videos/view/4774
Submitted by garan on Fri, 01/04/2008 - 18:59
garan's blogMake your own Star Wars
Check this out. It's brilliant!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7160000/newsid_7167400/7167479.s...
Submitted by garan on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 11:46
garan's blogCar insurance
Just been trawling through the car insurance websites and managed to save almost £100 by switching companies. On top of that I should get £45 back via Quidco. I'm now going to be insured with Swiftcover.com who want me to print out my own documents which is fine with me if it saves a bundle! I'll save the PDF off until I actually need it which if my car tax is renewed electronically is probably never. That makes it greener too..
Submitted by garan on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 20:13
garan's blogChanging energy providers
I've just been putting in my meter readings for my EDF energy account and figured it wouldn't harm to find out how much I may be able to save elsewhere. So I went to http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ and clicked on their link to Moneysupermarket. I get £30 cashback following a successful switch and Martin Lewis gets a couple of quid for the website as it's an affiliate link. Quidco would only be getting me £20 back.
I typed in my usage top of the list on both Moneysupermarket and energyhelpline.com is ScottishPower's Online Energy Saver 4 account.
Interestingly EDF, my current provider were number two with their 'Online 5' tariff. So a quick call to EDF to ask the question 'Can you swap my tariff' was answered unsurprisingly with a 'we can't do that; it's for new customers only'. So a couple of clicks later I'm on my way to their competitor with a probable £30 in my back pocket for taking the trouble.
Now it's time for the car insurance renewal...
Submitted by garan on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 19:21
garan's blog