WM6.1 on my Axim

Yes I know, I'm getting worse but I've been busy, and I promise to do better this month (July I think).
This is a bit of a stop gap which I originally posted on HTCgeeks and will be followed soon by a more in depth piece, about what I know not.
I've Just installed Lennysh WM6.1 classic rom A09 on my well used and somewhat aged Axim x50v and I have to say it knocks WM5 into the proverbial cocked hat, not hard seeing as WM5 was one of the worst bits of software ever written and is also more stable than the Maglite version I tried where the graphics kept corrupting; thank you Lennysh
Problems I have are the usual ones,
Connection problems on Wi-Fi, It connects then disconnects then connects then disconnects then connects then disconnects then connects then disconnects but it also did this on WM5 and then some days it connects without problem.( I know that bit's repetitive but if you have the same problem then this bit of repetitive repetition is nothing).
Excessive power drain when off but still not as bad as WM5 which could flatten the battery in hours.
If I haven't touched it for a while ( an hour or so) it shows a memory error when turned on and needs to be reset, or doesn't turn on at all and needs to be reset.
Other than these annoyances it seems to work fine; now for a request, can you correct the stupid error that Microsoft put in WM5 and left in WM6, when you connect a serial GPS set up the COM port you should connect to is a corrupted name and doesn't work! It's easy to correct in the registry but it would be nice to sort it in the rom. If you're unaware of this then it's listed on Aximsites, http://www.mobilitysite.com/boards/gps-talk/147009-tomtom-navigator-5-a.html and is the 8th post down.
Keep up the good work.

ebay

Yes I know, late again, I do have a life you know. This week I have been mainly hitting eBay(so much for my life)! Since I've been back on my bike I've been looking for some new LED lights(£1.69 from a warehouse in jersey), they work, but they look to be worth every penny I spent on them, a rucksack(a fiver with a hydro-pack built in), a helmet(still looking). Other items to pass through my account include, a blue-tooth headset, a set of Gear4 bluphones which was an absolute bargain, the princely sum of £2 plus £1.50 p&p and yes it does work but I've already spent about 5 hours trying to get it to work properly withXP which for some strange reason doesn't have an A2DP implementation in it's blue-tooth stack! It works brilliantly with my aged Nokia 6320 as a mono headset with mic but it doesn't like my Dell axim 50v which has the magilite wm6 rom in it now which may or may not have the old wm5 bluetooth stack, which was rubbish, so at least another days worth of fun with it. Other items include a set of high school musical stickers(my daughter's), two bras(my wife's) and a copy ofGTA4(my son's).

Back in the saddle

After not having spent any time on my push bike in the last 7/8 years I am now back in the saddle, and I love it. We became a two car family when the kids started school and wanted to be in many different places at many different times; since then my bikes have hung in the garage, not unloved but unused. I have two, a Peugeot road bike which although a thoroughbred was my main commuting bike, many miles in many weathers on that one and my mountain bike, a Klein pulse comp, hardtail, rigid forks and absolutely, bloody gorgeous, looks a bit like the one in the photo, only better.
Since circumstances have dictated that we are again a one car family, for anything further than a 45 minute walk, I am back on my bike. For the first week my legs burnt every time I got on it but didn't remain sore for long, it's now getting easier and in a couple more weeks I should be able to pedal my road bike without popping a blood vessel! (gearing still high from when I used to cycle a lot)
The two biggest problems I used to have in my previous life as a cyclist were, the state of the roads around where I live in West Yorkshire and other road users, and I have to say neither have improved one iota, in fact both have worsened. My dad was a long distance lorry driver and he always used to say he could tell when he was nearly home because of the state of the roads and I have to agree. On the bike I have to contend with potholes, badly filled potholes, loose chippings, why do they do that! Raised ironwork, sunken ironwork, drain covers my wheels will fall through, stupid cycle lanes that last about 3 metres and that are covered with detritus and therefore dangerous to ride on. When it rains things get worse, surface water could be hiding anything so I have to ride round it, road markings become slippery death traps as does the tar around where they have fixed a pothole. Then there are other road users, most aren't too bad but the rest seem to be impatient, inbred, brain dead halfwits, and that's only because I'm in a good mood and young people may see this. If your name's on the side of your car or van don't try to knock me off, if you are bigger than a small van give me at least four foot, if you can't get past safely don't try, don't overtake me just so you can cut me up as you turn left, don't think "it's only a bloke on a bike" this bloke weighs 16 stone and when traveling at 30+mph will dint or break most things and that applies to pedestrians as well.
This wasn't meant to be a rant and I do enjoy my cycling but I would enjoy it a lot more if other people just gave me a little bit of thought, and don't get me started on my thoughts regarding a proper integrated transport system.
I have to stop now as all this gnashing and chomping of teeth has given me a headache.

The open road

Yes, I know, tardy again, but if I am to be a world class procrastinator this will happen occasionally.
This last week I have mainly been involved with caravans and gardening.
My father in law has just bought himself a caravan; not a little 2 person tourer, there is only he and her, but a massive 27 foot 6 berth, barely legal behemoth with twin axles and an awning which effectively doubles the floor size, it is very nearly the same size as their home! This was moved from Accrington, a strange spot with no direct road to it and from what I saw it's a council estate nestled in some glorious countryside, with peacocks roaming free! To York, most of which is still drying out after the floods, at a speed not exceeding 55 miles an hour whilst tanker and bus drivers try to tip us over with their slipstream. A few days later it was revisited in order to clean and fettle. The awning came without instructions, so after a protracted period of time under flapping canvas with assorted lengths of poles, assistance was sought from the site owner and voila, 5 minutes later we were fully erect and rigid (sorry couldn't help myself).
Some of the internals are a little dated, (caravan built '92 interior decorated '82) but nothing a bit of time, effort and vast sums of money won't put right. Over the summer we will be spending some time there in order to recharge our batteries and keep it aired so I will be reporting back, oh, and I cut the grass at home.

Quiet

This week I'm struggling to think of something witty and intelligent to write about, it's been a very quiet week, despite the local elections(everyone unhappy with Brown), my wedding anniversary(21 years!), research and formulation of a business plan(now onto the figures), eldest child being ill(stomach upset), curry midweek instead of the weekend(no connection to previous) and the general malaise associated with the current economic downturn(can't even blame the banks,entirely). Watched a little of Question Time last night and worryingly found myself agreeing with William Hague and Richard Littlejohn(strange pairing)!
My highlight of the week has been finding out that a friend is looking into a new business venture; selling erotic lingerie, can't wait for the brochure.
So as you can see, nothing at all to write about.

Aaaagh!

Right, that's it, time for a rant .
the kooks , why all the adulation, they're a glorified busted.
Micra drivers, its a small car not a bus you can get through the gap and it will do more than 25 miles an hour.
Micra drivers 2 why are you sat in the outside lane doing 90+ its a small car.
BMW drivers is there some thing wrong with your arms or is it a fault with all the cars that BMW produce, indicate!
Joss stone if you're going to eat a flake, eat it properly.
That business bloke on BBC news, a regular cadence and a flat intonation when you speak is a good thing.
All the tv channels that you don't watch have a plus one channel, some even have a plus one and a half, why don't the ones you actually want to watch.
Sian Lloyd.
Dolmio, an American company making Italian sauces in Holland?
Packs of supermarket bacon with flaps so you can pull the top off, can you open them without a knife?
People who open packets of biscuits with a knife, why, they spent millions putting in a tear strip.
Big record companies, alter your business plans, support your artists and stop whining.

That's better, spleen now vented.

Tears at Tesco

Yesterday I did something I hadn't done for years and never before outside a major retailers; I made a woman squeal and then cry with emotion, all this outside Tesco's!

The woman involved was the matron of honour at our wedding, many years since and last time we spoke to her my wife was pregnant with our first(who is now 14)! We knew she was back in the village because we'd seen her but never in a situation where we could make ourselves known without causing a multiple vehicle pile-up. I had honked and waved previously but received only blank looks in return. This time I still got a blank look but remained in her field of view long enough for the light of recognition to blink on, this was followed by a long and loud squeal and a long and forceful hug. As is the way in situations like this one of us was in an almighty hurry but numbers were exchanged, photos were flashed and we now await a text or call so we can commence the catch-up, of which there is plenty, as we can call her grandma and her first born is now 20!

Afloat

I have just come back from some time on the Norfolk broads which started with a four and a half hour drive on mainly B roads stuck behind the occasional tractor! A long drive but much less tiring than my previous drive to Hampshire. The weather was glorious, enabling us to top up our tans but was cooler on a night, so cold, in fact on a couple of occasions it started raining inside the boat! This was from the condensation coalescing and dripping from the roof! Alcoholic beverages were taken at 11.30, 3.00, teatime and for the rest of the evening, so now my liver needs a holiday of it's own. The rest of my time was spent driving the boat, reading, listening to music and photographing wildlife, to pinch a quote from my daughter "Aren't duck's heads awesome".
The furthest I walked from the boat was into a little spot called Ludham, all of 5 minutes. The village consists of a church, a pub, a garage and the florist; the corner shop, off licence,post office newsagent, chemist, choclatier, deli and hairdresser occupy the same premises and it's one of the best little deli's I've seen in a longtime, well worth a visit if your nearby.

Better late.......

This should have been posted a fortnight since but I've been busy, and a little bit lax.
I've had a pretty busy week, gadding about the country. Last Wednesday I had to go to a meeting in London. A pleasant two hour tootle down on the train ( wireless Internet all the way), a twenty minute walk to the hotel, a bite to eat ( I haven't had tarasamalata for years) and more time spent in the bar than is good for me. The morning was spent in the HQ of my professional body attending a fairly pointless meeting where nothing was actually resolved. The most interesting thing I noticed whilst there was that you could get a three course meal in their canteen for the princely sum of £3.10 (£1.80 for the chicken, £2.10 for the sole). It's nice to know my subs are being put to good use. This was followed by a meander through London, a visit to the science museum, and a very agreeable meal at a busy little Italian restaurant near King's cross which cost considerably more than £3.10, followed by a somewhat somnolent train ride home.
Five days later and I'm slogging down the M1 heading to Hampshire with the family in the car to visit my daughter's MSM friend (first time meeting in the flesh). Four and a half hours and two hundred miles later; having braved the M25 and average speed radar traps we arrive! Highlight of the trip down, Windowlicker on daytime radio.
We meet the family, a very nice couple, stay for dinner (unexpected), when I say unexpected ,what I actually mean is the kids didn't tell us, overnight in a premier inn, quick visit to Marwell zoo and then a four and a half hour slog home.

Beatle drive

Last week I had one of my slightly stranger evenings; after the usual Friday night meal of take away curry and red wine at my father in laws (curry from TopTaste, wine from Chile) we attended a beetle drive at a local church. My father in law is an ordained vicar so the going to church bit isn't too unusual, I like to show my support and try to go around twice a year, less if I can get away with it. I don't know how, but this was my first beetle drive so I must have been very lucky; until this point. For those of you who don't know, beetle drive is a game where a die is shook/ shaken and dependant on the number shown you 'win' part of a bug, 6 for the body 5 for the head etc etc, the aim being to create and draw a whole insect before any body else. Your prize for this is a number of points (surprisingly 13 for a full bug) and eviction from the table you were sat at, you are replaced by a newcomer and you become fresh meat at another table. The game(torture) completes after 12 rounds. Nothing prepared me for the speed and aggression displayed by a number of wheeled octogenarians present that evening, the looks you get if you don't retrieve your die quick enough and replace it in the shaker before passing it onto the next combatant. And the noise! The rattle of the shakers, the roll of the numbered cubes across the Formica battlefields, the scratch of the cups across the tables as it engulfs the dice. It sounds like a small army of toddlers fencing with their rattles. But the spoils for the victorious, what treasures, the winner received a box of assorted Ferrero Roche(TM), which he tried to give away before he left, but to no avail.

Computer repair

Just seen the trailer for the new Hulk film with Ed Norton and Tim Roth, looks like it could be a proper hulk film with a proper hulk story line and recognisable characterisation. See it at http://incrediblehulk.marvel.com/ .

Spent Wednesday repairing a friends computer and rebuilding mine after a repeat viral infestation. After 2 and a bit hours of checking drives, data, using esoteric software (Linux utilities and a boot time virus scanner in German!) trying to network it, remove the hard drive and give it a general overhaul it was fixed by running chkdsk from the XP install disk! Mine ended up with a full format of drive C: and re-installation of XP, which for some reason seemed to go a lot quicker and easier than last time I had to do it (January). With hindsight the majority of my problems related to my elderly graphics card and it's driver, now replaced by an even older card, it's now running fine but it still took me the best part of a day to locate and download all the necessary drivers and software that I generally have running.
Essential software.
I've used The Bat as my email client for years and it's portable version, Voyager, permanently resides on my memory stick, it's quick, clean, safe and configurable. http://www.ritlabs.com/ .
I use quite a few of the Google apps as I like the idea of an external repository I can access from anywhere such as the bookmarks, notebook and Blogger (and Gmail as storage).
As for office stuff I use Openoffice, http://www.openoffice.org/ . It's free, less than half the size of Microsoft Office and compatible, plus it outputs pdf and pdb files. I also install Activesync and Outlook to look after my Dell Axim 50v, which is used as diary, address book, game console and e-book reader.

Brain Thrust Mastery

Last night I listened to 'We are Scientists' new album 'Brain Thrust Mastery', a low bitrate version leaked onto the internet. I expected big things because the single 'After hours' is one of my current favourites, I've even been caught whistling it, albeit badly; so, after one listen, here are my words. It's not bad, but it didn't live up to expectations. Don't get me wrong, all the songs are well crafted and intelligent but nothing stood out, even the single receded into the background. My player continued and immediately after 'Brain Thrust Mastery' their last album 'With Love and Squalor' played and I have to say I enjoyed that more, whether that's down to familiarity I don't know, but it was certainly more engaging. The album is certainly worth a couple more listens and once I've done that I'll post my final thoughts.

Intro 1

This is my first post, I have the intention of posting something interesting at least twice a week; the rest of the time it will be boring, mundane ramblings, at times my daughter will no doubt interfere and complain about layout, style and content. I will carry on regardless!
A little about me....Gadgets,computers,music,books,graphic novels,food,drink,family,usually calm,occasionally seething.