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22 March 2006

POLITICS The Budget

Only time for a quick post to say Gordon Brown’s a nasty man. Another budget and another penny on beer and four pence on wine! Booze is too expensive in old Blighty.

There were some other things decided at the budget – but that’s the important things discussed.

posted by Matthew at 22:42 0 comments

21 March 2006

TECHNOLOGY New Phone

I have been a long devotee of Palm PDAs, having started with a Palm M130, followed by a Sony Clie T615 and then a Sony Clie NX70v. I replaced the NX70v with a Sony Ericsson P910 smartphone which just over a year old.

My phone has started to have to die a death and I am in somewhat of quandary as to what new phone to get.

Sony Ericsson P910i

In many ways this has been a very good phone / PDA, but I was disappointed with this after being so impressed with the ease of use and quality of software for Palm PDAs.

It looks good, has many functions and is not too large like some smartphones. I had hoped that the P910 would provide me with a suitable telephone, PDA and mp3 player, but the P910 has failed to meet my expectations in successful achieving any of these uses.

There are some specific complaints in that it does not sync smoothly with outlook (for example whole day events do not sync at all), the camera is so poor quality as to be useless even for drunk photos in the pub, pop3 emails are difficult to retrieve and there is only limited third party software available.

The one thing I have been sorely impressed with is the large screen for web browsing which using GPRS is fast or very usable. Whichever new phone / PDA I buy, it will need to have similarly good web access.

Now the phone has started playing up (not recognising the sim, buttons not responding or responding incorrectly and failing to keep charge), I decided its time for a change. The following are various telephones I have been looking at.

P910i Details

Sony Ericsson P990i

My first thought for a replacement was the updated version of the P910i, the P990i.

Unlike the P910, the phone has 3G, a 2 megapixel camera and improved Symbian 9.1 operating system. However, as is evident from the picture, for reasons best known only to Sony Ericsson there have got rid of the large screen – a real boon with surfing the web on the P910 and have replaced this with a second keyboard. This is doubtless part of an attempt to jump on the Blackberry push emailing craze.

I am somewhat tentative, especially given the smaller screen, to invest in another Sony Ericsson telephone given my troubles with the P910.

P990i Details

Palm Treo

I have had really good experience with Palm products in the past and have read some good review of the Palm flagship smartphone.

This has the benefit of the renowned Palm hotsync which allows you easily and seamlessly transfer documents, programs and outlook information to and from the PDA.

The Treo is only available in the UK on a contract with Orange. It took Orange some time after the Treo was released to include this with one of their contract packages.

I have some reservations about the web browsing capacity of the Treo and its size, but the main thing that holds me back from rushing out and buying a Treo is its lack of 3G and a rumour that a new Treo is going to be released.

Palm Treo Details

Nokia E61

I know very little about this phone, only having spotted it this evening. Nokia, however, have an atrocious reputation for feeling and being cheap, but I intend to find some more details out.

Nokia E61 Details

Fujitsu Siemens Pocket Loox T Series

It has to be said that this machine has a really crappy name. This smartphone, however, sports the same good looks and size as the P910.

The included Wi-Fi, 2 megapixel camera and GPS is an instant draw. I am very intrigued about the possibility of using the included VOIP to use the telephone effectively as a landline over my home wireless network.

The operating system is Windows Mobile 5 which feels me with some dread. I have a Mio 168 Pocket PC which I use purely for its GPS in the car, cycling and walking.

Pocket Loox T Details

Blackberry

Whilst on my higher rights course in London I was surprised that all of large city firm solicitors had Blackberries.

Blackberry have just released the 8700g which is in many ways a glorified PDA. They reportedly have excellent web and email capabilities, including push email – where email is pushed to the machine.

However, to make use of this feature requires a rather expensive subscription which is clearly based on business, rather than poor trainee solicitors like me.

Blackberry Details

Conclusion

Suggestions on which of the above telephones I should purchase or indeed other ‘phones I should consider are gratefully received. A discussion on what network I should use will come on another day.

posted by Matthew at 20:00 1 comments

20 March 2006

WEB Bounce-o-meter

Yes they’ve made a website showing how boobs bounce. Now that’s technology for you. This has got to be one of the funniest websites yet. The story is from the register and the bra website is here.

The worrying thing when I showed Natty she suggested that I should be making purchases for her. C’est la vie.

posted by Matthew at 20:56 0 comments

SALADDAZE Website Updates

The links and bio pages have been updated and now the new gallery is accessible. I've not worked out how to link back to the main website from the gallery software and will doubtless be calling on my little brother for advice.

Meanwhile a plug for my friend who is trying to get a band The Suicide Room up and going. His prototype website is here.

If you’re in Nottingham, don’t forget to check out The Riot website for gigs. I do the website and its in sore need of an update!

Enough plugs, more importantly I’ve finished the academic stage of my higher rights course! Thank god for that.

posted by Matthew at 18:58 0 comments

19 March 2006

LIFE Higher Rights

I’m about as good at updating this blog as I am with keeping in touch with people! Don’t get too exited about 2 updates in 1 day; It won’t last! Here’s the next instalment.

My life for the last 7 days has been taken over with my Higher Rights course. The exam is tomorrow morning! Fingers crossed. After 12 months advocacy experience, passing Monday’s exam and a further advocacy exam, I will be a solicitor advocate entitled to speak in the High Court / House of Lords like a barrister. Which will be rather fab.

Natty and I are looking forward to coming out of hibernation soon. The cold miserable days of February are over and we’re both looking forward to the summer. Nat is promising to start windsurfing which sounds suitably fun apart from the spending the day falling into Poole Harbour! Also since my last major post I’ve become an uncle again. Samuel Barry Knight already has his own website.

Regarding the site, I’m working on an updated gallery, thinking and morning to wordpress for the blogging and planning to update the overall look sometime soon. Including finally finishing off my history of French defeats. Interactive dead Frenchmen will be all the rage by the end of the year!

posted by Matthew at 12:20 0 comments

BOOK The American Civil War

I am currently reading The American Civil War (Essential Histories Series) at the moment, which is an overview of the entire conflict divided between the eastern and western campaigns. It is a workman like textbook full of anecdotes, pictures and maps and a perfect introduction to the war.

I’ve long had an interest in the Napoleonic period and never really bothered what the colonials were up to in the back of beyond. It was all started by reviews in the Telegraph and Radio 4 of a novel called The March by EL Doctorow which charts General Sherman’s march across Atlanta and Georgia during the civil war. Rather than having a leading character, the story is seen through the eyes of many on both sides of the conflict. Whilst it is not going to win awards for literary prose, the book successfully captures the historic feel of the period.

Despite no longer being a badge wearing, card carrying historian its good to keep the interest up. Would recommend both books to anyone – especially the novel.

posted by Matthew at 12:09 0 comments

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LIFE The Suicide Room

WEB Celebrity Lookalikes

LIFE Admission!

Pluto

Windsurfing

SALADDAZE History Pages

LIFE Old Harry, Geocaching and Cycling

POLITICS Dave the Chameleon

LIFE 'Drive Thru' Elvis Wedding

WEB Fun with Google Images