No email as yet, but I’ve just heard via twitter, my name appears on the vExpert 2012 title holders have been announced in this document published today
Announcing vExpert 2012 title holders
Archive for the ‘computing’ Category
I’m a VMware vExpert 2012 for the second year #vExpert
Sunday, April 15th, 2012Andy’s new gadget courtesy of VMware – A Kindle Fire
Monday, April 9th, 2012On April 2nd, I blogged here about a mysterious parcel from VMware that arrived by FedEx.
The parcel contained an Amazon Kindle Fire, not available in the UK. To be released later this year. I’ve not done the Android experience, being strictly an Apple iOS, Microsoft Windows CE/Mobile, and Nokia nerd. So it will be interesting to checkout what Android 2.3 ‘Gingerbread’ has to offer, compared to Apple iOS 5.1.
The Amazon Kindle Fire is a Full Colour 7 inch, multi-touch display, tablet, with WiFi, web, movies, music, apps, games, reading & more, and it runs Android 2.3 ‘Gingerbread’.
VMware sent me the gift, as a Thank You for providing feedback in the My VMware Beta program.
Thank You VMware!
8th Annual Experts Awards - Expert of the Year 2011 - Andy’s Platinum Plated Trophies - @ExpertExchange
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012The Annual Expert Awards are announced at the beginning of each year to celebrate the best Experts throughout the years from a competitive field of Experts worldwide at Experts Exchange.
The award winner in each category receives the following:
- Top Expert Shirt
- Platinum Plated Trophy
- Expert Awards Badge
I believe the Trophy is a cast of the original hard drive which recorded the first Question/Answer at Experts Exchange. Each Trophy weighs approx 2kg.
I was the Award winner in the following
- Expert of the Year - The expert who earned the most points throughout the year.
- Juggernaut - The expert that answered the most questions throughout the year.
- The Ally - The expert who earned the most assist points throughout the year.
and this is what you receive from Experts Exchange if you are lucky enough on Being The Best of the Best!
oh, and a wardrobe full of Expert Exchange T-Shirts!
FedEx delivers VMware vExpert swag and what’s in this other box from VMware?
Monday, April 2nd, 2012Got a surprise today when FedEx delivered not one, but two FedEx Boxes from VMware…A large box and a medium box. I happen to open the large box first!
The first large FedEx box contained my VMware vExpert swag, A VMware vExpert branded laptop bag, VMware vExpert luggage travel tag and my VMware vExpert Certificate.
Large and Medium Boxes from VMware, delivered by FedEx
Thanks to John and Alex that managed the VMware vExpert Program.
I’ll photograph, and blog tomorrow, what was in the other box!
BBC Microcomputer Celebrates it’s 30th Birthday in a few weeks
Saturday, March 3rd, 2012
Shortly after the Raspberry Pi was launched, which is hoped in education to be the next BBC Micro, just a reminder in a few weeks the BBC Micro also Celebrates it’s 30th Birthday.
See here Beeb@30
Microsoft Windows XP Professional 3 - too many wizards
Monday, February 20th, 2012I was having a discussion with my Nephew, which mentioned Microsoft Windows XP Professional 3, I think he was referring to Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3, which turned into a conversation about Microsoft Patches and Updates for Microsoft Windows XP Professional. Since Service Pack 3 to date (20 February 2012), there have been 116 High Priority security updates and patches. (if you include all the Internet Explorer updates and patches).
My personal favourite Microsoft Windows OS is Windows 2000 Professional, I’ve only just got used to Windows XP Professional, too many wizards, and I’m not referring to Harry Potter!
Security Patches and Updates will continue for Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (SP3) until April 8, 2014.
So, there’s no need to rush for that Windows 7 computer just yet……
Just for you Conner!
Sunday, February 19th, 2012My Nephew Conner, wanted me to put this on my blog, so here it is….maybe he’s going to be the next Sir Alan Sugar or Sir Richard Branson!
Free Domain Names provided by Dot.TK. Need a Domain Name, Create one in a minute!
(no idea what it’s all about!). But if it helps him become a Millionaire, hopefully I’ll get a bite of the cherry!
Andy’s XBOX 360 Fix!
Saturday, February 18th, 2012A few months ago, my father had complained that his Xbox 360 was over heating, caused by possible fans failure. He had confirmed that his Xbox 360 was still functioning correctly by using additional cooling using a small desktop cooling fan, when he had removed all the Xbox 360 covers, and directed the fan across the CPU and GPU heatsinks, the Xbox 360 ran perfectly.
He purchased a new fan assembly from eBay, connected it to the 3 pin connector on the motherboard, but the two fans still did not function.
This is how Andy fixed it, if you remove the circuit board from the Xbox 360, there are plenty of articles on the internet that show how to do this. On the underside of the circuit board, near the 3 pin connector is a transistor marked MJD210, this is a D-PAK surface mount device. The datasheet can be found here. I believe this is on the “Falcon” Xbox 360 circuit boards.
You can either replace this transitor which drives the fans, you can purchase here from Farnell.
or use Andy’s Hack and Bodge fix! which is just bridging the pins of the transistor!
Lindsey said “you fixed that quickly” - I had to remind her that once upon a time, I studied Electronic Communication Engineering…..(although do not practice it anymore, but still retain the k-nowledge! and that’s a flash back to being in form ‘N’ at school for nowledge!)
Wired or Wireless, ADSL or 3G? that’s the question?
Friday, February 10th, 2012I’ve recently been running trails using 3G Wireless Internet with Celltime Provider Three and O2, you are probably thinking I’m as mad as a badger! (well once upon a time, I did study Electronic Communication Engineering, so I know a little about Radio Frequencies! - (thanks to Mum & Dad! for the funding!).
But check the results below, and this is with a -85 dBm signal (boffin speak for GOOD! or three bars good buddy! have you got your ears on!), using the internal antenna on a Option GlobalSurfer III (3G Router). I’ve recently noticed that Three have upgraded their transmitter to now support HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access), well what does that load of gibberish mean, well other than the UMTS or 3G symbol changes to “H” on my phone or router. It means that rather than max speed of 3.6Mbps, the max speed could be 7.2MBps or 14.4MBps. Yes via Wireless!
At present I’m getting faster wireless speeds than wired!
| Eclipse Internet | Three 3G Internet |
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I generally use this 3G router, because when normal wired ADSL fails, it automatically fails back or fails over to 3G Wireless Internet, and after the recents drop outs and faults, I noticed my 3G wireless broadband was faster!
Option GlobalSurfer III 3G Network Router
I need to complete some more calculations, and purchase a directional Yagi antenna, so I can get a stronger signal = more signal = more power = faster throughput and downloads! (does that sound like Captain Kirk to Scotty the Engineer - Give me more power! Scotty! )
Microwave Wireless Aerial or Twig on biscuit tin!
This aerial is not correct, the VSWR (sorry boffin alert) is too high, and not correctly matched at 3G frequencies! It reminds me of long ago with a DV27 on a biscuit tin!
I now understand, when I visited China, why they did not role out copper wires to peoples houses for telephones, they just jumped to wireless 2.5G communications (whilst the UK, was still using GSM! (2G)).
Well Good Buddy Signing Off!, 10-10.
Broadband Woes Revisited!
Thursday, February 9th, 2012Earlier in the month, I reported (here’s the blog) that my Broadband has an intermittent fault AGAIN. Back in 2010, I had similar if not the same issues, and it had to be escalted to BT, it looks like, it will have to be escalted to BT again! The problem is an unstable line, disconnects, occasional slow throughout, down to 0.4Mbps.
It’s been reported to Eclipse Internet, my ISP, who are not to blame, as they do not own the telegraph wire from my house to the exchange. British Telecommunications plc, “BT” own that!
Eclipse Internet, changed the Interleave on the line from ON to OFF, to try and stablise the line, but it did not make any difference, and the issues continues…….
stay tuned for the next installment of Broadband Woes Revisited Update Soon!
Draytek Vigor Connection Statistics Interleaved ON
ADSL STATUS Interleaved ON
Draytek Vigor Connection Statistics Interleaved OFF
ADSL STATUS Interleaved OFF
Notice the increase in sync speed (Down Speed), but unfortunately, it did not make any difference to throughput, or fix the issue.
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