Category: NZTekonverse -> Uncategorised

It looks like I can post pictures again from Windows Live Writer, but to do this I have had to change the account that I post messages with. This does not really have any technical impact on the blog itself, but it does indicate that Google’s blogging API has a few bugs in it, and…

As winter approaches, with the new flat and things being different I have decided as previously detailed to change some of my heaters for more efficient power use better suited to the local conditions. Briscoes have had lots of sales lately and I picked up this heater at $119 which is a big drop off…

This useful gizmo (seen below next to the phone and some Microsoft furry rodentry) is an external battery that can charge most USB Micro devices. Mophie’s idea was to charge up things like an ipad or iphone. While they do make a range of battery docks for iphones and ipods, this one doesn’t have any…

I have built up the CTP on a Hyper-V virtual machine. It will be interesting to have a play with it. It will also be interesting to see if it comes to market in time for NZ schools to get their hands on it for the start of the 2013 year. What you can see…

Our block of flats has Power Managers fitted throughout. It’s not a bad little system even though I have run out a few times in the nine months due to financial stringency. Now that my pay has risen to a level that compensates me for the rent increase when I moved here, I can afford…

Just got my hands on a HTC 7 Trophy and it’s not so bad. I might even be able to use it for more than just reading work emails, and perhaps there might even be a chance of it displacing my Nokia 2730 classic. The biggest issue on these phones for someone who enjoys writing…

Where do I start? Two years ago, in the course of my job, I was testing some plugboxes on the school’s PAT tester, and one failed with an earth continuity problem. And it turned out, the plugbox, which carried the HPM brandname, was so poorly designed that the earth contacts became bent on plug insertion…

Surprisingly perhaps I haven’t rushed to join the e-music revolution. Until I got my phone with its music player a year or two back I didn’t own a device other than a computer that could play e-music. I always used a computer at home or at work to play music and videos. This is partly…

Garmin have a new eTrex range of low end hand held GPS units out. The eTrex 10 replaces the eTrex H (the one I currently have). At last USB is supported on these models. A few enhancements have been added to the 10 compared to the H while the price has been kept about the…

Repcos have had these vacuums on special at $99 in their March sale. This model appears to be at the bottom of the Vacmaster range. The US based company produces a number of models which appear to be solidly made and well designed. I couldn’t find this model on their website so it may be…