technoblog

MP3 player confusion…

chocolatemouse — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:17:43 +0000

Finally I decided to get an MP3 player. I did have MP3 in my PDA but I use that for GPS and find the sound quality isn’t that great – and my Ipaq 6515 requires an adapter to use regular stereo jacks (thanks HP…!).

The primary use of the MP3 player is for the car – with cassette adapter.

So I thought an iPod might be the way forward. However, I find that the Itunes software can crash your PC. And you *must* use the Itunes software to transfer to the ipod. OK, so the ipod is OUT.

Next I looked at Sony MP3 players. They have the same crappy problem…you must use Sony software to transfer.

I just want to drag and drop!!!

So Creative Zen looked better. I liked the mini Zen Stone which holds about 2 gig and eventually lumped for that one. It’s great sound, easy to use, robust. Only downside is you can’t use it while it charges via USB. But otherwise, thumbs up.

It’s become a loyal companion in the gym and on walks as well as in the car.

I give it the thumbs up – forget ipod or Sony.

PS3 prices?

chocolatemouse — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 08:51:42 +0000

We’re getting robbed as usual in Europe.

PS3 USA – $499

PS3 Europe – $825

Sure the PS3 comes with 2 games (that you don’t want) and extra joypads (no use if you’re an anti-social hermit like most console players.

As usual, Europe gets ripped off…why? With Xbox 360 being cheaper and a better proposition, and of course the Nintendo wii having the best games and being the clear winner….the PS3 only has blue-ray DVD going for it.

My Ipaq 6515 crashes….SMS text messaging doesn’t work

chocolatemouse — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:37:56 +0000

My Ipaq 6515 went kaput well and truly….proper styleee!!

It required a hard reset after the GPS crashed. It gave error ‘GPS blah blah stopped running’.

After the hard reset, I lost most of my data etc. I decided to restore from backup.

When I did so, SMS Txt did not come up as an account I could access…

After much trawling on the net, I found people with similar problem and it was attributed to some error in the backup file.

So I did another hard reset, problem solved. But I had to re-enter all my data etc. It gave me a chance to re-install Tom Tom and ensure the Ipaq registry was totally clear so hopefully it will run OK.

I don’t recommend installing lots of programs…I just use Tom Tom and Resco file encrypter. That’s it.

I also advise you to enter vital phone numbers via the SIM manager therefore it will be written to SIM card and an Ipaq crash won’t matter.

I also advise you to backup your ipaq regular and keep some of the old backup files. Also, if you are going to install a new program, do an Ipaq backup first.

Watford Electronics / Savastore go bankrupt

chocolatemouse — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:17:23 +0000

Yes, it happened. Savastore went bankrupt.

They owe out around £30M to suppliers.

And they’ve rebadged over night as saverstore.com

I have no love for Watford Electronics – I can remember being kept waiting for 6 weeks for a Sideways-RAM board for a BBC Micro back in the 80s….and never forgot their crappy service since.