Currently using Mozy… inexpensive and reliable, only problem is there is no Linux version! Tried to install Spideroak, but still waiting for the confirm email to activate after four days!
Online backup
January 28th, 2010Braun Electric Toothbrush – Generic Replacement head
October 6th, 2009Picked up 3 “Exact”- brand replacement toothbrush heads at Real Canadian Superstore. They were $3 cheaper than the cheapest Oral-B heads (though the Oral-B’s were on sale.) OK for for a week, then the head developed the annoying habit of slipping off the motor shaft. Conclusion: Unless they are really really cheaper than the Oral-B’s, do not buy.
X10 Active Home software
October 5th, 2009I’m running my Activehome software, V1.42 (a Win 3.1 app!) on my XP box. Every so often I’d lose communication with CM11A interface. Naturally, I’d assumed it was XP acting up… but no! Accidently after putting up with this for 10 years, I stumbled on the answer — according to heyU.org (a Linux version of AH) the CM11A goes to sleep and needs an event to wake it up. Tried it by using an RF transmitter to switch on a light.. works!
Other X10 strange behaviour … if you want to use CFL’s in controlled lights, make sure at least one bulb in the circuit is an incandescent one.
The power supply for my laptop will block X10 signals if plugged into the same circuit as the controller.
Bathfitter — Beware!
October 2nd, 2009Bath Fitter (Coquitlam)
Bath Fitter is a company that covers your existing bathtub with an acrylic material. They also will cover walls and ceiling with acrylic too.
If you are considering having them remodel your bathroom, please read on.
From my experience, the bathtub seems to be good product when properly installed. The wall and ceiling product can become detached from the wall. The problem is that Bath Fitter may not stand behind their warranty. I’d recommend you check their references carefully, or choose another company.
My story:
Five years ago Bath Fitter (Coquitlam) installed a bathtub cover, wall and ceiling panel in my bathroom. Within two years the ceiling and wall panels became unglued. I did not pursue the matter because I thought it was my fault because I did the finishing of the walls and ceiling beneath. Just before the warranty expired however I asked Bath Fitter to evaluate the problem.
After several “no-shows” by the serviceman, the problem was diagnosed by a Bath Fitter technician as faulty installation. Two appointments to remedy the situation were cancelled on short notice by the company. That was the last I heard from the company. They will not accept my calls asking for a new appointment.
If you “google” for bath fitter complaints, you’ll find lots of them, along with this message from the company:
“If you think you’ve been treated unfairly by any Bath Fitter franchisee, please contact us directly so we can do whatever we can to help you resolve your issue. (Note: Our name is often written by consumers as “Bathfitter” or “Bathfitters.”)
Bath Fitter”
I emailed them twice and have received no reply.
Buyer Beware.
Tversity, XMBC and iTunes
October 2nd, 2009I’ve used a modded Xbox to watch downloaded tv shows on my television for five years or so now. The shows themselves are on an old XP powered box on a wired ethernet network. The PC is just somewhere to park the video files, MP3s and documents. The video part is very simple, what is not is using the Xbox for my MP3s! The problem being that these are served to my home network, which has at times up to 8 devices on it. Each of course has its own library — and there’s the problem. Syncing each library to reflect changes, especially in meta data. Part of the equation is that everyone in the house has some form of iPod, which makes iTunes the obvious music player. Though I’ve tried numerous solutions –each introduces a new wrinkle, a new problem.
To rationalize this mess, I started from ground zero: the Xbox. It seemed obvious that there must be a way to use an existing library, so that all ratings and meta tags are updated if not constantly, then at least weekly, and unattended. Not just for the xbox, but across the entire network –which includes a ubuntu-powered PC. So I decided to install a streaming server. First I tried Nero MediaHome. Too buggy, sometimes it worked, sometimes not. I’ve been wary of Nero software: their first software releases (Nero CD burning software) were good but now it seems they manufacture bloat-ware, not to mention any software that needs a special software tool to uninstall sends a red-flag up!
So I tried Tversity.. so far so good! Its free. Now I’ve got my music (82gb) streaming on demand. Tversity imported my iTunes library. My XP box has iTunes installed, and I use Remote Desktop connection to log onto it and make changes to the music via iTunes. Changes are written back to the file itself, and every three days Tversity will refresh its database from the iTunes folder.
All other PCs have iTunes installed — but here is the tricky part. They all use the iTunes library on the XP box. After installing iTunes, restart it, but hold down the Shift key until a dialog box asking what libary to use. I selected the XP library, and hey presto! The library on each PC is sync’d — it has to be since its the same one. Well, almost! I have to be careful not to have more than one instance open at a time and make changes . These changes may not be saved because they’re overwritten by the other PC’s.
There is no problem syncing the iPod. I still use the http protocol for my videos, there are issues using streaming for video. Some play, some especially flash, hang. I’m sure I can work these out in the future.
Hello world!
October 2nd, 2009Welcome to my blog. Just a little space where I can post random thoughts that cross my mind. Thoughts and comments that may benefit someone else, even if just in a very very small way.