Happy New Year everyone, hard to believe it’s already 2012. But here we go, another year is here!
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
So in a normal brain fart moment, I failed to remember several of my own teachings when adding a second Access Point to my home network. You see, I have ATT UVerse TV service at home, and for those who don’t remember it uses IGMP to multicast the TV feeds to the receivers. So if you for example, have a receiver plugged directly into the 2Wire modem, it will send the traffic out that port. Now, if you have that receiver plugged into a switch and share the drop with other devices it still comes down that line, however the switch more than likely does not understand multicast. Unless you have a more expensive device in there that is.
But here’s how this works. A packet that is a multicast packet, the first part of your MAC address will be a 01. If a switch understands multicast packets, then it will deliver that packet out the port of the device that is part of that multicast group. (IGMP Group). Now lets say you have a switch that doesn’t understand it, know what it does then? Yup, it treats a multicast packet as a broadcast packet and sends it out all ports but the one it came in on.
Now, lets say you have a brain fart moment and forget this and try to plug an access point off a line that has a receiver. Guess what happens to that access point… Well the short story is you will see it work… until you try to connect to it. There would be so much data trying to hit the wireless that your connection will time out.
So you have a couple fixes.
1. Reshuffle your network so that there is nothing on the same line as the receiver.
2. Run additional cables.
3. Replace your switches with ones that support IGMP/Multicast.
4. VLAN your network, and isolate the receivers. (Which would also imply either your switches all support this or you ran more drops.)
or if you are me…
You run new drops, replace your core switch with a more business minded switch that supports multicast, and you VLAN your network and isolate the receivers. Then you go further and trunk the line to your AP’s so you can send a VLAN to a specific wireless SID and make it a public hot spot.
Oh the wife will not like me today. 
Hello all, and long time no talk. I seem to remember I had this here website that I posted schtuff on many times. Today I think I will make a post on the Mac mini 2011 model. Why? Well put simply, because I purchase one!
So lets look at this device from a certain perspective, mine!
When I was considering the purchase of this machine, there were a couple factors that guided me to it:
- Xcode
- Lion
- Desire to develop for iOS devices
- Simplicity of the machine as an alternative platform, while keeping my Dell workhorse as my primary desktop.
Yes I am a Windows guy, and that pays my bills. However I have been working for the past year to two years, to try and learn iOS development. And after a long time of finagling my way around not having one, it became obvious that for me to make any headway in the field I would need a true Mac for that purpose.
So, considering my purpose was to develop for iOS devices, my needs were limited to the lower end machines. Specifically I had my eyes on the Mac mini and the MacBook Air. These models were on the lowest end of the price point, and would accomplish my needs. So then I set out to narrow that down further, did I really need another laptop? Was I going to be annoyed by the small screens on the laptop? Well finally the nail in those decisions came in the form of the 2011 models. The Mac mini having dropped $100 from the previous year made the decision for me.
Now lets keep in mind that I am not using this device for a home theatre PC, and I do not plan to. This is because I already own an Apple TV and with it linked to my vast 380GB iTunes library, it does exactly what I need in that arena.
So from a pure hardware perspective, the base Mac mini carries the following specs:
Processor
2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache
Memory
2GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor with 288MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
Storage
500GB (5400-rpm) hard drive
Ok so right out the gate I ordered 8GB of memory from NewEgg.com. And after receiving the unit, but not the memory… I had a good chance to feel the difference. Without the memory, the system is taxed, and at times quite sluggish when you have multiple applications open. Including when those apps are just Safari and Xcode. However, after I replaced the memory, it is like a different machine. I no longer have those sluggish moments.
The system has a single drive, and no DVD (SuperDrive). However for me that is not a problem. I don’t have anything I would use it for that would need that since I still have my other machines. Additionally, if for some reason I do need to use a DVD drive, I can use the “Remote DVD” feature where I share it off my desktop.
Additionally, I have not replaced the HD in it yet since 500GB is enough for me in the interim. And long term, it appears to have the room so I should be able to add a drive instead of replacing it assuming I can locate the hard drive wrap and cable.
Additionally, I don’t so far have a need to use OpenCL, since this particular model does not support it. However that doesn’t stop this unit from playing games. I have tested it with World of Warcraft on max settings, and Half-Life 2 Episode 2 on max settings, and it just hums along.
So how would I rate my experience with this device? Well I would give it a 9/10. The device performs above my expectations once the system has been upgraded to 8GB of memory. And my coding experience is very smooth and unabated by the device itself. Apple has done an amazing job with this little device, and I’m sure that if anyone else out there is looking for a coding machine to step into the field, this device is the perfect item!
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I sure hope you are all out there testing IPv6 today! If you are not, shame on you for dragging your feet and holding up progress.
For those who want to, go sign up for gogonet and install their IPv6 tunnel client.
Sphere: Related ContentIn short, the iPad 2 has many great uses ranging from education to business uses. The one that I hadn’t even used yet was of course as a productive blogging tool. This post was created on my iPad 2, which I find myself using more and more each day over sitting down at my desktop or using my laptops.
Pretty amazing how a form factor like this can completely change your normal actions and uses of technology.
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If you are like me you probably love the smartcover, but also want something to carry the device in for added protection. For instance taking it to work and having a little more padding as you get it there since the smartcover only protects the screen.
Well good news for everyone who wants this!!! BoxWave has a case, the Elite Leather Apple iPad 2 Messenger Pouch, can handle your iPad 2 with the SmartCover still attached. I received confirmation today from BoxWave presales support in regards to this topic:
Thank you for your email!
After speaking with our product design team, they have confirmed that the Elite Leather Messenger Pouch will be compatible with the Apple iPad 2 with the Smart Cover installed. I have attached a link to the product page below for your reference:
I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
So if you want one, go order one! And they are only $10 to boot, can’t beat that! Click the link to see the order page.
Sphere: Related ContentCraplet – An inferior, cheaply produced, cheaply sold device in the form factor of a tablet computer. Meant to compete with the now infamous iPad, but in the same stroke vastly undercut the price. These devices can come so cheap you might just find them mixed in with gum at the checkout line in Walmart.
Please, don’t fall for the craplets! Show the world you want a real tablet!
Sphere: Related ContentHey all, in case you have not seen the loveliness that was released upon the world… tonight at 9pm PST Microsoft released Internet Explorer 9 upon the world.
You too may obtain it by going to www.beautyoftheweb.com and clicking download.
Sphere: Related ContentFor those who have a Shell Gas Station close by, you may or may not have noticed their new promotion that starts today for their $aver’s Card.
Beginning today, new accounts will receive 10 cents off per gallon of gas until April 30th 2011. After April 30th the discount lowers to 2 cents per gallon off.
This card is a lot like the Speed Pass that Exxon has, which is just an account that links to your checking account for direct debits. It itself is not a credit card or a store card. But for 10 cents off a gallon, that beats the Walmart/Sams club discount and worth the use in my opinion.
http://www.shell.us/home/content/usa/products_services/shell_cards/shell_saver_card/
Sphere: Related ContentWhile toying around with the infamous “install mac retail on a pc” project. I had come across an item that is worth note. This item is when you are wanting to restore your old image created with Acronis True Image 2011. (With plus pack.)
Basically, if you want to restore an image of a partition that was created from an MBR disk to a disk formatted as GPT (Guid Partition Table) then you are unable to resize the partition up or down durring restore. This item came to my face a little to late, but none the less I consider it important enought o post on here. Maybe to save someone else who didn’t dig deep into the docs of Acronis.
If you need to restore a partition created on MBR to a GPT disk, be sure the partition you want to restore to already exists. As well as the size of that partition is sufficient to handle the restored image.
Sphere: Related ContentI just installed the IE 9 Public Beta, and lordy lordy it’s a nice little experience.
First off, the UI is much cleaner and simplified. And definitely looks like they took a que or two from their competitors.
Head on over and grab yourself a copy at their site!
Sphere: Related ContentWordPress 3.0 RC1 has been released. And I’ve finally reached the comfort level needed to upgrade my site to the latest and greatest. That’s right, this site here is now hosted on WordPress 3.0 RC1! Weep all ye other … people…
Sphere: Related ContentHog wash I say!
Check out the side of the black cartridge, notice that clear window looking thing. Cover it with black tape, or in my case a piece of paper held on by regular tape, and that puppy will fire up printing again!
From what I’ve read it has a sensor that checks for infrared passing through that window from one side to the other. Unfortunately, the way the cart is designed you wind up with a lot of waste that is enough to print for a good while but not enough to block the light.
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Good morning!
Figured I would post a wonderful detail of my catgenie experience this morning.
I was awoken by a beep coming from our catgenie roughly 3:30am. Walking into the laundry room I find a wonderful pot of stew that the genie was making just for me! That’s right, a clog! My first clog with the genie. Man, why did it have to be this early?
Well put simply the clog was nasty. It was a bowl full of the first cycle water, so ALL sorts of nasty. Anyway, the tech mode/diagnostic mode  1 and 4 did not do anything which showed the clog was most likely in the hose. That’s easy, force water or air back the opposite direction in the hose until it forces the clog back into the catgenie. Then you move on with tech mode 1/4 again to see if it drains.
Lucky for me it did and I can move on the magic 3/4 and then sleep.
OH Wait, I’m up at 5am now… what’s the point of going to bed if I just have to get up in a bit anyway. I guess this is the best way to start the morning!
For those who own it, tech mode is 1/4 is awesome! It is the drain mode, and will save  you from having to empty out the basin. Love and admire that mode I say!
Sphere: Related ContentXceed has released the latest major update to DataGrid for WPF. Version 4.0 brings with it full support for .NET 4.0 and Visual Studio 2010.