Lawrence "The Dreamer" Chen's Blog

It is kind of a chore to take my memory card out, put it into my reader and transfer the images into a folder on my computer....so I decided to take the plunge and get an Eye-Fi (Share).

So far in hind-sight, maybe the Eye-Fi Home would've been sufficient.

After extracting it from its interesting package, I skimmed the quick setup (no Linux, so no Eee PC support...hmmm) I plugged the supplied USB reader into my work MacBookPro. And, went about getting it configured. First thing it wanted to do was upgrade its Firmware.

It saw my home wireless network, and got the key from the MBP...and then went to verify itself on the network. I immediately knew it was going to fail, and started looking at allowing it to work on my network. Wait. What's the MAC address of the Eye-Fi card?

It eventually timed out, and it suggested that I may need to allow its MAC address to connect to my network...and provided it.

So, I added the MAC address to my allow list for my Wireless Network and then told my DHCP server to expect it and give it an IP.

While stuck in the step, it asked if I wanted to upgrade the software. Opt to skip, and continued the initial setup.

It presented the online web albums to store at....I saw Facebook was one of the choices. But, seemed to me that any album on Facebook is basically shared with some or all people. And, I tend to want to tweak (crop, sharpen, adjust contract, brighten, remove red-eye, straighten, etc.) before making the public album. Though Java uploader has never worked for me....

Then it offered a local location to upload to. Except that it only offered locations on my Work MacBookPro. Guess can't (easily) have to going to some other storage repository on my home network (initially, I'd probably want a share from my Linux server, but some day I plan to get a NAS device [or two, or more] on my home network). Some day, I'll expend the effort to create this repository....

I then went and did a test shot. It seemed to just barely get the shot transferred when the 1min auto shut off took place. Its advice is disable auto power off completely. Except that's not an option, and not something I want to disable anyways. Instead, I increased it 2min. Hopefully that'll be enough for the majority of cases, without sacrificing my ability to have usable power in the disposable AA batteries that the camera keeps eating up.

Plus I had thought of increasing the timeout...because it is kind of nuisance how short 1 minute is when you are waiting for that right moment to snap a shot, especially when I had to expend extra effort to get things set up (like get the camera to lock focus in the right vicinity).

I poked around in settings a bit more, and then went to my Windows computer to set up a more permanent local storage location.

I popped the SD card into my attached card reader (instead of the supplied one). Installed the software and set things up....I opted to update the software on here right away. And, then changed the location for local uploads. I also set up the web upload, though I'm not sure what I need that for....since almost never share raw pictures. I just manage using Picasa.... Also looks like no magic hook between Picasa Web and the Windows software. At least not in the Web to desktop direction.

But, I couldn't access the wireless profiles on the SD card using this reader. So, I plugged in the supplied one. It wanted to reboot my computer to work...I said later, but then it started working anyways. But, not much to do here. This computer isn't (directly) on wireless...so no profiles to transfer over and no interest in trying to associate the card with other networks it sees.

Fiddled around a bit more, and then went back to the Work MacBookPro to update the software there, and to see if I could add additional network profiles. Namely add my work ones without having to take it into work.

But, it wouldn't see the card my SD card slot (# memory card in 1 ExpressCard34 adapter)....Had to use the supplied USB card reader again. This could prove to be annoying. And, turns out....no preloading of network profiles Guess I will need to take it into work to set it up to work on the wireless network there. Also means that I'll still need my computer, and still need to pop the card out, etc., to get on to other wireless networks. Of course, it says it won't work on networks that use transparent and/or captive proxies. That means the only other network that I might want to add is my parents' network. But, the plan was to leave my work laptop at work, the next time I go on vacation.

Wonder how the local computer uploading works from work and other remote networks. Or what happens when I travel and there are no 'open' networks for it to use. Etc.

I decided to dust off my Konica-Minolta Dimage X20....for use. Surprised it powered up when I turned it on...though I did have Lithium AA batteries in it. But, no picture. I tried replacing the Lithium AA batteries with a new pair. No help.

It was a refurbished unit, and apparently this is the common problem that lead to warranty work being done on these.

I poked around to see if it was something obvious mechanical, or whether there was a reset option. But, no luck.

Not sure what I'm going to do about it. They don't make cameras quite like this anymore....all that are like it, use proprietary rechargeable batteries.

Later I went deeper opened it up....still nothing obvious to try...and then I found the flash capacitor terminals and got a nasty jolt. Started putting it back together...only to do it again.... Since it was basically a write-off, I just tossed it un-reassembled. First I discharged the capacitor....it made quite a loud snap.

Probably doesn't alter my digital camera upgrade plans and dreams....it'd be another story if it was my main digital camera (the one I carry everywhere, but seldom remember to use...)

I went with an ASUS Eee PC 901 20G, in Pearl White. I ordered from buy.com, which was advertising an after-rebate ($50) price of $526.99. I also had received last week an 8% off coupon, because it had been a long time since I had ordered from buy.com. Evidently, 03/22/2006 was the date of my last order....which was for a 512MB memory upgrade for my former notebook computer.

Turns out the 8% off coupon has a maximum discount value of $20 off. So, that brought the pre-rebate price of the Eee PC 901 to $556.99. I opted for free shipping....so it might be a while before it arrives.

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....not sure where my supplies are, but there were a couple of 4x6 sheets in my HP Photosmart 8450.

Unfortunately, it looks like for not using the photo cartridges for a long time means they no longer work. The pictures came out horrible, and running a deep cleaning cycle didn't help.

Still, since the heads are part of the cartridge...at least it'll just be a simple matter of buying new cartridges. Unlike my previous printer....well, that's why it isn't current

Don't know when I'll get around to buying new photo cartridges for this printer, but I will be in need of a new black cartridge soon. Wonder which box contains the printing supplies. Guess now that I own the place, it is time to start going through all the boxes and figuring out where stuff goes or 'goes'. And probably figure out where the extra furniture will go and get to buying that.

The issues with imagelinkusa.net might mark the end of Lunatic Haven....

Lunatic Haven was born as a BBS in 1987, and it ran until 1997. It was resurrected in 2001, when I was looking to have more permanent email addresses. And, decided the solution was to have my own domain name.

In looking at how to do this, I came upon a web hosting provider. And, set up the email addresses and forwarders to fit my needs. I was also using free web hosting, and decided to move that over as well.

Over time, the web part expanded and contracted depending on my mood. But, the email remained the constant. After a couple of years, I jumped to imagelinkusa.net....because of reliability issues and problems with email.

With imagelinkusa.net, my online usage grew....since I had much more storage, I could set up more pages to share the pictures I take.

Later I wanted another email domain, which then grew into this site.

So, once again it comes down to email as the main reason to have a domain name....so as I look to where I might go next, I may opt to go email only in the next. Though it is hard to completely walk away from the website. Perhaps I'll come up with a redesign of my site....

....the insanity of buy tech accessories for stuff I don't own or isn't for personal reason reasons.

The motivator this time?

I got a Motorola KRZR K1m for work. Using the EC-500, calls to my deskphone will optionally also ring through to this cell phone. It was partly because the on call cellphone will go away, with the number forwarding to either a person's work or personal cellphone when it is their week on call. I didn't want those calls going to a personal cellphone.

And, our workgroup seems to be standardizing on the KRZR (other units had gotten RAZRs, but the KRZR wasn't availble then).

I got the phone on Tuesday. One of the first problems is they had no belt holster available for it, the generic non-OEM one they stocked interfered with the side buttons. So, I went looking on eBay for one. Later I decided to take the plunge and buy a microSD card for it, though I didn't immediately know why....don't really need to use the camera part that much, and I already don't use my iPods much right now. Though the fact that I can use the MP3 player without headphones might be okay.

But, then I discovered that my blackberry charger didn't charge the phone overnight...at all. Turns out dual charger does some kind of sensing, and didn't like the KRZR....while it would let it have power to run plugged in, it didn't give it power to charge. Fortunately it doesn't take long to charge on the supplied charger, and battery life is great...so I can charge it up once in a while at work. Plus the 'dumber' blackberry travel charger will probably work, otherwise I do have other USB plug style chargers available from other gadgets that might work.

So, I'm not buying another charger for it...and if I were, I'd probably make work pick that up....

But back to the phone. It doesn't have a regular 2.5 jack on it, and it didn't come with a mini-USB to 2.5 adapter. And, the adapter isn't cheap, but I prefer over-head type headsets, because in ear pieces don't stay in my ear and my eyeglasses are painful enough, that I don't need clip on ear or temple types adding to that discomfort. And, the phone doesn't support stereo bluetooth headsets, and again would require the use of a special stereo headphone, or the adapter. Their special headphones is cheaper than the adapter. Though if I got the adapter, I could use my big over ear noise reduction headphones....though it sure would look strange.

Searching around, I found that they do make an over-head bluetooth headset....so late last night, I went online and found a place that had this as well as the special stereo headphones for the KRZR....and order them.

Now to see if I can geek out the sounds it makes....

Oh yeah, I have already set aside ~1.5GB of MP3s that I plan to load on to the 2GB microSD card that I've ordered for it....

Made a bad discovery today....Oxy-Nickel batteries don't work in everything.

I was at something tonight, and thought about taking a digital camera with me....but not my main one. So, I dug out the old Konica-Minolta Dimage X20. And, not being sure of the battery that was in it...I grabbed a pack of Oxy-Nickel batteries and popped those in.

It acted kind of weird as I went through the setup (mainly to update the clock on it). But, didn't think much else about it.

Until I reached for the camera to try to take a show with it. It wouldn't work.

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Link: http://lawrence.chen-online.net/index.php?title=sandisk_cruzer_micro_2gb_w_u3&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

...because I just bought a license for this software, even though I don't yet own any Macs.

Thing is I'm looking forward to going on a trip soon, and I'm very likely going to take my work laptop with me. I hopefully have it sufficiently tweaked so I can do work while on holidays

And, I decided that I should also look at what things I would like on it to fit my non-work needs.

The only other two areas that are probably missing from things are MSMoney and stuff related to digital photography.

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Yesterday I bought one of these from Best Buy. I had been on the fence for getting one for a while, since floppy drives are starting to get scare and CDs aren't practical. And, there'll be times where using the Internet be an option, either.

But, it came down to size for price and convenience. I have an iPod Shuffle, and I do have most of it set aside for space...but I never actually use it for data, because it isn't all that practical. I don't like the music part of it that much and having to deal with a cap that I can lose reduces my desire to actually carry it around.

During my recent trip, I got to thinking that there should be some way to better synchronize the data for RoboForm between my computers. And, read about GoodSync and later the Pass2Go product. Seemed the way to go with this might be a USB Flash Key, and possibly one with U3. Even though U3 isn't Mac, but then RoboForm isn't available for the Mac yet and I don't currently own one yet. But, I'm contemplating one to replace my old laptop....inaddition to the HTmac, I've been talking about building

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Link: http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/index.html

Well, another Spring Forward has arrived and I think I have updated enough clocks to get by.....

Some how I feel I didn't update quite as many clocks as I normally do....though it could be that I have a lot more gadgets that update automatically, coupled with the pile of gadgets that due to my current situation aren't getting the attention they used to.

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