http://shaunr.net/index.htmlShaun_R's BlogenShaun_R© 2011 Shaun_R. All rights reserved2011-11-21T12:00:00+11:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:11:22 +1100Shaun_RBlog2011-11-21T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/8945b099db2f9bae357a55212579ac8e-58.php#unique-entry-id-58http://shaunr.net/blog/files/8945b099db2f9bae357a55212579ac8e-58.php#unique-entry-id-58
My English exam is on Friday this week, and the rest of my exams are next week. Can’t wait…
At least we have an activity day thing afterwards. I chose the photography option (none of the others appealed). I’ll be taking photos from my iPhone 4S, so I’ll see how they compare to everyone else’s DSLR shots… :D

As I mentioned earlier, I purchased an iPhone 4S with money from my job and my birthday. This continues my tradition of a new phone every year for my birthday since 2008; starting with a Sagem MY511x in 2008, a Nokia 3120c in 2009, a Nokia 6120c in 2010, and an iPhone 4S in 2011.
Best phone ever. I love it to death. That’s all I’ll say about it.

Work at McDonalds is pretty good, all things considered. I do love having money whenever I want it, wherever I want it. Don’t want to make a career out of it, but it’s a good start.

Anyways, this is just me procrastinating before exams, when I really really really should be revising. So I guess the next post will be some time closer to Christmas, maybe even with some of the better photos from the activity day. Special thanks to my 2 regular visitors for reading this! <3

Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2011-09-11T02:00:00+10:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/8c4a9c2053023f00c5be00d574aecfb3-57.php#unique-entry-id-57http://shaunr.net/blog/files/8c4a9c2053023f00c5be00d574aecfb3-57.php#unique-entry-id-57We were required to develop a website for a real client as part of an IT assignment at school, and my group (Converze, Kerwin and I) decided to make a site for RaRe.

After about 3 weeks in development, we’re finally finished, and we’re pretty proud of the results.

Check the site out!]]>Shaun_RBlog2011-08-26T17:00:00+10:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/ef791253e66c417f948da164e8e352b5-55.php#unique-entry-id-55http://shaunr.net/blog/files/ef791253e66c417f948da164e8e352b5-55.php#unique-entry-id-55I’ve been searching for and applying for so many jobs at every conceivable place for the past few months, and most of the time I either didn’t receive a response, or was declined.

However, I’m pleased to say that I saw an ad for a position at a new McDonalds store (not open yet), and to apply in-person at another local store. I got the callback the same day, and I can’t tell you how happy I was to hear those words “You’ve been accepted for the job”. That made my day!

Anyway, the store opens soon, and I’m looking forward to starting. A reliable income - sweet! :D
Currently saving for both a car (and all associated expenses), as well as an iPhone 5 when it’s released, hopefully in September or October, perhaps in time for my birthday. Can’t wait! ]]>Shaun_RBlog2011-07-03T16:00:00+10:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/4473605f5702b7017203650a0c612c8a-53.php#unique-entry-id-53http://shaunr.net/blog/files/4473605f5702b7017203650a0c612c8a-53.php#unique-entry-id-53Well, I decided a few months ago that it was time for a change. If you’re reading this right now, you’re looking at the brand new design of ShaunR.net!

It’s been months in the making, tweaking and refining process - no thanks to homework and exams - but I’m finally happy with it. It’s based on the latest version of RapidWeaver, uses HTML5, CSS3, and some very cool behind-the-scenes tools.

So, there you have it. ShaunR.net V2.0 is officially released, as of today, Sunday the 3rd of July 2011.

Let me know what you think of the brand new design with your feedback in the newly-enabled comments section, below!]]>Shaun_RBlog2011-05-21T12:00:00+10:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/4a49c95a8049062e3041b933c0ae5b8d-52.php#unique-entry-id-52http://shaunr.net/blog/files/4a49c95a8049062e3041b933c0ae5b8d-52.php#unique-entry-id-52
Anyway, I’m in Year 10 this year. Whoever it was that told me Year 10 was just as much of a bludge as Year 9… It sure isn’t! I can probably attribute the lack of blog posts to the homework thing. Only about 10x the amount of homework I got in Year 9!

Well, I suppose this is a big year - I’ll be 16 before long, learning to drive a car… And another year closer to finishing school!

I’m currently in the market for a part-time job after school a few weeknights a week, as I would really like to buy an iPhone 5/4S/whatever it’s called when it’s released. I said to myself around this time last year that I’d get a job and buy an iPhone 4. That never happened.
So, if you’d like me to develop you a website, get in touch - I’d love to talk!

On a totally unrelated topic, the Rapture is supposed to happen at 6pm local time around the world today. Or that’s what Harold Camping reckons. Just like it was meant to happen in 1844, 1914, 1918, 1925, 1942, 1981, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994 – where the same Harold Camping predicted the rapture to occur on September 6, 1994, explaining the lack of anything happening as a “math error” – 2000, and now on the 21st May 2011. Oh, and Sir Isaac Newton reckons it won’t happen until 2060.

Somehow, I don’t think today will be our final “normal” day on planet Earth, at least not for a while!

Well, take care, and don’t get eaten by a raptor from the rapture!
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-12-16T18:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/f38c20faa9c520ca810c02a356444c58-51.php#unique-entry-id-51http://shaunr.net/blog/files/f38c20faa9c520ca810c02a356444c58-51.php#unique-entry-id-51
I just want to finish off my review of the Logitech harmony One with a quick “final thoughts” blog post.

Overall, I’m extremely pleased with the overall quality of the remote. The build quality is solid, the layout of keys is brilliant, and in general the remote is great.
The only aspect of the remote that I do not like is the PC setup software. This needs desperate improvement, as I have covered extensively in previous blog posts. I hope Logitech take the issues I had into consideration, and maybe update and improve the software.

The parents both absolutely love the concept of “Activities”. Mum loves the simplicity of picking the remote up off the charging base and touching “Watch TV” instead of having to press 5 different buttons on various remotes. She also loves the favourite channel icons.

I love the Harmony One so much so that I’ve ordered a Harmony 650 from LogitechShop on eBay ($55) to control the TV in the other room. I am looking forward to it arriving. Setup should be much easier, being that it’s a brand-name TV. Plus, I have the past experience from the One.

Overall, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being a product tester for Logitech’s Harmony One. It’s been a great experience, and it’s simplified our lives quite a lot! Thanks goes to Logitech for providing the Harmony One.

Well, that wraps up another blog post. Check back soon for more!
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-12-11T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/f696d6ef79897afed4588ab1cc78c200-50.php#unique-entry-id-50http://shaunr.net/blog/files/f696d6ef79897afed4588ab1cc78c200-50.php#unique-entry-id-50 This is part three of four of my review of the Logitech Harmony One, which I recently received from Logitech. I am an official product tester for the Logitech Harmony One. The thoughts and views expressed here are my own, not that of Logitech’s. Please read my previous blog post for more information.

Sound familiar? Haha. I have to do that, per the T&Cs of the product testing. Anyway, with that out of the way, this post will be covering the good, or should I say, great aspects of the Logitech Harmony One remote.

I honestly don’t know where to begin. This remote has too many terrific aspects to it that I’m not sure it’ll fit on one blog post!

I may as well begin with the most obvious. Activity-based controls. Pure genius, I tell you! Mum, who is incredibly non tech-savvy, loves it. To bits. One touch to turn the TV & PVR one. One touch to watch a DVD. One touch to watch a Video (oldskool). One button to turn everything off when you’re finished. This, this is pure genius I tell you!

Now onto the physical design of the remote. This is quite possibly the best designed remote to hold in the hand. It sits perfectly between your fingers, and best of all, the most commonly accessed controls (volume, channel, arrows, and play/pause) are all within super easy reach of the thumb. It definitely beats the Beyonwiz remote, which until now was the best designed remote I’ve ever come across.
The buttons are labelled perfectly as well, with meaningful icons, no stupid icons or acronyms that make no sense are to be found on this remote!
Most commonly, they use text – large text at that! Perfect for those with dwindling eyesight – instead of icons, which is absolute genius.
The word “Info” instead of every different kind of “i” on each different remote, a single “Menu” button in one spot, no meaningless acronyms like “APM” (an real example from one of our remotes... To this day I don’t know what it does, and I don’t dare press it!) Must I go on?
Logitech have done their R&D here, researching exactly where each button should go.

Quite possibly the best part of the remote is that despite its incredible capabilities, there isn’t the problem of “button overload”!
This was a welcome relief for everyone in the family. I don’t have to worry about anyone pushing buttons they shouldn’t, and everyone else doesn’t have to worry about which buttons they can and can’t press!
Button overload is so commonly seen on remotes these days, which all-to-often get pressed accidentally, and often end up totally ruining a particular setting - often picture or sound. These buttons are usually just providing shortcuts for things you can get in the Menu anyway! However, the Harmony One has none of that nonsense. For that, I love it to death. Thank you Logitech!

Moving on. I’d like to mention the “Help” utility onboard the remote. While I have gripes about it (see my last post where I mention about it not being intelligent and adaptable), it is incredibly useful for when each and every sequence doesn’t quite make it to the intended device. It provides a clear, simple walkthrough of each device used in a particular activity, asking whether it is on, whether it’s on the correct input, etc. etc. Pure awesome!

Finally, I’d like to mention the visual station icon capability. This, when set up in the PC application, shows an icon (being the TV station logo) for each station that you choose to program into the device. When you touch the icon, it virtually “presses” the corresponding number keys that you set up in the PC application, thereby switching to the relevant channel. It’s a thousand times better than any “favourites list” onscreen will ever be!
I would like to mention that the website IconHarmony.com came in incredibly useful for getting each icon for the stations, pre-formatted with Logitech’s shine effect and all! Very helpful when setting it up, and a lot better than resizing logos that I would normally have to manually find!

Before I finish up, I just want to mention once again that I absolutely love this remote. So much so that I’ve also set it up to control our second TV. I’m actually seriously considering purchasing the Harmony 650 ($79 at Dick Smith) just so that we have another one of these brilliant remotes, and of course to eliminate remote fights, haha. Logitech, you’ve created a monster out of me!

I’m sure there’s more great features of this incredible remote, but I’m going to have to finish up here for the sake of not boring everyone to death!
I’m sure there will be another Harmony-related blog post pretty soon, so keep watching the blog for more!

However, until then, I bid farewell.
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-12-10T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/98d63b18daf5e608fb3ed40f1076bb58-49.php#unique-entry-id-49http://shaunr.net/blog/files/98d63b18daf5e608fb3ed40f1076bb58-49.php#unique-entry-id-49 This is part two of four of my review of the Logitech Harmony One, which I recently received from Logitech. I am an official product tester for the Logitech Harmony One. The thoughts and views expressed here are my own, not that of Logitech’s. Please read my previous blog post for more information.

With the official stuff out the way, I’ll start with the ugly of this remote. And boy, does this have plenty!! Before I begin, I’ll remind everyone that I received the remote around 12pm on the 9th of December 2010 (AEDST, GMT +11), and began setup almost immediately.

I’ll begin with the setup process. Boy is this a right PAIN!! This had me tearing my hair out, with how bad it was. For a start, it’s a Java application. That’s reason enough to hate it. To add insult to injury, it’s web based. These two factors combined together make for one terrible user experience. Instead of having a fast, responsive and quick system-native application, you have to wait around after every single button click for the page to completely reload from scratch. This would have set me back at least 2 hours waiting for pages to load during the setup process!!
Personally, this is not acceptable. Logitech need to spend the time and money developing a system-native, fast, responsive (non-Java!) application for setting up the Harmony. No more of this web-based Java stuff. Argh!
One of the most-touted features of the remote is the easy setup process. I find it’s anything but!

Continuing my gripes with the setup process.
Device compatibility is... lacklustre, at best. Sure, we have a no-name TV. That meant I had to program each button manually. However, the process for learning the IR codes is frustrating. Why do we need a 3 second lag between registering the button press and moving to the next one?! It’s pointless sitting there watching the screen say “IR code detected”. You can’t even press the next button as soon as it appears on-screen – that’ll be another 2 second wait, thanks! Otherwise, it simply doesn’t register you even pressed a button.
Even for brand-name devices, compatibility is poor, as well. We have a Samsung DVD/VCR combo unit (DVD-V70). While Logitech supposedly has this one on file, I found that after testing it out, buttons were mapped incorrectly, buttons didn’t work, and some features were just plain missing! I had to go through almost the entire “learn IR” process for this remote as well to get some degree of control over the unit. Not impressed by this, at all!
There was some reprieve to the process. Our Beyonwiz FV-L1 PVR has magnificent support, with just one button missing that I had to learn manually (I forget which now). This is probably accredited due to the fact there is one single model of remote that works with every Beyonwiz device, so compatibility is universal for the entire brand.

My issues with setup don’t end there. When using the “Update Remote” tool, it seems like it wipes and entirely re-flashes the remote from scratch, rather than updating what’s changed. This makes for an update process of well over 5 minutes. It gets frustrating when you have to keep going back to the setup program after testing controls to find that something is still broken. Grrrr...

Now for the “Help” tool on the remote. When I finally got it to a point where most buttons worked, I tested out the Activities. I found that consistently, every single time, it would miss one of the virtual “presses” of the Source button on our TV, meaning it would land on Component instead of HDMI, Analog TV instead of AV, or SCART instead of Component. No matter how many times I used the “Help” tool to fix the problem (telling it that the TV was not on HDMI), it doesn’t seem to intelligently adapt to the problem and send an extra press, meaning I had to use the Help tool every time. Surely the remote can be made to “learn” from repeated issues?
Now, obviously finding that the remote is rather static, I went to the PC software troubleshooter. No matter how many times I went through the process of telling it that the TV never goes to the correct input, and sitting around 5 minutes for each update, it did not fix it.
I ended up stumbling upon the “delay times” for each input by chance, and tried increasing the delay between each input. To my surprise, this actually fixed the problem!! However, I’d still spent 2+ hours tearing my hair out trying to fix the damned issue. I’m quite sure our LCD TV is somewhat more worn out, after being on, off, on, off, on, off, on, off, on, off, on, off every 10 minutes... But at least it works properly now!

However, there’s more. Going back to the setup process and remote commands, mentioned earlier, I wanted to re-order some of the buttons that appear on the remote’s touchscreen. This process is painful! I spent a good half hour re-ordering and organising commands that I wanted for our DVD/VCR while on the DVD activity. I pressed the “Done” button... And the session had timed out. I lost EVERYTHING that I’d just spent half an hour of work on! Needless to say, I was NOT a happy person by this time. I had to go back and start all over again. This time, I pressed “Done” every 5 minutes, and had to go back to the custom commands page each time, thereby making this already blood boiling process yet more painful. Why does it even time out, anyway?! And why does the process suck so much?! It needs re-working. Desperately.
Then I had to do virtually the same process for the “Watch a Movie” (VHS) activity as well... Oh, and again for the individual device control, as well. This process took well over 2 and a half hours.

By now, the time is 8pm. I’ve finally gotten the remote control to a half-useable state.
I give up with the remote, place it on the charging cradle, and crash.
This remote, with it’s supposedly “easy” layman-targeted setup took me EIGHT HOURS solid to get to a point where it’s half useable. And I’m still not done. That speaks a lot as to how “easy” it really is to set up. In other words, it’s far from!

I’m sure there’s other gripes and issues that I’ve forgotten to mention here.

I hope Logitech read this and do their best to take the problems I’ve outlined here and fix their software. I can only pray.

Now, I’m going back to making this remote work nicely for me. See you all in my next blog post, which will hopefully be a positive one - what I do like about the Harmony! Haha.

Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-10-05T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/5577c6be60ce4f46eb871d3427094c20-48.php#unique-entry-id-48http://shaunr.net/blog/files/5577c6be60ce4f46eb871d3427094c20-48.php#unique-entry-id-48A few days ago it was my 15th birthday. I received a new phone to replace my Nokia 3120c, which in itself was a terrific phone.

However, unfortunately, the Vodafone network has fallen to pieces in the last few months, and I’ve been forced to switch to Telstra, necessitating a new phone.

My new phone is the Nokia 6120c. I don’t love it - it still means I cary 2 gadgets around with me everywhere I go - but it’s a lot better than the 3120c. For a start, it uses Symbian S60 smartphone OS software. It also has HSDPA, so web browsing is faster than my home ADSL connection!

Overall, I like the phone. It serves a purpose, and what it does it does well. That’s all I can ask for, eh?
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-12-09T19:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/3da7487f4b30f3895633b9dbad51b881-47.php#unique-entry-id-47http://shaunr.net/blog/files/3da7487f4b30f3895633b9dbad51b881-47.php#unique-entry-id-47 This is part one of four of my review of the Logitech Harmony One, which I recently received from Logitech. I am an official product tester for the Logitech Harmony One. The thoughts and views expressed here are my own, not that of Logitech’s. Please read my previous blog post for more information.

What a day it’s been! Wow.

A few weeks ago, I noticed a post on Facebook by the Logitech Australia team, asking if anyone would like to be a product tester for Logitech, testing and reviewing the Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote. Naturally, I applied and filled out the short survey, figuring that it was worth a shot. I doubted I’d get further than that.

What a surprise I got when I got an email from Logitech Australia telling me that I’d been selected to test the Harmony One! I was absolutely amazed!

Around midday today, I received the remote (weirdly, the courier never rang the doorbell, and instead just dropped it at the front door - no sign, nothing). Naturally, I got straight into setting it up.

Well, I finished all of 45 minutes ago — it’s now 7pm. What a process that was!

I’ll admit I’m a perfectionist, and I spent a lot of time making it “just right”. However, there were a lot of issues and flaws that I cam across in the software provided that I just hated, setting me back over and over again.
I also had problems getting input selection to work correctly - the remote would always forget that last ‘press’ of the Input button and I’d be left on YPbPr (Component) instead of HDMI, or SCART instead of YPbPr, or Analog TV instead of AV. Very frustrating!
It turns out the issue was that the delay time set for allowing the TV to turn on was too low (3 sec, should have been 4 sec), and the input press delay was too short as well (1 sec, should have been 1.2 sec).

I will also admit that we have a no-name TV. This meant I had to program every command in by hand, manually, instead of it being setup for me automatically with the wizard. This was a simple, but time consuming process.

I have yet to have a chance to truly use and explore the remote, so I’ll save a full review for my next blog post. Expect a full review within the next couple days.

Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-12-07T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/c9d073ef03782296b5161bbbd2af9cae-46.php#unique-entry-id-46http://shaunr.net/blog/files/c9d073ef03782296b5161bbbd2af9cae-46.php#unique-entry-id-46Well, I recently found this excellent article that sums up all my thoughts a lot better than I ever could.

I’d encourage you to take a look at it by clicking here.

Hopefully the guys behind Reeder will read it and change the way Reeder for mac works. Until then, I’ll stick with my old method - not using RSS at all, as I’ve done for many years prior.

My next blog post will be big. However, its content is a secret for now; so make sure you check back here soon!
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-12-04T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/b08de4db71ad4a9003b255306a9fcbdc-45.php#unique-entry-id-45http://shaunr.net/blog/files/b08de4db71ad4a9003b255306a9fcbdc-45.php#unique-entry-id-45
In this post, I’ll cover Weet for Mac.

Before I begin, I want to say that I like it. However, I don’t love it.
Sure, Tweetie for Mac is dated. Despite Atebits’ many promises of releasing Tweetie 2 for Mac (“April” came and went, “soon” got old quick, “not long now” got long...), I’d go so far to call it “abandon-ware”. However, it’s still my favourite OS X Twitter client.
I don’t like Echofon, Kiwi or any of the others. They try to do too much at once, and it ends up just looking horrible.

I hoped Weet would be different.
In a way, it is. In others, it’s not. While the iPhone app is really good (it hasn’t replaced Twitter/Tweetie for me, however); the Mac app isn’t quite there yet.

Firstly, there’s some major bugs - opening a conversation (double click) often results in very strange in-reply-to chains, oft containing foreign-language Tweets. This has caused me confusion on a number of occasions - why are people replying to me about some random Tweet?!

Secondly, there’s some UI glitches and issues. I’ll start with the “shiny” look. I hate it with a passion, proved by my work on my iTunes 10 UI Overhaul. Unfortunately, Weet uses this very “shiny” UI that I loathe. It would be good if it had an option to perhaps turn it back to normal?

Finally, there’s a glitch where using Cmd-W in the Preferences window closes Weet, rather than Weet’s Preferences. A minor bug, but a bug nonetheless. Would be good if this was fixed.

In my next post (hopefully within a few days time), I’ll cover Reeder for Mac and what I think of it.

For now, stay safe!
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-11-01T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/4f7344fe1171e5dddd6619df8af9c97f-44.php#unique-entry-id-44http://shaunr.net/blog/files/4f7344fe1171e5dddd6619df8af9c97f-44.php#unique-entry-id-44I didn’t think iTunes could get worse after version 9, where Apple decided to make iTunes include a totally out-of-place, incredibly ugly “shiny” window chrome. I was appalled when this happened in 2009. “How did this get past Steve Jobs?!” I wondered...

Well, Apple did themselves one better with iTunes 10.
Not only is the “shiny” still there, now the traffic lights are vertical instead of horizontally laid out! This actually break’s Apple’s own HIG (Human Interface Guidelines) by not conforming to a standard, easily recognisable and consistent UI!

Now, not only did they do this, but they also made the Source List sidebar icons *grey*. All grey. Every. Single. One of them.
Yuck! I used the icons as visual clues in iTunes 9 and earlier, instead of reading each button’s text every time you want to change views. The new icons are absolutely no help!

I can’t forget to mention the new icon. What an atrocity!! A music note in a blue circle with some gloss. A kid could do better than that!! What were they thinking?! Sure, the CD needed to go. Optical media is a dead format, according to Steve Jobs. But really, they could have done something more imaginative.

Finally, they added the abomination that is “Ping” - the Ping sidebar, the Ping drop-down when you click on a song, the Ping button below the iTunes Store... They push Ping a LOT, yet it’s absolutely terrible! Very annoying.

So, rather than sit around complaining, I did something about it. In fact, so did at least 6 or 7 others!
Together, we worked out how to revert the traffic lights back to their standard horizontal layout. This is done with a simple OS X Terminal command. A great start!
Then I, along with 6 or 7 others, set to work theming iTunes 10 to make it “fit in” better with OS X - taking the best bits from iTunes 9 & 10 and making themes more like iTunes 8. Each theme is to the creator’s individual taste.
I spent quite a few hours creating my theme. It is possibly the most comprehensive one available to make iTunes a better Snow Leopard application.

Firstly, it makes the traffic lights horizontal. Already this makes iTunes more tolerable.
Then, it changes a large number of elements in iTunes. This includes the “shiny” window chrome, reverting it back to a much more standard Snow Leopard grey gradient. It also makes the Source icons colourful again, and changes many other elements to make iTunes better.
Finally, it changes the icon back to iTunes 9’s much more beautiful one.
There are also a couple of Terminal commands available to remove much of Ping’s annoying-ness, too.

Once it’s done with its extensive list of fixes, iTunes becomes a much, much more beautiful application to use.
You can read more information & download my theme from here: MacThemes.net/Forum/Topic=16805795 . ]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-06-29T11:00:00+10:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/f197cc501960295a62f114011998fbf5-42.php#unique-entry-id-42http://shaunr.net/blog/files/f197cc501960295a62f114011998fbf5-42.php#unique-entry-id-42
Well, I’m actually quite surprised. Despite the meagre 1.33GHz G4 processor, 768MB RAM and 40GB Hard Disk, it’s actually not a bad computer! It has Leopard installed, so it supports all the latest applications. It’s relatively speedy, you can browse the web in Safari flawlessly (though it can’t do YouTube HD). Skype and Mail work well, and the iWork suite is perfectly useable.

I was also surprised at the battery life, which is approximately 3.5 hours with light web surfing, definitely more than I was expecting.

All in all, if you’re looking for an Apple laptop and need one on the cheap, have a look at eBay for an iBook G4 (make sure it’s 1.33GHz though). It was a steal at $250 + Postage.

Well, I guess that’s all until we meet again.
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-03-27T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/53dd528966614c262d416bc5ddbe6fd3-41.php#unique-entry-id-41http://shaunr.net/blog/files/53dd528966614c262d416bc5ddbe6fd3-41.php#unique-entry-id-41
See you soon!
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-05-06T11:00:00+10:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/03e9d4889656b360158c9683bcef63b0-40.php#unique-entry-id-40http://shaunr.net/blog/files/03e9d4889656b360158c9683bcef63b0-40.php#unique-entry-id-40However, I haven’t taken any new photos of my setup since the purchase.
Therefore, I decided to take some photos today.

I decided that, since I use Bjango’s awesome iStat Menus Wallpaper with the blue theme for my iMac, MBP and iPod Touch, that I should do something else out of blue/black...
Now, I’ve always wanted an iPod Dock, personally I think that plugging in the cable kinda sucks. So, guess what I decided to do? Build one, of course!!

I did some research on Google and Instructables, and found various ideas for making Docks, and one of them was made out of none other than LEGO! Now, my brother is obsessed with LEGO - so we have plenty lying around.
I stole some blue and black pieces, and set to work.

Well, 15 minutes later, I finished, and I am very pleased with the results.
Here are a couple photos of the finished product...


Click here for full size.


Click here for full size.


I have also taken some new pictures of my setup, including my new Dock.


Click here for full size.


Click here for full size.


Finally, I have also made a mini iPod Stand - again out of LEGO - to prop my iPod up in landscape for watching YouTube and portrait for everything else.


Click here for full size.

Well, that’s all I have for now, so until next time, stay safe!
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-05-05T18:00:00+10:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/3b509df29bea1c0d13afb0ee4942ac47-39.php#unique-entry-id-39http://shaunr.net/blog/files/3b509df29bea1c0d13afb0ee4942ac47-39.php#unique-entry-id-39
Today, I have completed the development of the InHome Electronics website, and signed off on the project. I am very happy that this website is now complete, and I encourage you take a look.

I have also made some other small updates to my site, which included new screenshots of the websites I have made, that can be found in my Portfolio page. I encourage you take a look, especially with my new Intranet updates.

Well, that’s all for now, folks. Until next time,
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-04-02T19:45:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/2da235a1fc8db3f52feed06d0b777b82-38.php#unique-entry-id-38http://shaunr.net/blog/files/2da235a1fc8db3f52feed06d0b777b82-38.php#unique-entry-id-38so much sometimes!!

Ok, so today is Good Friday. My family is Catholic, we don’t usually go to church.
However, suddenly, this year, we’ve been to 2 masses in as many days, and only just wangled out of a 3rd! (Last Supper, Stations of the Cross, and wangled out of the Nailing to the Cross).
It’s some sort of thing Mum is trying to “be closer to God” :/

Anyways, back on topic.

Today is supposedly a "day of fasting" (Stupid Catholic traditions... Grr!). So we had baked beans on toast for dinner. What a nutritious, filling meal!
Now, i'm still starving. So Mum says, "Have an apple,” but i’m still not full. "Have yoghurt,” but it’s out of date and all goopy and separated.
"Have the other yogurt,” well, that’s the all-natural crap that Dad has (he likes it, hah!), it tastes awful!!

So, I give up, and have one of my home-baked cookies, much to Mum's resentment. I go off in the computer/TV room to eat.
Now, the most annoying part. My little brother hears me in the cookie box, comes into the kitchen, says to Mum, "I'm having a cookie,” to Mum, and no questions are asked!!! GRRRR!!!

To top it all off, Mum says to me "You can't eat it in there, you'll crumb everywhere,” but it's ok for my brother to eat it in the same room!


This, this is why I hate parents sometimes. The ridiculous crap they give you, that doesn’t apply to the brother or whatever... Grrrr...
Ok, now that’s off my chest and for all the world to see, I’ll just leave...

Until next time...]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-02-14T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/5fd8ba5b50c6dba7f85e17b782b3841c-37.php#unique-entry-id-37http://shaunr.net/blog/files/5fd8ba5b50c6dba7f85e17b782b3841c-37.php#unique-entry-id-37
This is called City Project, and will make up a lot of the curriculum for this term. I can’t wait! It should be lots of fun and very educational. ]]>Shaun_RBlog2009-12-25T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/c1437533392c822f524757ad56971707-35.php#unique-entry-id-35http://shaunr.net/blog/files/c1437533392c822f524757ad56971707-35.php#unique-entry-id-35
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-01-01T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/3c13d081f3a65230c1c6824db1e1c1ce-34.php#unique-entry-id-34http://shaunr.net/blog/files/3c13d081f3a65230c1c6824db1e1c1ce-34.php#unique-entry-id-34
I will write a proper post some time soon... I hope!

Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2010-01-21T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/25e38f6993d28cdea502adfbfcb27f0b-33.php#unique-entry-id-33http://shaunr.net/blog/files/25e38f6993d28cdea502adfbfcb27f0b-33.php#unique-entry-id-33
Anyways, I absolutely cannot WAIT until January 28th! At 5am AEDST (Jan 27 10am for those in Cupertino), Apple will be holding the Media Event, where it is expected that they will announce the much-rumoured “iSlate” tablet computer.

I also hope that at this event they will update the Apple MacBook Pro lineup - they are due for an update, according to the MacRumors Buyer’s Guide, and I have saved my pennies for many months in anticipation of this event - where I will finally get the machine of my dreams - a 13” MBP!

Anyways, I have to end this post here, so, until next time...
Stay safe,
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2009-11-19T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/2492444c237392faa57193123c0d1c88-32.php#unique-entry-id-32http://shaunr.net/blog/files/2492444c237392faa57193123c0d1c88-32.php#unique-entry-id-32
I just don't have much to write... Life's not terribly interesting right now.

I'm looking forward to Christmas, as I'm sure most of us are... Fun times ahead!

I finish school on Monday 7th December. What a stupid day. We finish on Friday 4th, have the weekend, then we have to come back to school for *one day* on Monday... Uhhh, WHY?!?!?

Grrrr... Oh well, that's the decision the stupid people at school made. Not up to me. All I know is that I won't turn up that day!! Friday, as far as I'm concerned, is my last day of Year 8. Not stupid Monday...

Well, until I think of something new to write...
Shaun_R.]]>Shaun_RBlog2009-10-13T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/10fdf3a3d7c03f237fdec0bd5be660e4-31.php#unique-entry-id-31http://shaunr.net/blog/files/10fdf3a3d7c03f237fdec0bd5be660e4-31.php#unique-entry-id-31
From my parents, I recieved a Nokia 3120c (Classic) mobile phone on Vodafone PrePaid. I give the phone an 8/10 star rating, with the only issue being that it's not an iPhone (If only, if only...). The keypad is very large, making typing a joy.
My old phone was a Sagem MY511X. This was an honestly pathetic piece of crap phone, it just wasn't funny! It was impossible to type on, with the awful flat keypad with tiny buttons. I give the Sagem a 2/10 star rating.

If you're an adult and the only reason you're sticking with your ancient "brick phone" is that "keypads are too small these days" - check out the Nokia 3120c. The keys are big, nice and firm and clicky, and the user interface is simple, clean and intuitive. Plus, they're only $139 on PrePaid from Vodafone! (I don't know about other carriers. Google is your friend.)

I recieved numerous other presents, but I won't bore you with the details.

Talk soon.

Best regards,
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2009-10-10T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/7ff96560b877722723d664363b38f9b1-30.php#unique-entry-id-30http://shaunr.net/blog/files/7ff96560b877722723d664363b38f9b1-30.php#unique-entry-id-30
A few months ago, we decided we needed a holiday - after all, we hadn't had one for 2 years.
The last time we went to the Tweed Heads in 2005, the resort we stayed at (where we also own a unit, which we rent out) was unfinished. Well, boy had it changed!! It was now a thriving, green and beautiful oasis out in the middle of nowhere - Kingscliff, just south of Tweed Heads - and situated on a beautiful 1.2km stretch of pristine beach.

I thoroughly enjoyed the time we had up there. We went to Sea World (Talk about overpriced food!! And what a rip - can't bring your own food in!!), but otherwise it was great. We also went to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, which was good. In fact, we went to so many places I can't even begin to list them! Let me just tell you, it was great.

But, now we're back, Term 4 of school has started, and once again I'm back in the daily grind of get up & ready, school, home, homework, dinner, computer, bed. Much fun!

Until we meet again...

Best regards,
Shaun_R

---- For more details on where we stayed, please visit the Mantra On Salt Beach website. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a place to stay while up there. ]]>Shaun_RBlog2009-10-24T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/ebd09982e2590589f368618f85a0193a-29.php#unique-entry-id-29http://shaunr.net/blog/files/ebd09982e2590589f368618f85a0193a-29.php#unique-entry-id-29Today, I finally finished work on the design of the website InHomeElectronics.com.au, my first "real" web design client, and my second design for an external client (My first being Polktronics, run by a friend of ours).

InHome approached me looking for a nice, simple, easy-to-use web design for their company, which specialises in the installation & setup of consumer electronics - including home theatres, wall-mounted plasma TVs, home automation system (eg having a remote to control all your lighting, etc.), plus much much more. They are a local business, too.

I have spent many hours over the past couple months in front of my iMac, tweaking the design, producing more content (Special thanks goes to my Dad for the excellent write-ups. I'm no marketing genius!), and adding finishing touches to it. Finally, all that work has paid off. The website is now complete!

I encourage you to check out http://inhomeelectronics.com.au and provide some feedback to me via the Contact Form on any further tips for improving it.

Finally, a very, very special thanks goes to Duncan Heal of Sprocket Web Design New Zealand for assistance with some HTML debugging - I spent about 2hrs 30min on Skype with him squashing bugs, fixing layouts, and ensuring every page was 100% completely Valid XHTML 1.0 Strict.

Stay safe everyone.

Best regards,
Shaun_R]]>Shaun_RBlog2009-10-05T12:00:00+11:00http://shaunr.net/blog/files/44122d6a940ed428dee2e960f1542b4f-28.php#unique-entry-id-28http://shaunr.net/blog/files/44122d6a940ed428dee2e960f1542b4f-28.php#unique-entry-id-28This is my first new blog entry. My old blogging system went bust, so I've moved to a new system which is far more stable and more customisable.

I am a teenage Technology "Geek." I absolutely love everything Apple-related. I would use a Mac over a Windows PC any day. I believe Apple has decent UI sense, focusses on making the OS easy to use for everyone, doesn't have over 150,000 viruses/trojans/etc. Apple also ensures that everything they make runs smoothly and properly, all the time.

In my spare time, I love developing websites for individuals, businesses, products and anything else you would like. I do my work in a Mac application called RapidWeaver, which is awesome.
If you like what you see in my Portfolio of websites that I have created, please feel free to get in touch with me via my contact form.

I hope to be writing informative, useful and interesting blog posts once a week.

Until next time.

Best regards,
Shaun_R]]>