Michael P. O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net My Life Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:17:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 10 years of the same domain and email http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2013/01/10-years-of-the-same-domain-and-email/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2013/01/10-years-of-the-same-domain-and-email/#comments Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:17:30 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1559 On Feb 6, 2003 I first registered my domain, and started useing mpop at mikeoconnor.net as my email. it has been thought 5 ISPs changes. One of the nice things of registering a domain and keeping it for years. The only contact info I have had for longer is my cell phone which I first got in 1999, And thanks to the cell phone number portability law in 2003 I was able to escape from sprint as a provider and moved it to t-mobile and have been happy with them ever since.

This blog was started back in 2004, so next year it will be going for 10 years also.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2013/01/10-years-of-the-same-domain-and-email/feed/ 0 The problem with HTC phones as an android developer. http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/11/the-problem-with-htc-phones-as-an-android-developer/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/11/the-problem-with-htc-phones-as-an-android-developer/#comments Sat, 24 Nov 2012 22:07:53 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1551 Question, I need advice from any other android programmers. I am getting reports from HTC users that they get no audio. I can not get audio out of it. I did some research and found that many audio apps on the google play store get negative reviews from HTC users because they get no audio from the app (not just mine) more research found that HTC does not include all the needed codecs. So has any other android app programmers found a work around to the HTC problem? As for now I have decied I can not spend to much more time on it (thanks to Dan Berquest for the advice there)

Also if it not fixable for HTC (this is what I have done now to save the app from any more negative reviews from HTC users) I have listed all HTC devices as not supported so google play will not let HTC users download the app (so they can not leave a review)

any advice from any other android program would be great on the audio issue. And thoughts on the second part.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/11/the-problem-with-htc-phones-as-an-android-developer/feed/ 0 The next version of the Issues Etc App for Android needs Beta Testers. http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/10/the-next-version-of-the-issues-etc-app-for-android-needs-beta-testers/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/10/the-next-version-of-the-issues-etc-app-for-android-needs-beta-testers/#comments Sat, 06 Oct 2012 20:39:36 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1534 I have completed the next version of the Issues Etc App for Android, and would like some Beta Testers to test out the new features. The new features are:

Find a church, this will map out the churches on the Issues Etc 300 that are within a 100 miles of your location. It will also let you call the church or send it to your navigation app on your cell phone.

I have added a new setting screen, right now all it does is lets you change the volume of the media play back, future settings that will be added to the app will be set on this screen.

To Help out with this please email me at m.p.oconnor@gmail.com

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/10/the-next-version-of-the-issues-etc-app-for-android-needs-beta-testers/feed/ 0 The Church and Voting http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/10/the-church-and-voting/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/10/the-church-and-voting/#comments Sat, 06 Oct 2012 16:51:05 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1528 My Pastor, Pastor Douthwaite of Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church in Vienna, Virginia had the following articular in the latest church news letter, I felt it needed to be spread more, so I sought his approval to re post it here at my blog, please see below.

I’m Pastor Douthwaite and

I Approved This Message . . .

I’m sure you’ve heard that phrase a LOT recently, since we are in the heart of election season. In the Lutheran Church we do not support or encourage you to vote for particular candidates, for everyone – Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, or of any other political party – should be welcome in our churches. The message that is heard in our churches is not a political one but the very voice of the Gospel, the voice of our Lord Jesus Christ who has come to die for the sin of the world, for the forgiveness of all people. That is the message, as the Apostle Paul told his young protege Timothy, that will make him a workman approved not by people, but by the Lord of the Church whose servant he is (2 Timothy 2:15). So that is our message, and there is no message better or more needed in our world, yesterday, today, and forever!

But you are encouraged to vote, for to do so is fulfilling your vocation as a citizen in this country. Voting is showing love for your neighbor. So whatever political party you align with – or no party at all – consider the issues seriously and vote!

There is an issue, however, with which you need to be concerned, and that is the free exercise of religion. Events of the past year would require all who provide health coverage for employees to include abortive medicines as part of their health plans. Compliance with this mandate would be violating the individual consciences of many Christian business owners as well as the teaching of our church and the health care that is provided for our church workers. Our synod has no official position on what is known as “Obamacare,” but we have long stood for the sanctity of human life and that abortion (except when the life of the mother is endangered) is sin.

At issue here is what the “free exercise of religion” means. Is this restricted to religious institutions and within those religious institutions to only the service of its own members? Or is it more than that? Is a Christian business owner free to exercise his or her religion without government mandate? What about church run schools, hospitals, and outreach to the needy? This is a large and complex issue, and one that is not going away.

To help you sort through the issues and learn ways you can help, our Synod has a new area on their web page entitled “Free to Be Faithful.” You will find here articles and resources to educate and equip Christians about these issues and what you can do to help. There are already resources posted here, with many more to come. So go check it out and go back regularly to see what has been added. Either go through the LCMS homepage, or follow this link:

http://www.lcms.org/freetobefaithful

Most importantly – pray. Pray for our leaders. Pray for our Lord’s wisdom and guidance for them. Pray for those babies in the womb waiting to be born. Pray that our country (and world!) become again a culture of life not a culture of death. Pray that the Lord would use you to help those in need. Pray. Remember the words of St. Paul:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

~1 Timothy 2:1-4

His servant and yours,

Pastor Douthwaite

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/10/the-church-and-voting/feed/ 0 Message from LCMS President Harrison about “Religious Liberty: Free to Be Faithful” http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/09/message-from-lcms-president-harrison-about-religious-liberty-free-to-be-faithful/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/09/message-from-lcms-president-harrison-about-religious-liberty-free-to-be-faithful/#comments Sat, 29 Sep 2012 20:07:05 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1526

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/09/message-from-lcms-president-harrison-about-religious-liberty-free-to-be-faithful/feed/ 0 Developing code on an Android Tablet. http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/09/developing-code-on-an-android-tablet/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/09/developing-code-on-an-android-tablet/#comments Fri, 21 Sep 2012 08:57:00 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1520 I read an artical in Linux Journal about being able to do development “in the cloud” was an intersting artical, it was very ipad centric, so I set out tonight to see if the same could be done on an Android Tablet. Well the anser I found is yes it can easly be done. And I am not talking about just doing code for the device (and simulare OS devices) but even just standard C/C++ and Java. Well I was able to match basicly what he did and that is to have a command line connection to a Linux box and use an editor (he used vim, I tested with Emacs, more complex key combonations in my test) and foudn with an app called Termial IDE, it leaves you at the bash shell in Android, but a quick ssh to my home box gave me full blown Linux (much as he did in his artical) I was able to load up screen (for the occationnal disconnects that could happen over a mobil network) and fire up Emacs. From there I editied a file Ctrl-X and Ctrl-C’ed it (I did not want to save the changes but if those Ctrl keys work then the Ctrl-S should work). Well I was able to get done what I wanted. Next I though that it would be nice to have a more local dev system on the tablet to see if that could be done. Found an app called Anjedi, this is more specific to Android Java deveolpment, but I was able to get from my SVN server (it also supports GIT for those of you that use GIT) and edit some XSLT and other files, so I can see this also as a good option, I am sure there are some other tools out there that can be used but my goal was to see if I could repeat what this guy in the Linux Journal Artical did with the ipad on an Android Tablet, and the anser is yes. Now would I like to work like that very often I don’t think so, but for the quick grab my tablet and bluetooth keyboard it can work.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/09/developing-code-on-an-android-tablet/feed/ 0 Netscape said it years ago, and it is coming to pass http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/09/netscape-said-it-years-ago-and-it-is-coming-to-pass/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/09/netscape-said-it-years-ago-and-it-is-coming-to-pass/#comments Sat, 08 Sep 2012 21:48:59 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1510 Years ago back in the late 90′s Netscape said that the internet would replace the OS. It has taken almost 2 decades but we are there now. As things move to web apps, the OS is no longer important. I right now type this on a Linux desktop, but I could be doing it on an Android Tablet/Phone or the competitor to Android. OK you might be thinking big deal a blog that no one cares about, but let me put out there Google Docs/Drive. I recently dropped all of my Windows systems and moved everything over to Slackware (see prior posts) I have not had the need to get an MS Office replacement because I can do my Word Processing and Spreed Sheets right in Google Docs. So the need for an office suit is going to be less of a need, especially since I can load a Office document into Google Docs edit it there, and if need by download a Word version of the document. So why as a end user at home would I need to spend over $100USD for software that I don’t need, what features would Office give me that I need as a home user that I don’t get though Google Drive/Document. And with more and more stuff moving to the Android system (and the competitor’s system) and Web Apps the need for this OS or that OS really is not that big, as long as the OS can run a Web Browser for most things people are set, for Taxes most tax software places now offer web based versions also. So unless you are a gamer (ignoring vault) the OS will not affect your ability to do things (well outside of some OSes do have a issue with stability and melware)

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/09/netscape-said-it-years-ago-and-it-is-coming-to-pass/feed/ 0 Black listed *@yahoo.com http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/09/black-listed-yahoo-com/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/09/black-listed-yahoo-com/#comments Sat, 01 Sep 2012 23:48:35 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1506 Well to help kill of the spam (and since I have not gotten any real email from any one that uses yahoo’s free email in over a decade, with 1 exception only one, and I put that on the whitelist and that email came in yesterday). I have been getting 3 to 10 spam messages a day with yahoo.com as the origination domain, so today, I put *@yahoo.com on the blacklist of spam assassin for my domain, all email coming from there will be deleted. To those that might ask, what if you miss 1 real email from some one still on yahoo, my advice to them would be head over to gmail and get a real email address, yahoo is just for spammers now.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/09/black-listed-yahoo-com/feed/ 0 Slowly reclaiming my email http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/slowly-reclaiming-my-email/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/slowly-reclaiming-my-email/#comments Mon, 27 Aug 2012 23:32:13 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1503 I have been working for about a month now to try to reclaim my email. Every time I get spam, I have black listed the domain, I have updated more to my filters, etc, slowly I am gaining my email back, I have gone from 100 spam messages getting thought the spam filter a day to about 10 now, a bit more work and I might be able to get it down to 2 a day. I still believe that spam will kill of email, it is worthless takes up bandwidth, we need tougher laws against spam, with very high penalties.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/slowly-reclaiming-my-email/feed/ 0 My Twitter feed http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/my-twitter-feed/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/my-twitter-feed/#comments Wed, 22 Aug 2012 03:23:53 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1500 To my friends here that might also be following my Twitter feed, you might be asking what is up with all those stupid posts I been making as of late, well once a day I will pick a “fortune” from the unix program fortune and posted it on my Twitter account. For those of you that might want to follow the madness you can find me at @MichaelPOConnor http://twitter.com/MichaelPOConnor

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/my-twitter-feed/feed/ 0 Memory in Linux http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/memory-in-linux/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/memory-in-linux/#comments Mon, 20 Aug 2012 03:18:25 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1493 I remembered that Linux was good with memory, but this is just more then I expected, I have 8Gb of memory on my tower. I have 3 copies of Eclipse and a copy of Amarok, and many other programs open right now and when I run free I get

mpop@home:~$ free
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:       8176092    8110428      65664          0     215580    4345580
-/+ buffers/cache:    3549268    4626824
Swap:     16777212          0   16777212
mpop@home:~$

all day and still it has not touched any swap space. That is just sweet, it means I have a lot of room to play in on the box.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/memory-in-linux/feed/ 0 A view of the desktop http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/a-view-of-the-desktop/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/a-view-of-the-desktop/#comments Sun, 19 Aug 2012 23:56:15 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1488 This will give you an idea of how things are setup on on the physical screens, the prior screen shot shows the pager nearly in the middle of the screen but when you look at this picture you can see it is on the right hand side of one of the screens.

image

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/a-view-of-the-desktop/feed/ 0 A screen shot of my towers dual monitor Slackware/FVWM setup http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/a-screen-shot-of-my-towers-dual-monitor-slackwarefvwm-setup/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/a-screen-shot-of-my-towers-dual-monitor-slackwarefvwm-setup/#comments Sun, 19 Aug 2012 23:39:55 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1481

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/a-screen-shot-of-my-towers-dual-monitor-slackwarefvwm-setup/feed/ 2 What a day http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/what-a-day-3/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/what-a-day-3/#comments Sun, 19 Aug 2012 06:58:47 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1478 Just a bit of posting, today I spent the AM sleeping in, something I don’t get to do, I had to move my music lesson to a later time so I could sleep in. Then when I got home I did more work on my Linux Laptop to get FVWM to look the way I want it to look. Then I meet up with some friends and we played some games. I finally get home around midnight, do some work to get my tower computer up and running again (the power supply had blown had to put the new one in).

After I get the tower up and running I spend time cleaning out the hard drive of data I don’t need, I still don’t know how I am going change this computer over, if I am going to make the partition smaller and install Slackware, then put VMware on it and boot the old windows install. Or if I am going to back up my data blast the whole drive, install Slackware, put VMware on install a fresh Windows 7 under VM, or just blast the whole drive say to heck with windows and just pull the data I can into Linux. But long and short I cleaned up the drive. I did look at the data I want to save, there is about 90Gb I want to save, and I do have an old unused 110Gb external USB drive with nothing on it, so I have started to do the backup of the data for what ever path I do take.

After cleaning the drive I had to do some work on the Issues Etc Android app. Apparently Live365 changed the URL for LPR so I had to update the URL, and removed some buttons for the new features I am working on and get that up into Google Play.

After that I finally got around to something I should have done 2 weeks ago, working on the audio file for my churches Radio commercial, but I finished that up, and now here we are at 3am, and I am going to hit the hay and see if I can sleep tonight, and get up and do it all again tomorrow.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/what-a-day-3/feed/ 0 FVWM is starting to look how I want it to look. http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/fvwm-is-starting-to-look-how-i-want-it-to-look/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/fvwm-is-starting-to-look-how-i-want-it-to-look/#comments Sat, 18 Aug 2012 19:51:32 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1474 Thanks to thomas_adam in the FVWM chat room on the FREE NODE irc network, I have gotten FVWM much closer to looking the way I want it to look. See the Screen Shot below.

If you want to mess with my config file for FVWM (but as Thomas said it has alot of FVWM 1.x stuff still in it so if you don’t like that you might want to avoid this file) you can get my config file at http://www.mikeoconnor.net/linuxConfigs/.fvwm2rc

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/fvwm-is-starting-to-look-how-i-want-it-to-look/feed/ 0 Slackware and FVWM http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/slackware-and-fvwm/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/slackware-and-fvwm/#comments Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:36:24 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1471 I am resetting up my Linux systems, and I am going back to my roots in Linux going back to Slackware and will be using FVWM for my windows manager, I already know how I am going to set it up. I am going to do a 4×4 pager with the pager in the upper right hand side of the screen and a very basic button bar in the lower left hand side. Don’t need much in the working of the windows manager, I will work mainly off of the bash command line, the way man was meant to use the computer.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/slackware-and-fvwm/feed/ 0 Cleaning up a lot of my social network sites http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/cleaning-up-a-lot-of-my-social-network-sites/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/cleaning-up-a-lot-of-my-social-network-sites/#comments Sat, 11 Aug 2012 02:27:23 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1466 Well I have started to clean up my LinkedIn account might take a few days, deleted a bunch of “contacts” in there, last night I cleaned up my Delicious account. Going to try go get all the social network stuff I have going organized correctly. Also I am not going to be one of those that posts the same thing accross all the networks, each Network will have it own stuff, taking into account who I will let have access to it.

FaceBook — only Friends and Family (the most personal stuff, with limits will get there)
Google+ — Mixed bag, what I post will be limited to circles based on the content of the post.
LinkedIn — Professional stuff
Delicious — Mixed any one can see but just book marks
This Blog — Longer (some time rambling) thoughts that any one can see
Twitter — quick short (sometimes poor attempts at humor) posts that any one can see.

All the time keeping in mind the Golden Rule of the Internet — NEVER POST ANYTHING YOU WOULD NOT WANT YOUR MOTHER OR BOSS TO SEE (as any one can forward what ever you say on the net to any one else and you can not fully control it)

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/cleaning-up-a-lot-of-my-social-network-sites/feed/ 0 Some updating of my site and others http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/some-updating-of-my-site-and-others/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/some-updating-of-my-site-and-others/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:09:50 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1464 Not much, the “biggest” part of the update is linking to my FB profile, my G+ profile, and linking in my tweets from Twitter.

Also I dug up my old Delicious account and cleaned up the links in it a bit, going to start using it again. Next on my task list for internet todo is clean up my Linked In account then maybe start using it a bit, I have let it get “dirty” by accepting any one and every on a few years ago, I should really clean out the contacts that have no value to my Linked in account.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/some-updating-of-my-site-and-others/feed/ 0 Remember When http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/remember-when/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/remember-when/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2012 06:37:34 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1461 Remember when blogs were the thing (kind of funny to ask that on a blog) well I have moved my RSS reading from a program to Google Reader so I can not only read it on my computer but also I installed the Google Reader on my Android Phone so I can keep up with my Tech blogs on the go. I wonder what would have been if both the Smart Phone and the blog revolution both came at the same time? Also I wonder if the age of the Blog is over or if it just now a part of life, I don’t think that Google+,Twitter, or Facebook have killed Blogs, they just have changed how blogs are done. People have stopped putting the most personal stuff on blogs (and people that had only Personal Blogs have stopped) but Blogs are still a nice way to get an opinion out, or to publish to the world. I know my blog has slowed down over the years (My first post was on Jul 2, 2004, not bad over 8 years of this, I also blame some of the slow down as I got to involved in World of Warcraft, but now that I don’t play that much anymore, not sure about how much I will play it in the future, I hate what they are doing to the game for the next xpac) But there are still some good blogs out there, some personal, and some Technical, and many Political ones.
Most things are now moving to the “cloud” (wow the internet has had so many names, I remember back in the 90′s it being called the “Information Superhighway”) and we are now almost always connected to the network. I have said it many times before and I will just say it again, in the 80′s Star Trek had the Borg, but we are fast becoming the Borg, and I for one am running to that place at full speed.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/remember-when/feed/ 0 Roku 3 http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/ruko-3/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/ruko-3/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2012 01:56:13 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1453 Well it has been over a month now since I ditched Direct TV in favor of the cheaper Ruko. I am enjoying it, plus the savings of $80 a month is nice, I have had to put a block on my cell phone against their “customer retention” number as they are calling 10 times a day (thanks aFirewall, All I have to do is tell it I don’t want a call from 1-800-849-4392, and it sends them right to voice mail, and since they never leave a message I never get bothered by them)

Not only am I using Netflix, I am also using Jupiter Broadcasting (a geek station), the BBC, AmatureLogic (a ham radio station), TED TV, and a few others, I have more then I could hope to watch in a decade (and if I tried by the time I finished there would be more stuff to watch) Yes Cable and Satlight TV has alot to fear from things like the Ruko, Apple TV, and Google TV (I don’t think Google TV will take off the price point is to high, the price point for the device should be $100 and under and with Google TV at 300 to 500 it not going to take off)

I would say any one should take a look at these Internet Streaming Devices (ISD) it might be a nice way to save some money each month, for me at $80 a month that is $960 a year, I don’t know about you but I can sure find better things to do with that kind of money, plus I don’t get commercials eater, so I pay 1/10th of what I was paying before, I get more selection, and I get it commercial free, why would I want to pay more and get less.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/ruko-3/feed/ 0 Banning IP addresses from my site http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/banning-ip-addresses-from-my-site/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/banning-ip-addresses-from-my-site/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2012 01:41:58 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1451 I check my spam filter (for my blog) every few days, I will look at the IP address if I see a common thread (such as 95.65.32.x today) I just straight out ban the whole region, my largest group ban was banning 112.111.x.x I am not worried about preventing people (that can read my site) from getting to my site. both of those IPs ranges are foreign (the first one is from a republic of something or other, and the second one is a chines one)

So foreign spammers go ahead and spam, I will just IP range ban you off my site.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/banning-ip-addresses-from-my-site/feed/ 0 Linux Email Clients http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/linux-email-clients/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/linux-email-clients/#comments Thu, 09 Aug 2012 00:59:10 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1448 Any one know of a good Linux email client that will DELETE not just mark for deletion email when it deletes? the mail client evolution does not do this, so when I check my email on my cell phone I see all the spam I had deleted because evolution FAILS at deleting. So I need a REAL email client that will not just mark for deletion but truly delete the email when I say delete.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/linux-email-clients/feed/ 0 FVWM http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/fvwm/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/fvwm/#comments Mon, 06 Aug 2012 02:50:54 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1446 I know it “old” but I still think it one of the nicer windows managers out there for X-windows and as of today I am back using it. What is nice about it is that it is light and does not take many system resources. I really do not like where Gnome and KDE are going (I truly hate Gnome 3) All I want/need is something that will allow me to move a window around give it a little bit of decoration, but let me work and live in the Bash shell and FVWM does that for me.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/08/fvwm/feed/ 0 I am free of iTunes http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/07/i-am-free-of-itunes/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/07/i-am-free-of-itunes/#comments Mon, 09 Jul 2012 04:54:44 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1444 Years ago I got an iPod, and since then I been enslaved by iTunes. Well in the last year Apple has said that they are going to kill the iPod classic, and one of their executives has been quoted saying that the iPod had a good run but now it time to buy an iPhone. That joined with their trying to prevent people from having real choice in cell phones (all their bogus lawsuits, I still can not believe they won on the phone number to link, Skype was doing that back in the late 90′s, that just like MS patenting the mouse back in the early 00′s) I decided to 1) retire the iPod 2) escape the iTunes (apple) eco-system. I retired the iPod during the fall of last year. and I have removed iTunes from my one windows computer on Friday. I am looking at Amarok (debating that one or getting xmms to work) for MP3s on my Linux box and WinAmp (yes WinAmp is still around) on my windows box, and the built in player on my Android devices (along with Google music on the tablet and the Amazon Cloud on the Phone). For Podcasts I am using Google Listen on the Android devices.

Long and short of it I am free of the ternary of Apple.

Also I am looking at stopping all video game playing on my computer, and if that happens I might not have a windows box soon as that the only reason I keep windows around, it would be a nice Linux box (as I kept it nice for gaming it should rock as a pure Linux box)

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/07/i-am-free-of-itunes/feed/ 0 Roku 2 http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/07/roku-2/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/07/roku-2/#comments Thu, 05 Jul 2012 01:13:29 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1441 Well it is day 5 with the Roku device, and I been working with it. In my last post I noted that the 2 shows I wanted that I could not find on Roku are The Simpsons and Regular Show. The second one I have found on Amazon’s Streaming Video service, so now the only show left is The Simpsons, but I can do with out one show, until they start to offer it on some internet streaming system. I am sure I will be canceling the TV subscription.

I can get my shows from Netflix and Amazon, news I already get of the internet, plus I will not get the stupid interruption for the emergency broadcasting test when they do (or when there is sever weather)

I am looking forward to not paying for TV, I am thinking of moving up the cancellation date of my subscription TV to the end of this month (since I already payed for this month it does not matter a hill of beans if I cancel tomorrow or on the 25.) I have already disconnected the Receiver box from my setup. Between my DVD collection, the Roku (Netflix, and Amazon Video) my VHS I don’t see ever needing a TV subscription. and if I ever need local “news” I guess I could buy a digital converter some time in the future.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/07/roku-2/feed/ 0 Roku http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/06/roku/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/06/roku/#comments Sun, 01 Jul 2012 02:21:22 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1439 I don’t like paying so much for a TV subscription. I am thinking of ditching the TV subscription, so today I picked up a Roku 2 XD. I also got a NetFlix account, and added a bunch of TV series. So far there are only 2 shows that are currently on that they don’t have (The Simpsons, and Regular Show) I plan on going 2 months more with the TV subscription to see if I can do with out it, if I can I will save myself some money and then cancel the subscription.

I would love to find 3 other shows (that are not on TV at this time) and they are : The Red Green Show, Red Dwarf, and Look Around You.

If any one wants to suggest a good Roku channel I would love to get a list. But for now the 20 or so TV series I have added to Netflix and the 2 news channels I added to the Roku I have added should keep me in TV for more then I need (as I normally watch maybe 2 to 3 hours a week, another reason to get ride of the TV subscription I pay way to much for the time I watch)

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/06/roku/feed/ 0 A strange post/request http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/06/a-strange-postrequest/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/06/a-strange-postrequest/#comments Wed, 27 Jun 2012 02:22:17 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1436 This is going to be a strange request and I doubt I will get any one that can help. But back between 97 and 01 around the University of Pittsburgh’s CAS computer network on the Unix stations there was a FVWM configuration setup that was being shared. And I am trying to find those configuration files again, but I can not find them in my archives, so if anyone on the off chance might see this and might have them could you mail them to me. It will probably be a .fvwmrc file.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/06/a-strange-postrequest/feed/ 0 Why I will not vote for Ob er Romney http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/why-i-will-not-vote-for-ob-er-romney/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/why-i-will-not-vote-for-ob-er-romney/#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:38:07 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1432 This guy has very well hit the nail on the head of what I am thinking. I will be voting 3rd party this year, looking at the constitution party.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/why-i-will-not-vote-for-ob-er-romney/feed/ 0 Check your DNS lookup http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/check-your-dns-lookup/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/check-your-dns-lookup/#comments Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:43:59 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1429 Just because this is something that should get out there, a while back some hackers broke into peoples computer and did some DNS look up changes to victoms computers. See http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2011/november/malware_110911 for info on how to check your computer. If you use IE you really need to check to make sure you are safe (I don’t use IE used Firefox at that time, but use Crome now, but still best to check and I did, I was not affected)

Just re posting this as it is something that does need to get out there.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/check-your-dns-lookup/feed/ 0 Why I will NOT vote for romney in Nov http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/why-will-not-vote-for-romney-in-nov/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/why-will-not-vote-for-romney-in-nov/#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:35:12 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1426 I can never vote for a pro-abortion person, and from the mouth of romney, I will be looking to the 3rd party to vote, I am looking at the Constitution Party candidate to vote for.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/why-will-not-vote-for-romney-in-nov/feed/ 0 Facebook, No Internet Connection on Android http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/facebook-no-internet-connection-on-android/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/facebook-no-internet-connection-on-android/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:35:45 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1418 I have suffered with this issue for 4 days now, where even with a active internet connection the facebook App for Android will report “no internet connection” I finally solved it, first this will require that you have your device rooted, and a copy of Titanium Backup (not sure if you need pro or not, I have pro)

First uninstall Facebook.
Load up “adb shell”
I ran from the /data directory the command rm `find . | grep facebook`
re-install the Facebook App
open up Titanium backup
select Backup/Restore
Find facebook in the list and select it
from the dialog box that comes up select Wipe Data

For me that fixed Facebook for Android. But Facebook needs to fix the root problem what ever it is, as not all users have Root Access (I am lucky I do as I am a geek) A simple uninstall/reinstall should fix it.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/facebook-no-internet-connection-on-android/feed/ 1 Cliq update to 2.1 not switching between 3G and WiFi http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/cliq-update-to-2-1-not-switching-between-3g-and-wifi/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/cliq-update-to-2-1-not-switching-between-3g-and-wifi/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 02:47:28 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1420 I have lived with this for over a year now, I went out to find the solution, and found one that worked for me, and I will post it here so others can find it.

First connect to a WiFi spot, when it is unable to get data, reboot.
Next leave the WiFi area, and when it is unable to get data reboot again.
now when you re-enter the WiFi it should Switch to WiFi with out problem and when you leave it should switch back to 3G with out a problem.

(for those of you that are lazy like me, you can log into your WiFi Router and enable and disable the wireless so you can do this all from your computer with out having to moving around.)

Thanks go to Eagle328 over at the moto forums at https://forums.motorola.com/hives/ec28dd1432/summary for posting the solution originally.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/04/cliq-update-to-2-1-not-switching-between-3g-and-wifi/feed/ 0 To those that are voting for Romney http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/to-those-that-are-voting-for-romney/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/to-those-that-are-voting-for-romney/#comments Sun, 25 Mar 2012 01:05:36 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1411 If you are voting for him because you “think he is the only one electable” look back to 2008, McCain lost many votes (including mine) to Allan Keys because we could not vote for McCain, and if you give us another McCain (Well on many issues Romney is Obama v2) we will be forced to look for a 3rd party candidate.

Lets look at some of the things Romney people will say:

“Well would you rather have Obama for 4 more years”
Well since Romney is Obama version 2, it would be better 4 more years of Obama then 8 more years of Obama with a diffident name.

“Well Santorum lost in 2006, so he can not win”
I lived in Pittsburgh during that year, and the Casy people did not campain against Santorum, they really just campaigned against Bush, it was not Santorum that really lost it was Bush, Santorum was just collateral damage.

“Your last answer shows the democrats hate Santorum”:
True: and that is good we need some one that will fight the Democrats nto get into bed with them like Romney will.

“Just hold your nose and vote for Romney”
(Yes I have been told that about 10 times now) What a way to run a campaign, admitting you stink but to ask people to vote for you anyways.

“Well who would you vote for”
In 2008 I voted for Allan Keys, I don’t know who would be the 3rd party to look at if the Republicans put up Obama, er McCain, er Romney as the candidate, but I will find some one.

The Republicans can not win if they put up a candidate that Conservatives can not and will not vote for. If you lose the base you lose the election, so those thinking of voting for Romney because you THINK he can win, news he will not win. Give us a candidate we can stand behind, such as Santorum.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/to-those-that-are-voting-for-romney/feed/ 0 Might be time to ditch mozilla for chrome http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/might-be-time-to-ditch-mozilla-for-chrome/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/might-be-time-to-ditch-mozilla-for-chrome/#comments Fri, 23 Mar 2012 06:45:47 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1403 Why do I say this, I updated my system to Flash 11, I have Mozilla 11, and it disabled the “out of date addon” I guess they hard coded some numbers, I am going to try to download older versions of flash to see if I can fix the problem if I can not, it will be off to chrome and uninstalling Mozilla.

Update: well I just installed Chrome, not bad, only 1 problem instead of scrolling the tabs, it shrinks them, but that is livable, every thing else is working; and some websites are working better under chrome then they did on Mozilla, I just might be a convert here.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/might-be-time-to-ditch-mozilla-for-chrome/feed/ 1 We are Android resistance is futial, you will be assimilated http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/1393/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/1393/#comments Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:46:57 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1393 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/technology/google-glasses-will-be-powered-by-android.html?_r=1

I want to be that cybore now, “We are android, you will be assimilated, resistance is futile.” Heck I am already always connected to the network, with my new Bluetooth head set, I can be streaming audio data into my right ear. I get instance update. Heck (this is the scary part) the smart phone tells me what to do and I do it (GPS turn by turn directions)

For longer notes, I probably could use my Bluetooth keyboard (that I have for my tablet) to the glasses so just wipe that baby out and take notes there.

SAVE YOURSELF it too late for me the assimilation process has started.

Another artical http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2012/02/24/147364732/googles-goggles-is-the-future-right-before-our-eyes

Some day I will have those, maybe I should start putting some money away to save up for it, it probably will not be cheap. I wonder how they will get to the internet, would my mobile WiFi Hotspot do that, then can I control it via Bluetooth from my Moto Cliq? The stuff could be epic.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/1393/feed/ 0 “My body, my choice” really? http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/my-body-my-choice-really/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/my-body-my-choice-really/#comments Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:39:58 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1388 One thing I will not understand about the so called “pro-choicers” (we should call them baby murders, because that is what they are) is they will say that a woman should have the right to do with their body what they want (conveniently forgetting there is a second person’s body being destroyed) But when it comes to other’s bodies with other choices they will try to regulate the heck out of it. Examples

Smoking, they will go on about how they are protecting people from themselves etc and want to force people to stop smoking “evil” tobacco. but what happened to those people’s right to do with their own body what they want.

Seat Belt laws, unlike the above example they can not claim second hand hurt, so if some one does not want to wear a seat belt why force them what about their right to do with their body what they want. (oh for the record you should wear a seat-belt)

Some states have helmet laws (both motorcycles and bicycles) (oh for the record you should always wear a helmet)

What about suicide, and I am not talking about assisted suicide but any one, why can a 20 some perfectly healthy person not end their life if they want to, it their body. (no I am not promoting suicide, if you ever consider it please please please call 911)

How about banning of transfat, if someone wants to eat transfat why should they not be allowed to it is there body

It seems that the liberals mantra of choice about one’s own body seems to fall flat on its face.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/my-body-my-choice-really/feed/ 0 Bllody spammers I hope they suffer http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/bllody-spammers-i-hope-they-suffer/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/bllody-spammers-i-hope-they-suffer/#comments Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:39:38 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1381 Well now some spammer has decided to use my email address as the return address for their spam. If I ever find out who the SOB is, I file charges against them if possible and see if I can get them prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/03/bllody-spammers-i-hope-they-suffer/feed/ 0 The new tablet http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/01/the-new-tablet/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/01/the-new-tablet/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:52:26 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1382 I posted over the weekend about the new tablet I got, I am impressed with the battery life. It probably has a longer on since it not connected to the cell system, and that when it “sleeps” it turns of the wifi, so it better with the battery then my cell phone. Today I unplugged it at 7am and here it is 11pm and it still has 46% of the battery left, not bad. Sure I was not using it as much as I would have liked, only maybe 5 minutes every hour during the work day (average, lunch had a lot more, the other 8 hours had less), then then after work at home 30 minutes every how but still, nice battery life on it so far.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/01/the-new-tablet/feed/ 0 New Tablet http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/01/new-tablet/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/01/new-tablet/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:18:34 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1379 I got a new Tablet today, a Toshiba Thrive. It is a nice system it has a 10.1″ screen on it, I also got a bluetooth keyboard to go with it. I have a case that can convert it to a stand up, making typeing stuff on it nice, without having to have a fool laptop for the typing. I am going to give my old tablet to my mother.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/01/new-tablet/feed/ 0 The Issues Etc App for Android http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/01/the-issues-etc-app-for-android/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/01/the-issues-etc-app-for-android/#comments Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:58:21 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1375 The Issues Etc App for Android is now on the Android Market please see the link below.
https://market.android.com/details?id=org.issuesetc.android#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDIxMiwib3JnLmlzc3Vlc2V0Yy5hbmRyb2lkIl0.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2012/01/the-issues-etc-app-for-android/feed/ 0 Since Akismet is working so well http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/12/since-akismet-is-working-so-well/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/12/since-akismet-is-working-so-well/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:58:16 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1359 I have noted I have not needed to moderate as spam any comments, as Akismet is working so well, I am going to test for a bit, turning off all moderation needed for all comments, and let Akismet deal with the spam, if it continues as well as it seems to have been going then I will leave it this way, lets see how well it works

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/12/since-akismet-is-working-so-well/feed/ 0 Issues, Etc. App for Android http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/12/issues-etc-app-for-android/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/12/issues-etc-app-for-android/#comments Sat, 24 Dec 2011 11:48:56 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1360 For Issues Etc Fans I am finally ready to let a beta 3 version of the Issues Etc App for Android out.

UPDATE: Christmas Day 2011 midnight, there is an update that I encourage you do download it as there is a bug fix

If you have any bug reports and/or suggestions please email them to android@lutheranpublicradio.org

Updates for this beta:
Support for Lutheran Public Radio (Sacred Music for the Christmas Season), Update to the UI updating when buffering on the playing so that it updates so that the user knows that it is not frozen but doing some work. A check box will show up when Issues Etc is on the air to let you select if you wish to listen to Issues Etc of Lutheran Public Radio, at all other times only the play button will be displayed and will only play Lutheran Public Radio. The visit web site button will take you to the Lutheran Public Radio web site unless you are listening to Issues Etc, then it will take you to Issues Etc’s Web site. If the audio is buffering on first play and the buffering is being shown the back button will now cancel the play request.

To install it follow the following instructions:
From the Home screen press the menu button
Select the Settings option
Select Applications
Select “Unknown sources” (this is to allow apps to be installed from outside the Android Market, I will put this app on the market at a later date when it leaves beta)
now you can open your browser to this website and select the link or use a bar code scanner on this bar code (to get a bar code scanner search the Android Market for “Google Goggles” or generic “Bar Code Scanner”)

Permissions asked for by this app:
READ_PHONE_STATE:
Why: so the app knows when a phone call is received or made, so that it can stop the audio play back of Issues Etc so you can deal with your phone call with out IE playing in your ear at the same time you are trying to hear the other party on the phone.

CALL_PHONE:
Why: So that when you want to call the show and you press the dial button in the app, it can dial the phone for you instead of making it a 2 button process where you tell it to call, then you have to hit dial in your dial app, it will just dial the phone for you.

RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED:
Why: so the app know when the phone starts up and can set up the notification for when the show is on.

INTERNET:
Why: so I can access the audio data from the internet and bring it down to play the Issues Etc show when it is on.

Again if you have any bug reports, suggestions, please let me know.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/12/issues-etc-app-for-android/feed/ 4 Issues Etc Fans that use the Issues, Etc App for Android http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/12/issues-etc-fans-that-use-the-issues-etc-app-for-android/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/12/issues-etc-fans-that-use-the-issues-etc-app-for-android/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:16:57 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1357 If you are an Issues, Etc fan that is using the Issues, Etc App for Android watch this blog tomorrow (Christmas Eve)

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/12/issues-etc-fans-that-use-the-issues-etc-app-for-android/feed/ 0 Issues Etc Android App Beta 2 http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/11/issues-etc-android-app-beta-2/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/11/issues-etc-android-app-beta-2/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:54:15 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1351 For Issues Etc Fans I am finally ready to let a beta 2 version of the Issues Etc Android App out.

If you have any bug reports and/or suggestions please email them to mpop@mikeoconnor.net and in the subject line please precede it with “Issues Etc App:”.

To install it follow the following instructions:
From the Home screen press the menu button
Select the Settings option
Select Applications
Select “Unknown sources” (this is to allow apps to be installed from outside the Android Market, I will put this app on the market at a later date when it leaves beta)
now you can open your browser to this website and select the link or use a bar code scanner on this bar code (to get a bar code scanner search the Android Market for “Google Goggles” or generic “Bar Code Scanner”)

Finally note the play button in the app will not show up unless Issues Etc is on the air.

Permissions asked for by this app:
READ_PHONE_STATE:
Why: so the app knows when a phone call is received or made, so that it can stop the audio play back of Issues Etc so you can deal with your phone call with out IE playing in your ear at the same time you are trying to hear the other party on the phone.

CALL_PHONE:
Why: So that when you want to call the show and you press the dial button in the app, it can dial the phone for you instead of making it a 2 button process where you tell it to call, then you have to hit dial in your dial app, it will just dial the phone for you.

RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED:
Why: so the app know when the phone starts up and can set up the notification for when the show is on.

INTERNET:
Why: so I can access the audio data from the internet and bring it down to play the Issues Etc show when it is on.

UPdates for this beta:
Notification of when the show is on the air
Moved the audio out of the main program into a system service so that it will not be shut off by the OS when the user is not actively using the program.
A few bug fixes, and code clean up.

Again if you have any bug reports, suggestions, please let me know.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/11/issues-etc-android-app-beta-2/feed/ 2 My Android has now replaced yet another device http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/11/my-android-has-now-replaced-yet-another-device/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/11/my-android-has-now-replaced-yet-another-device/#comments Sun, 20 Nov 2011 20:15:38 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1349 Got a 32Gb mSD card for my android phone today, and using a program called iSyncr to copy a good chunk of my music collection to my my Android, now when I leave in the morning for work I have one less device to grab, now that my Android Cell phone has replaced my iPod.

First it replaced my GPS, now it has replaced my iPod. These Android phones is there nothing they can not do.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/11/my-android-has-now-replaced-yet-another-device/feed/ 0 The future of entertament http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/11/the-future-of-entertament/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/11/the-future-of-entertament/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:24:52 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1339 I for one think the days of TV are numbered, why? well let me tell you about tonight. I for once had a chance to site back and relax. I pull out my tablet computer (And android device, but for the sake of this story it could have been any of them Android, Black Bary Play book, iPad, WebOS) from there I had my choice of a game (if I had any on my tablet) surf the web while laying on my couch, post to my blog (which I did) mess around on facebook, or read a book (using the kindle app) Not once did I think about TV. I currently have satellite TV and the contract is up in April, and I am seriously considering just killing the subscription to it when the contract is up, I don’t watch much (max 2 hours a week).

So I ask why have TV if it not being watch, many people are turning to the internet for their news and entertainment. With the news you get it faster and more up to date then having to want till the news comes on, for entertainment it more fun to have interactive stuff going on (for me this would be a computer game) or just mess around with different things, surf the web. And for the more “lazy” stuff, you can always get a book to read. I am beginning to wonder about the value of TV in today world, you have this big box that you have to go to for entertainment, while the internet now travels with you on a smartphone or tablet computer, and is more stimulating then TV.

Maybe my thoughts are colored by the fact that growing up for 5 years my mother decided she did not want to have TV in the house so growing up there was no TV for me, so TV does not have the hypnotic lock on me that it might have for others. Can any one think of a good reason to have a TV.

For those that are looking for the “background noise” as some call it, there are great podcast and internet broadcasts that go out that can supply that, and when you are at home just have the smart phone/tablet connect to your home WiFi (so you don’t use up the data on your data plan) and have the smartphone pump the “noise” out for you. Uses a lot less electricity then a TV. Plus the smartphone/tablet makes your entertainment more portable, and on demand.

Sorry TV your days are numbered.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/11/the-future-of-entertament/feed/ 0 Speedup an older Andoid phone http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/11/speedup-an-older-andoid-phone/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/11/speedup-an-older-andoid-phone/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:25:06 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1336 I found today a way to breath some new life into an “older” andoid phone. I have recently had some slow downs on my phone and it having some trouble getting a GPS signal. Today I cleared the dalvik-cache and I have noticed a slightly faster system and less GPS trouble. I am sure there are other ways, but a start is a start, this is the first cell phone that I have gotten that I have not felt the need to upgrade it 6 months after I got it, I can see myself using it for another year or 2 easily.

Posted via my andoid phone

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/11/speedup-an-older-andoid-phone/feed/ 0 The Issues Etc Android App http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/10/the-issues-etc-android-app/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/10/the-issues-etc-android-app/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:55:02 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1326 For Issues Etc Fans I am finally ready to let a beta version of the Issues Etc Android App out.

If you have any bug reports and/or suggestions please email them to mpop@mikeoconnor.net and in the subject line please precede it with “Issues Etc App:”.

To install it follow the following instructions:
From the Home screen press the menu button
Select the Settings option
Select Applications
Select “Unknown sources” (this is to allow apps to be installed from outside the Android Market, I will put this app on the market at a later date when it leaves beta)
now you can open your browser to this website and select the link or use a barcode scanner on this barcode

Finally note the play button in the app will not show up unless Issues Etc is on the air.

Permissions asked for by this app: Read phone state.
Why: so the app knows when a phone call is received or made, so that it can stop the audio play back of Issues Etc so you can deal with your phone call with out IE playing in your ear at the same time you are trying to hear the other party on the phone.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/10/the-issues-etc-android-app/feed/ 0 Beware a new text message scam http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/09/beware-a-new-text-message-scam/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/09/beware-a-new-text-message-scam/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 01:24:33 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1320 Today I got 3 text messages from a scam called “smart iq” I never replied to it, but it texted me 2 times saying do this to subscribe, I did not respond I ignored it. It then texted me a 3rd time telling me it subscribed me at a cost of $9.99 a month, if you get a texted from “smart iq” call your carrier right away it is a scam. I called T-Mobile, let them know, the operator said that they were going to reverse the charge and and said they will black list them for me, then they will be escalating it higher up to possible do a service wide black list of them. But if you get a text from a “service” named “smart iq” report it to your service provider right away.

The kicker is I thought I had the line that the text message came in on blocked on all text messages but some how it still got though.

Edit: I just called T-Mobile again, to see if I could block ALL premium SMS “services” I will never be using them, and since that scam one came in today I feel it is safer for me to block them all. To those that would ask well could you not refrain from using them, well yes I do and I will never willing use one, but it the same one that happens today that I did not ask for that just signed me up with out asking that makes me want to block all premium SMS “services”. And T-Mobile did let me do a blind blocking of all Premium SMSs with out affecting my other SMSs to family and friends.

]]> http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/09/beware-a-new-text-message-scam/feed/ 0 Android to some day replace my iPod http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/09/android-to-some-day-replace-my-ipod/ http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/2011/09/android-to-some-day-replace-my-ipod/#comments Sun, 25 Sep 2011 05:33:06 +0000 Michael O'Connor http://blog.mikeoconnor.net/?p=1313 With the rumors going around that Apple might one day discontinue the “iPod classic” and the fact that as a single use device its price is rising compared to multi-use devices, and finally the fact that I still have the same iPod that I got in 2003 (and we all know hardware does not last for ever). I have thought about what I might need to look at for the future.

I have become much in love with my Android phone (one of the many reasons I got it at the start was that I could program on it, already know java, and did not have to make a investment in a new computer since I did not have a mac) I have been working on my first Android Program. It is coming along nicely.

Combine the top two paragraphs with the fact that my Android device has already replaced my GPS device in my car, I thought I would look around at what could be done for Music and below is what I found:

Amazon’s Cloud drive: nice idea, but I have been less then happy with the Android App it just does not feel responcive, yes I know it is working over the internet, but when I can download a 5 minute YouTube video over Edge faster then I can start playing a 3 minute mp3 over 3g there is something wrong there. Also with that, it does not accept into the music part of the drive any podcast mp3s (and that what I mainly listen to) nor does it seem to dynamically update my play lists, this last one is a major issue for me, as I have 1 play list that I change almost daily, it is called “To Listen Too” and it contains a list (in order) of the podcasts I wish to listen to, and as I listen to my podcasts eposodes I remove them from the head of the list and as new ones come in I put them at the tail of the list, so having it able to update the list as I update the list is important.

Google Music (Beta): well Nice idea like the Amazon Cloud drive, but well they don’t support my version of the OS on my phone (2.1) and I am not going drop money into a new phone when my Cliq is doing great for everything else. Also I have not finished uploading all my music to it, so still not sure how it works, but the fact that it does not have a version of the software that runs on my cliq it seems this can not be the answer.

iSyncer: This is not a cloud system, this might take a bit more of a $$ investment but so far this has proven to be the best so far, what it does is it puts a EXE on the mSD card of the phone, when you mount the sMD card (via the phone) on your computer and run the EXE it will read your iTunes music library and let you copy the play lists you wish to your mSD card. It also creates the play lists for the built in Android Music player. I have tested this so far on my phone (only a 2Gbyte mSD card) and it has worked very well, only have done 2 days of testing but it is promising. I will probably over this week leave my iPod at home during my commute to work and see how it works as my mp3 player in my car while driving. I have moved a few play lists over (amounting to 1.5 Gbytes of music). If this proves to be my anser I will probably invest in a 32 Gbyte mSD card and just replace the iPod now instead of holding till the day the iPod dies, I really like how the “Connected Player” (Motorola’s implementation on a music player on the phone) is working.

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