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Aug
17
2009

It started with a win……

Sunderland’s first away game of the 2009/2010 Premier League campaign started with a 1-0 win over Bolton.

My son and I set off for the relevant straight forward journey down to Bolton. What could be easier, A1 -> M1 -> M62 -> M60 -> M61. However, driving along the M1 warning signs were flashing stating that the M61 was closed Northbound between junctions 6 – 8. We stopped at the services for a loo break, picnic and decide what we should do.

After studying the maps I elected to stay on the Motorways and see when the traffic started to mount up and make a further decision then. I always set off with plenty of time but was quite concerned if we would get there on time. To be honest it was not that bad. Traffic was tailed back to Junction 5 of the M61, so a quick tap on the Avoid Roadblock button on FatTom (My TomTom Go 910) and off we went at junction 5 in a loop around to where I had decided to park. Managed to get to the stadium just after 2pm.

Bolton Stadium

We, the boy and I have rarely seen Sunderland win away from home. We spent a fortune last season going to quite a few away games and never saw them win! 🙁 Still, I was excited by the prospect of what the new signings would bring. Cana, Cattermole and Bent were all in the starting line up so I was hopeful of a decent performance.

First half we started fantastically. Within 5 minutes, Darren Bent scored with a cracking header on his debut and within 20-30 mins we should of had the game dead and buried and on top with a 3-0 cushion. Bolton did not seem to have any ideas whatsoever. Second half however, Bolton were well back in the game and I admit was starting to worry that Sunderland would revert back to trying to hold on the slim 1-0 scoreline.

Although Bolton did not really look like scoring for the majority of the game they could of grabbed an equaliser at the end of the first half and at the end of the game. Fulop made some outstanding saves to keep a clean sheet and to record Sunderland’s first away win in a long time.

Cana, Cattermole and Bent all had great debut’s. Cattermole was outstanding in my opinion and was definitely MoM! Steve Bruce has made some fantastic signings and I really can’t wait to see how the season will pan out.

Jun
23
2009

Apologies

It’s been a while since I last updated. Personal issues and just being busy has prevented me from updating my blog.

My mother has been ill, an Uncle died, an aunty died, my job has been in jeopardy and now I have been involved in a car crash.

What else can life throw at me? Who knows, but it’s about time I had some good things happen this year instead of all being bad.

Incidentally, my MacBook Pro since getting replaced again has been perfect. 🙂 Will be back again updating more frequently as of tomorrow!

Mar
31
2009

Apple and their Quality

What is it with Apple and their quality?

Maybe it’s just me, maybe I am jinxed. Here is a list of Apple equipment I have bought 

PowerMac 6100 no faults
PowerMac 6400, no faults
iMac, no faults
iBook Clamshell – Off ebay, no fault.
PowerMac G4, Hissing sound from speaker, not replaced/fixed
White iBook 500Mhz, No fault
Titanium G4 PowerBook, No fault
Aluminium PowerBook G4 LOADS of faults

  • Screen faulty, faded one side
  • Keyboard problems
  • Trackpad issues
  • Cracked plastics after repair
  • Second screen, faded issue again
  • Pixels faulty after it came back from repair
  • Further problems with keyboard at this point Apple replaced it

Aluminium PowerBook G4 Second machine, 4 dead pixels and further screen issues (was sold on and Superdrive since failed)
Apple TV, died under warranty
Mac mini 1, no faults
Mac mini 2, no faults
iPod’s, iPhone and iPhone 3G no faults
Several xServes, couple of hard drive failures
Aluminium MacBook Pro, paint peeling under space bar and apple key, pitting
24″ Aluminium iMac, Defective glass replaced under warranty
Unibody MacBook Pro 1, was sent an opened and damaged machine

So, quite a few problems and now my replacement MacBook Pro has a dead pixel. I must be so unfortunate with Apple kit.

Here are a couple of photo’s of the pixel. They are being sent to Apple so they can evaluate the issue. But seriously, why do I love Apple kit so much even though there are quality issues!

 

Ok, after reading the above I see that most of the kit I have bought have not developed faults. However, last 3 machines have. God knows what Apple is going to say but I reckon it will be a case of  “Sorry, one dead pixel is within the acceptable failure rate for screens”.

Mar
17
2009

In with the New…

Yesterday I placed an order for a MacBook Pro which Apple stated would ship within 2 days. However, to my surprise Apple shipped it yesterday and it has arrived already!

What hit me the most was the size of the box! It’s a lot smaller than the previous MacBook Pro box yet the machine is slightly wider, I would do a comparison photo but the original MacBook Pro box is in the eaves.

The glass screen looks AMAZING, I rarely need to use my MacBook Pro outdoors and if I did do I imagine this type of screen would be a nightmare as it does have quite a reflection on it if the background is dark.

Interestingly enough the box had been opened and re-sealed so I was a bit cautious as to what I might find inside. Someone thinks maybe it was upgraded, could it be that the chip is actually clocked using software in order to be the higher 2.66 instead of the 2.54 it recently replaced? The MacBook Pro itself was wrapped in the protection plastic cover, but the unit has had something done to it, what I just don’t know. The screen had part of a hand print on it and it’s obviously been wiped so I wonder if something was replaced in the machine or if this is a unit that had been returned back to Apple? I am not sure.

Just beneath the trackpad there is an indentation where it looks as though something metallic had been dropped on it, such as a dart or screwdriver or something. However, this is only visible in certain light conditions (it was really hard to take a picture of it, the iPhone was the only camera that would pick it up and it’s the smudged part on the image above.

I absolutely love the machine but I am so torn as to wether to keep it or send it back as defective/marked and take the risk that maybe the next one I get has a dead/stuck pixel which this does not. Surely it if was brand new the machine would not have part of a hand print on it.

I think I may have to call Apple and discuss this issue.

Mar
10
2009

Sending email from iPhone

Setting up O2 SMTP server on the iPhone

For months I have struggled intermittently to send email from my iPhone when not connected to WiFi or a decent signal. This was infuriating me a lot so I decided to see if there was something I could do about it. I thought the easiest way was to set up a SMTP connection to the ISP, this of course being O2 and a quick scan of Google confirms that this would work.

Rather than editing the existing SMTP connection settings you can add a new one by doing the following :

setting1

Tap Settings -> Mail, Contacts, Calendars -> Click on mail account you wish to edit
Scroll down to Outgoing Mail Server and tap SMTP
Tap Add Server

Then enter the following information

Hostname : smtp.o2.co.uk
Username : youro2username@o2.co.uk
Password : youro2password

setting2

Tap Save, now this is the important bit , be patient. It can take a while before it verifies the connection. Once this has finished you need to go back into the setting and turn it on and ensure the other settings are as follows:

SSL : OFF
Authentication : Password
Port : 25

setting3

Now, when you send email it will try your primary SMTP server first and if that fails it will then use your alternative SMTP server. (I have lots of email accounts set up on my iPhone hence there being a lot in the Other SMTP servers.

I hope this helps a few people.