benfrain.com

POLITICS: Gordon Brown gets a verbal slapping...

2009-03-30T11:50:00.003+01:00

Daniel Hannan, conservative MEP, stand up and take a bow. The fact that this clip got no air time on the BBC and other national news should be little surprise as it arguably amounts to little more than name calling. However, that doesn't make it any less satisfying to watch...

TECH: Faster broadband anytime soon?

2009-03-25T11:11:00.004Z

Take a look at this article: Virgin Media says it may open its high-speed cable network to other broadband providers.

Does anyone else find it completely staggering that in 2009 people are still talking about 'proving the market' - for pity sake, most people outside cities struggle to get an Internet connection above 2MB/sec - it's pathetic!

It should be 100MB/sec minimum - then we can't start enjoying HD movies on demand, true home working etc. I mean the possibilities are literally endless. At a time when making our economy competitive is supposedly top of the 'to do' list, why the government isn't making this happen as a priority amazes me...

OSX: Converting Parallels or VMWare to VirtualBox

2009-03-24T21:43:00.004Z

I use Windows on my Mac in two ways: Vista Premium through bootcamp and Windows 7 and Windows XP as virtual machines through the OSX desktop.

Previously I was using Parallels to run my virtual machines but since my trial version expired I wasn't able to access my virtual OS any more. Then I came across Sun's free offering VirtualBox (in this walkthrough I'm running VirtualBox version 2.1.4) - it does everything I need, and it's free!

The only pickle with switching virtual machine software was I didn't want the hassle of re-loading Windows XP as I'd spent some time building it up/adding programs etc under Parallels.

After much googling I came across a number of solutions, however, none as easy as the one I am suggesting here. If anyone else is in the same situation, I hope it helps:

Converting a Parallels virtual machine to VirtualBox:

1. Download the trial version of VMWare Fusion (I used version 2.0.2.)
2. Once installed, start VMWare Fusion, and choose File > Import from the menu
3. Browse to the Parallels folder (if it doesn't default there) and choose the appropriate directory (e.g. Windows XP) and then choose the relevant file ending in .pvs e.g. Windows XP.pvs

You'll now see a window like this:

4. Click the Import button. Choose a name & location for the new machine and click 'Save'
5. Watch something on TV, go walk the dog, contemplate life. Whatever you do, it will probably take a good 30 mins.
6. Eventually you will get a confirmation message. Great so far. Trouble is, we don't want it to work in VMWare Fusion, we want it to work in VirtualBox. So...
7. Using the Finder locate the new VMWare Fusion version of the Windows XP virtual machine (the file will be wherever you saved it in Step 5 and will end with a .vmwarevm extension e.g. 'Windows XP.vmwarevm'). Now right-click the file and select 'Open Enclosing Folder' from the menu.
8. From the next Finder window, right click on the same file again but now choose 'Show Package Contents'.
9. In the window that now opens, copy all those files (most end .vmdk) and paste them into a new folder someplace else. I called mine 'WINXP' and saved it on the desktop but you can put it anywhere you like.
10. Shut down VMWare Fusion
11. Open VirtualBox
12. Click 'New', then 'Next', then name your OS e.g. 'Windows XP' and choose the relevant settings on the two drop downs below. Here is what I mean:

13. Now click 'Next', accept the defaults on the next screen and click 'Next' again.
14. On the next screen (headed as 'Virtual Hard Disk'), click the 'Existing' button.
15. On the window that opens, click 'Add' on the top menu and browse to the folder you made in Step 9. Choose the file name e.g. winxp.vmdk (don't choose the numbered ones e.g. winxp-s016.vmdk) and click 'Open'.
16. Back on the main screen now, click 'Next' again and then 'Finish'.

Et Voila! You now have your Parallels machine working in VirtualBox.

REVIEW: Nike Five Zoom T-7 football trainers

2009-03-17T15:31:00.007Z

The Nike Five Zoom T7/Nike 5 Zoom T-7 trainers comes in two distinct flavours; the CS version (black and green with lugs on the base for Astro/3G turf) and the FS or 'Futsol' version (green and red with gum sole for indoor courts).
This review deals with the FS version although they are all but identical to the CS version with the exception of the sole material and colour.

The Nike Five trainer range goes up in increments (T-3, T-5, T-7 etc) with additional features added each time. The T-7 is Nike's top of the line indoor shoe for 2009. Features listed include Zoom air units, Poron cushioning, toe punt shoe box and offset medial lacing. All these features can also be found in the T-5 trainer, however the T-7 also adds Kangaroo leather for increased comfort.
So how are they? You can tell by looking at my earlier posts 'Nike/Adidas, make some trainers for the over 30 crowd' and 'The pursuit of the perfect indoor football trainers' that I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to finding something comfy to play indoor football in. If you're light on your feet, have perfectly functioning knees and are not prone to over pronation of the foot, many of my criticisms of this shoe will seem unfounded. With those caveats firmly in place let's take a look.

First the good. These trainers look the part, bright lime green and soft supple leather. Furthermore, the grey interior around the heel area is leather, not fabric, so is likely to wear well over time. They fit a slim foot well (as per usual Nike fitting) and don't have any unnecessary bulk - allowing good touch and control of the ball. They are also extremely light, weighing in at around 320g per shoe.

The Nike Five T-7 trainers have been expressly designed to be keep the foot close to the ground, subsequently the cushioning is minimal. The 'Zoom air unit' is merely a 3-4mm thick blob of air stuck to the bottom of the insole, not built into the actual trainer. The 'Poron cushioning' is similarly integrated: merely stuck to the bottom of the insole. This lack of substantial cushioning is likely to be less of an issue when playing on Astro/3G (which by its nature provides greater underfoot comfort) but if you are used to harder indoor courts (typically constructed by laying a wooden surface over a concrete base) it should be a consideration. And if you're over thirty and usually suffer sore knees the day after playing - forget it!

The other area that these trainers fall completely short is for players suffering any degree of over pronation of the foot (flat feet). The T-7 offer absolutely no arch support, visibly sinking in that area when worn by users with flatter feet.
The Nike T-7 are a fine and well thought out trainer but for a specific subset of players: young, slim players with a good arch in their foot will love them. However, for players hoping to retain the use of their knees in advancing years or suffering any degree of over pronation of the foot these trainers simply can't be recommended.
For this latter group of players, I would recommend the Asics indoor court range. Despite being targeted at Squash players, the 'Asics Gel Sensei' (2008) and 'Asics Gel Blast 2' (2008/2009) trainers, at the expense of a little ball control, provide a level of comfort and durability for indoor football simply not offered by the mainstream manufacturers.

TECH: iPhone 3.0 software event

2009-03-12T18:20:00.001Z

Next Tuesday journalists are being invited to a media event at Apple's Cupertino, Calif. headquarters. Apparently the invitation reads 'Get an advance preview of what we’re building'.

Well, here's three things I'm hoping for...

1. Cut and paste - it's not rocket science but as the all the cool kids running jail-broken iPhones already have it, it's not too much to ask for it on the official software is it?

2. MMS - its continued omission is almost embarrassing. Need I say more?

3. Sat Nav application built in - I can only assume the reason we haven't already seen a proper sat nav application for the iPhone is because Apple is writing its own. I hope so.

RANT: Sometimes I just want to watch the earth burn...

2009-03-12T15:50:00.002Z

Here was today's blue touch paper: an email from my local multiplex telling me about 'The Age Of Stupid' - a new film, based around the premise of a man, one of earth's surviving humans speaking to us in 2055 and asking why we didn't do more to avoid the global catastrophe of climate change. OH MY GIDDY AUNT! I don't know how much more Eco terrorism I can take. You may all believe we're going to hell in a hand cart just because cows suffer a little more flatulence than in 1972 but some of us don't buy it so GIVE IT A REST! If you really want to worry about man's demise, may I kindly point you towards near earth objects or level 4 bio hazards. Please find a new drum to beat.
Now, that said, I'm no advocate for the reckless and insatiable appetite to rid the planet of its resources for material gain, few people are. I'm also happy to see a move from our dependence on oil as a fuel source. A dependence that has arguably stifled propulsion technologies for far too long. But if you think I'm going to swallow the 'fact' that it's going to be 'Waterworld' within fifty years you must think everyone is made of cloth. Perhaps they are, as there seems little high profile opposition to the notion. Which leads me to another thing...
This is supposed to be a democracy, where freedom of speech is embraced. Yet I so much of mention I don't believe in man made global warming and I'm vilified. In one fell swoop it is now possible to become a social and professional leper, merely through a lack of conformity. The level of social compliance with this set of engineered 'man made global warming' ideals is truly frightening.
To harbour feelings of doubt about the theory, Lord forbid, to air them, is now unsafe, they are a dangerous secret to be confided in others only after prolonged and guarded probing. I fear we have really have lost our ability to debate this subject anymore without ostracizing people for a differing point of view.

WRITING: Computer Active feature

2009-03-10T12:36:00.001Z

I've not written for Computer Active before and as the UK's best selling computer magazine I was pretty excited when I got the chance to do so. If you pick up the current issue my first feature for them begins on page 30 titled 'Windows Pick Me Ups: Just the tonic'. The feature covers quick and easy ways to perform some house keeping on your Windows XP/Vista machine and hopefully speed things up.
I hope to provide more copy for Computer Active in the future. It's a title I enjoy the slant of. It's accessible but also provides genuinely interesting stuff in each issue to get the best out of a system.

TECH: iMac hard drive upgrade

2009-03-10T12:20:00.005Z

After the lack lustre iMac upgrades this March I skipped picking up the latest generation and opted for one of the 'old' models from the Apple refurb store. It was the 2.8GHz model with 2GB memory and 320GB Hard Drive, costing £949.

However, it needed beefing up a little...

Upgrading the memory to 4GB is a cinch (£40 from Crucial) but upgrading the hard drive on an iMac is a different proposition entirely.

I'd found a video here:

http://www.briandorey.com/post/Apple-iMac-hard-drive-upgrade.aspx

and I'd originally read about the process a while back here http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=4130605#post4130605

I have to applaud the people who led the way on this procedure. I don't think I'd have the guts to prise open an iMac without knowing how it was done, so full kudos to them!

Having performed the operation I'd say it is no more difficult than upgrading a Mac mini. The pucker factor is no different (you are equally worried about killing your Mac) so if you are brave enough to upgrade a Mac mini, upgrading the iMac is perfectly within your grasp.

However, I would add these additional comments if you are planning to follow the video.

Note: my geography is with the base of the iMac towards you, iSight camera furthest away:

1. If you have a proper glass lifter, great. If not, those little suckers that are used to hang things from windows are fine. Get four (one for each corner) from your local DIY shop. They cost me 80p each. Put those on each corner of the screen and lift from there. Under NO circumstances attempt to get the glass out with a screwdriver or similar.
2. Buy some cheap door stops from Poundland or Instore or the like. You need four - my pack was £1 for four. Lay them out on a desk so that when you have removed the front glass panel you can lay the panel down onto the doorstops with one underneath each corner of the glass. This stops the glass picking up any dust on the side that will go back on the LCD (dust will only fall on the side facing up – the side which is on the outside when back in place).
3. The leads running to the LCD were different on my model than on the video. The video isn't clear about which little card on the right to unscrew before lifting the screen. Mine was the one with a black braided cable (about half an inch wide) coming out of the top and heading toward and under the LCD panel. I also had to disconnect a little plug on the left near the fan. Do not attempt to prise this out with a little screwdriver or pull the wires. Just hold the base with your finger nails and wiggle it gently out.
4. Use a can of air to gently blow away any dust from the LCD surface before putting the glass back on. I find this far more effective than trying to wipe the screen with a cloth which is more likely to introduce marks and extra debris. Don't shake the canned air as it will bring fluid up and spray it all over your LCD!
5. Ensure that the aluminium shroud fits correctly when you put it back on. All the screws should go back without additional force. Feel around the shroud and ensure it is uniformly fitted and that you still have easy access to the memory slots (if you can't pop memory in and out then the shroud isn't on right).

With that done you should be able to enjoy a improved capacity iMac. I opted for a nice 1TB Samsung with 32MB Cache. Screams along now and I have plenty of space free. Good luck!

TECH: An undocumented 2008 Macbook 'feature'?

2009-02-13T12:22:00.004Z

As soon as my 'unibody' (late 2008) Macbook turned up (I'll be using this until the new iMac's come out) I was sure there was a fault. When I tapped the CAPS LOCK key the light didn't come on. As I bashed the key on/off repetitively it would illimunate about 1 out of 20 presses. Balls! The key even felt slightly different to the others so I knew it was hardware related.

Cue a call to Apple support who made me jump through all the usual hoops (booting up in OSX safe mode etc) before confirming that it was a hardware problem and it would need repairing. This wasn't an option I was about to entertain on a brand new MacBook so opted to have another MacBook delivered.

What do you know - this one is exactly the same! Caps lock only comes on 1 out of about 20 presses.

It seems the replacement MacBook also had the hard drive retention screw put in by Thor. I had a major panic trying to get it out without rounding the screw (jewellers screw driver and a weight on top whilst slowly turning eventually eased it out).

So, back on topic - what the hell is going on with the CAPS LOCK key? After much sifting of Apple's support forums it turns out that the CAPS LOCK key has an undocumented feature: tap the key and it doesn't activate (allegedly to reduce the chance of an accidental button press) but press the CAPS LOCK key for just a fraction of a second longer and what do you know - works every time. I thought it was a wind up when I read it, but if you have stumbled across this post because you think the CAPS LOCK on your MacBook is faulty - it probably isn't! Someone just needs to tell the Apple support staff that.

TECH: Introducing Mac 'Ho

2009-02-10T13:30:00.004Z

That last post got me thinking about Apple and what they really need to make to please everyone. Introducing Mac 'Ho (yes, I had a spare couple of hours)...

Click to see the JPG

MAC: MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac Middle and the LED Cinema display

2009-02-08T10:55:00.006Z

If you're looking for a new Mac computer these are confusing times. If it's a laptop you are looking for the choice is easy, pick the one you can afford. They're all pretty decent and have been updated fairly recently. Reports suggest that 70% of Apple's computer sales are Laptops. For me that is not surprising. It's not necessarily that everyone wants a laptop. It's that the desktop line up is so poor. I recently went from iMac to MacBook Pro. Now I want to goo back to a desktop. Why you might ask...?

MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is a stunning piece of engineering. I had the 17" with the 1920x1200 screen. More laptop than anyone could ever need. All the screen real estate of a 24" screen in a device I could carry around. And that's the problem. 1920 x 1200 is just too much resolution for a 17" screen, for me anyway. Despite my all new laser eyes I just found the screen too tiring for full days of work on the beast. I then thought about getting a 24" panel to run the video out into put what's the point of having a laptop with such an incredible resolution if you end up viewing it on another screen? The other problem is that I tend to do all my work computing in one room. The MacBook Pro moved a couple of inches the whole time I had it. Portable computing just isn't for me. Back to iMac?

iMac Revisions
I'm a massive fan of the iMac. I originally got one once the affordability of Apple's tower systems disappeared and the Mac Mini lacked the grunt to deal with Final Cut. I found the 24" iMac a joy to work with, the only real rub being the difficulty upgrading the internal disc and therefore the need to attach external drives. So, get a iMac ordered, right? Maybe not. The last iMac update was April 2008. Nothing like as long as the poor Mac Mini which hasn't been updated since God talked to Moses (hence disregarded as a possibility here) but a substantial period none the less. I wouldn't opt for an iMac right now as you can bet your bottom dollar a new revision is imminent (within 3 months for sure, perhaps to coincide with the release of Apple's latest OS: Snow Leopard). It's not that the current iMac is bad, it's just that Apple's policy of not changing prices until a new version is released means the value of the system, based upon it's components, doesn't look quite so good these days. I'm thinking the new model will be Quad core, DDR3, 500GB storage and nVidia chipset based. It will probably continue to use the laptop versions of components. But there is another tantalising possibility...

New Cube2?
For some time, Mac users have mourned the loss of a sensibly priced tower. I mentioned it back in 2007 as have plenty of others. Where I used to enjoy the QuickSilver towers and later the G5 Powermac towers, the current Mac Pro is complete overkill. Now essentially a server box, with the price tag to match.
Any user looking for a Mac machine with additional storage has to opt for external drives. This is understandable with the laptop range, less so with Apple's 'affordable' desktop: the iMac. Which makes me think, perhaps the God's will smile on us, and the folks at Infinity Loop will treat us to Cube2. Stop laughing. I can dream can't I?

Cube2 - If you ever saw the first Cube you will think one of two things. It was a piece of design genius which should never have left Apple's portfolio (although in some ways, the Mac Mini is now everything it should have been) or it was a computing Dodo and its demise was of no surprise. I'm in the former group, many others the latter. Before you go how about this...
A bigger Cube - maybe a 10" square with enough room for multiple drives (even if they are 2.5") and an Mini Display port for connecting to the LED display? Seems unlikely given the Magsafe connector on the LED Cinema display but that would really hit the spot right now. It would be a more affordable desktop option and sit alongside, yet between the all-in-one iMac and the Mac Pro. We can have i7 chipset, desktop components etc. Where do I sign?
Before I get carried away, I realise the likelihood is it will never happen. For the same reasons it hasn't already. A desktop, without the screen and 'standard' PC components and an Apple price tag may become untenable for Apple. No matter how good the industrial design of the chassis Apple will be lynched for the pricetag and greed etc. Probably the same people who wouldn't buy a Mac anyway and opt for installing OSX on a vanilla 'OSX86' box.

Until then?
The only other option is something like a uni-body MacBook. Smaller screen size but lower resolution. There's no firewire, which is a major pain if you have external drives but these hurdles can be overcome (USB2 - nowhere near as reliable as Firewire 400/800). The new MacBook's are also pretty zippy pieces of kit and upgrading the hard drive (stock one is only 160GB/5400RPM on the lower unibody model) is really easy. If you're flush you can add the beautiful 24" LED Cinema display. Best of both worlds. Nice fast portable and stunning desktop monitor for when you need it. Lot of money though, and these aren't times when people are feeling exuberant. So...

At present, if you're in need of a OSX computer you have two realistic choice. Opt for a laptop you don't actually need (but preferably with a screen resolution that you are comfortable with), run it in to another larger display when screen real estate is needed (save the cash if you don't) and wait for new desktops. Or, buy an iMac now (perhaps even the VERY outdated MacMini) and don't worry yourself with the future updates. The current model is a great piece of kit and will no doubt do everything you need to do for a good few years. Just don't get upset if they release the new models 3 weeks after you've unpacked it!

REVIEW: Samsung SM2433BW Monitor

2009-02-03T18:01:00.004Z

I picked this up from ebuyer.com for just over £209. I was looking for a largish panel to double as a Video out display for my MacBook Pro (via DVI) and a gaming panel to attach my Xbox 360 to (via VGA). It's an aesthetically pleasing enough design. Although the piano black glossy surround and matching plastic base are absolute dust magnets. If you've had or seen a Playstation 3 - it's that kind of a surface. The panel itself is matte (good for haters of the glossy surfaced screens) and runs at a native resolution of 1920 x 1200. This makes it a 16:10 ratio as opposed to the current trend of 16:9 screens geared around HD content.
It sports DVI and VGA connections but no HDMI. The stand, which is very difficult to connect initially, offers some tilt movement but no height adjustment. The menu/input buttons are located at the right side of the screen, keeping the front clean and smart. The menu system itself is a fiddly affair and far from intuitive. It's no more advanced than the OSD's of the CRT's of old. One thing that is nice, and not always a feature of TFT screens is a separate input select switch. If you intend to share the screen across two devices it makes switching a breeze and saves delving into the menu each time.
Screen quality is a disappointment. Perhaps this is a tad unfair given the SM2433BW's price point but if you're used to looking at the more expensive IPS type panels (I spend much of the day looking at an iMac 24") this type of screen is immediately and obviously inferior (this Samsung uses the far cheaper TN type panel).
So for serious work (any type of colour correction would in my opinion be a no-go) this probably isn't the screen to opt for. However, for gaming it is more than ample. Call Of Duty: World Of War on the Xbox 360 looks great and there's no obvious lag or streaking in the image. There are however, far cheaper/better gaming monitors out there if that's the primary concern.
In conclusion, if you're after a cheap and cheerful large resolution screen for a bit of everything, you could do worse. Personally, for a screen this size I feel it makes more sense to either opt for a smaller size IPS based screen or stump up the extra cash for an IPS 24".

NOTE: My unit was actually faulty. Lowering the brightness to anything less than about 90% on the OSD induced a humming/buzzing noise. This wasn't audible when the X360 was on (thanks to it's obscene running volume) but with a MacBook or similar connected it was an irritation.

WEB: New www.buyit247.com 2009 site design

2009-01-29T15:35:00.002Z

It's been a year since I did the last buyit247.com website design. This year saw the site get a complete rebuild from the ground up. It previously ran on a heavily modified Actinic platform. However, as the company expands and moves into ever differing product lines the website needed a more capable platform. The 2009 design is based on open source e-commerce software with a VERY heavily modified template/skin design. It took a good few months on and off to get it all playing nicely together but here are just some of the new features on the site...

Product tags - customers can tag any product with keywords which automatically creates a 'tag cloud' on the site

Customer Reviews - the old site had a vbulletin forum which never really took off. Hopefully having a built in product review module for customers will help things get a little more interactive

Customer Account area - customers can now log in and view their past orders and amend contact details etc

About Grade2 Video - nothing to do with the e-commerce platform but I shot and edited together a very quick 'What is Grade2' video to hopefully explain buyit247.com's Grade2 products.

Full stock online updated daily - as the platform uses a SQL database (the old Actinic based site uses Access style mbd files) it means stock exports from their back-office system can be uploaded with ease on a daily or hourly basis. Previously there was only product highlights, now the entire stock inventory can be loaded online.

Customer Wish-lists - customers can add any product to their very own wish-list, which they can then share with others.

Social bookmarking - all the products now have a easy social bookmarking link built into their template - so they can be easily shared and recommended across sites for better Search Engine Optimisation

Product compare feature - multiple products can be selected and compared by customers. Making product selection a quicker process.

Other random improvements include: ability to refine search by product price, ability to stack products in grid or list view, addition of a recently viewed products section, new single page checkout, interactive Google map with directions on 'Find Us' page, ability to credit peoples online account (for manual administration of referral scheme etc) and RSS feeds for new products, coupons etc

Anyway, you can view the 2009 revamp here: www.buyit247.com

LASEK: Lasek Eye Laser Treatment, recovery and results at Optical Epress

2009-01-13T17:54:00.012Z

If you're considering eye surgery, I hope the following is of some use, especially if you opt for Lasek. Here's my account of having my eyes lasered:

I've been considering Laser eye treatment for years but as it's a relatively new surgical procedure, I have been waiting some time - just to be sure it was as safe as it could be. However, since NASA allegedly started using it for their personnel I decided: if it's good enough for NASA, it'll probably be good enough for me.
So after another load of research, particularly reading patient reviews at www.lasik-eyes.co.uk I started the ball rolling.

Consultancy - 15/09/08
I booked a consultancy at Optical Express in the Trafford Centre. There are 3-4 tests to go through and it takes a good hour or so for the appointment. Someone is needed to drive you home from the consultancy as some of the drops administered really relax the eye muscles, making vision a little blurry for the next 24 hours (this test is to give some indication of the future changes in the eye as muscles degrade).
'From £395 per eye' is a sales line that gets a lot of stick on the various laser eye forums but despite people telling you it never happens, I was offered that treatment/price. However, I opted instead for the Wavefront treatment (extra £400 per eye) as Laser surgery wasn't a procedure I wanted to repeat - wanting the best chance of success first time out. After a few weeks of procrastination and researching the surgeon (Mr Aziz in my case) I went ahead and booked my treatment.
There were many moments of changing my mind and when only 4 days away, if I could have canceled without losing my deposit, I would have. Why? There is such a thing as too much research. No matter how good something seems, online you can always find plenty of people who will tell you it is the worst thing you could possibly do.

Differing treatments
There are currently two main 'types' of laser eye surgery: Lasik and Lasek. LASIK works by cutting a flap in the surface of the eye, peeling back the outer surface/layer and re-shaping the inner surface of the eye. Despite sounding dramatic, this method actually offers a far faster recovery time and is therefore the most popular type of treatment. The majority of people receiving laser correction will be receiving Lasik.
However, if you have thin corneas and/or play contact sports (like me), there is a danger this flap can be dislodged in the weeks following treatment. In the event of this happening, the flap can be re-positioned but is a complication that non-the-less is best avoided. For patients more at risk of this, Lasek is the preferred option. With Lasek, instead of cutting a flap in the surface of the eye, an alcohol solution is used to loosen the outer epithelial layer of cells (the very outer layer of the eye), move this layer aside and then use a laser to reshape the outer surface of the eye. This layer of cells then re-grows over the next 7 days or so. The recovery time with Lasek is more prolonged, although the outcome, surgically, is eventually no different to Lasik.

Surgery day 10/11/08
My prescription was mild (about 1.25 in both eyes with astigmatism in the left eye). As I'd had to wear glasses the previous 7 days (even soft lenses can distort the shape of the eye and abstaining from wearing them for 7 days ensures the eyes are a normal shape prior to treatment) I was at least looking forward to ditching them. I've always hated wearing contact lenses and glasses.
My surgery was booked for 11am at the Trafford Centre branch of Optical Express. I was more than a little apprehensive as I sat in the waiting room with about another 10-12 people, also having treatment that day. Before surgery a few tests were re-run and this gave me time to re-ask some questions: would there be enough eye left for re-treatment in the future if I needed it? Will I still be able to wear contact lenses in future if I needed them? Can you confirm you won't use Mitomycin C (this is a anti cancer drug sometimes used topically to reduce chances of hazing on the eye from scars - something I wasn't comfortable with). There were plenty more and they answered them all again for me...
It was around an hour later that I was finally asked to go through to the surgery room.

The surgery room is a single big room, with a huge laser in the centre. There were 5 people there for the surgery: Mr Aziz (surgeon), his assistant, a laser technician and two nurses. All very clean and professional.
Any reservations I had over discomfort during the procedure were completely unfounded. I didn't feel any pain whatsoever and it was literally about 60 seconds per eye for the treatment and it is all performed with military precision and organisation. The procedure went something like this:

1. A few anesthetic drops are put in each eye
2. One eye has a thin eyelid retainer placed on, the other eye is covered
3. Alcohol drops are put it
4. Epithelial layer is moved
5. Told to look up at the laser and concentrate on the blinking light
6. Countdown begins, asked to keep looking at the light, then clicking is heard from the laser as it does its thing. Countdown completes
7. Epithelial layer is re-placed
8. More drops are added
9. Bandage contact lens is inserted

The procedure is then repeated for the other eye.

I was in and out of the surgery room in 5 minutes, then led across the hall to another room with seats and dimmed lighting for a few minutes. A nurse came in, bringing all the aftercare instructions and solutions. She checked all was well and that I had some sunglasses (the eyes can be very light sensitive after) and then sent me on my way.

Immediately, making my way to the car, I could read number-plates I couldn't unaided by glasses/lenses before. However, testing the results of my treatment didn't last long as the compulsion to close my eyes became overwhelming on the way home...

Recovery
In the first 24 hours my eyes stung. Badly. Like I'd been cutting very strong onions. Unfortunately as my eyes had swollen, until someone returned home I couldn't open them to see how many painkillers I needed to take.
It was an uncomfortable first day and as you might expect it was around this time I was wondering if it was worth the trouble.
Painkillers were the saviour in the first few days. Every 4 hours I would dose up and it would allow me to sleep. On the subject of sleeping - goggles are provided to be worn when sleeping for the first 7 days. As my eyes were streaming constantly they became a major irritation during that first week and was extremely happy to do without them.
The 24 hour post surgery check at Optical Express revealed all was fine. My eyes remained puffed (as you can see from the photos) for a good few days but all was well.
As I waited for my first check up, a man entered from the day before who had had Lasik treatment. You couldn't even tell to look at him, whilst I looked like I'd done a few rounds with Ricky Hatton. Suffice to say, if you don't need Lasek, Lasik seems like a far easier experience.
3 days post-op I stopped needing the painkillers and the constant streaming stopped and by the Friday I was feeling pretty much back to normal. For Lasek, on my experience, I would clear 5 working days for recovery.
Now
At present the only slight imperfection with my vision is a 0.25 astigmatism in one eye. I was told that when my eyes are fully healed this may go but if this is all that is left, it will still have been a very good result.
Personally I have almost forgotten I had it done. It's great to wake up and get straight on with the day. Lenses getting dry late at night isn't a problem. I can go swimming and read the clock, play football without worrying about my lens getting knocked out etc.
Nightvision problems, something laser correction has historically been associated with, are non-existent for me. If anything I would say my night vision is marginally better now than it was with lenses/glasses. I also have no problems with dry eyes or the like although this problem is more commonly associated with Lasik (due to the the cutting of some nerves during the flap creation).

Payment
You can obviously pay for surgery outright. But there was payment options for deposit then interest free payments over 10 months, or deposit and then interest bearing payments over 24, 36 or 48 months. The APR rate for the interest bearing options was competitive for the relatively small loan amount.
My laser treatment cost was the equivalent of 8 years of contact lens payments. So, if in eight years my prescription hasn't changed, I will consider it well worth it.

Money Off
Should anyone read this who is interested in eye surgery - I have a £50 off treatment voucher for Optical Express - you get it back once you have paid your deposit. Not a massive amount but it helps all the same. Any readers of this post considering eye surgery at Optical Express, get in touch if you'd like to get the £50 off.

Like any surgical procedure I would encourage anyone looking to go ahead with laser eye surgery to perform as much research as they need to make them self comfortable. Despite the discomfort of those first few days I feel the procedure was well worth it for me. Lots more patient experiences can be found at the very helpful Lasik Eyes forum

X360 - how to reset display settings for the VGA lead

2008-12-27T16:41:00.012Z

The Xbox 360 has a built in shortcut to reset the display settings of the console back to its default. Great forward thinking. Unless you are Microsoft and as usual you only provide half a solution...

If a 360 has been connected to a HDTV at say 1920 x 1080 resolution (FULL HD) and you move to a different HDTV that doesn't support that mode you won't see an image. The Microsoft answer is to reset the settings by holding in the yellow 'Y' button and right trigger on boot up (ensuring there is no game disc in the tray and the controller is set to port one - the upper left LED quadrant). Except it doesn't work. At least not unless your HDTV supports 640x480 resolution.

So, I have therefore done this laborious short cut that should get you up and running on a different HDTV.

Notes:
This is based on a PAL console - not sure if it works on NTSC.
Also, be sure to disconnect your network cable/WLAN connection (if still connected to Xbox LIVE, you will need to push the D pad up once before starting the instructions below).
This is based on the late 2008 interface. Subsequent and prior versions may not work the same.

HINT: Turn on your sound - it will help you with the 'blind' navigation of the interface.

Here goes:

1. Turn on the 360 and wait for the boot up chimes/bongs to stop.
2. Use the D-pad on the controller and push right 7 times (the sounds will stop when you reach the end) - this gets you to 'System Settings'
3. Press A (takes you to 'Console Settings')
4. Press A (takes you to 'Display')
5. Press A (takes you to 'Screen Resolution')
6. Press A (takes you to the list of available settings)
7. Press the D-pad down three times (note - you may have to experiment with different numbers of 'down' - this is choosing between different resolutions that still may not work on your screen)
8. If the screen appears great. You can now choose a more relevant resolution. If not, just wait a few seconds, a sound will be heard and you can D-pad down another one to try another. Eventually, you should find one that works!

POLITICS: A VAT decrease will cost us millions

2008-11-24T12:15:00.002Z

If the rumours are true, and our labour government goes ahead with the VAT reduction to 15% (they can't go lower even if they wanted to thanks to our masters in Brussels) I feel convinced it will ultimately cost our country far, far more.
Whilst the average UK consumer may save a few hundred pounds per year, at what cost to UK business? Imagine all the current financial systems configured to 17.5% VAT. Each one will have to be re-configured for 15% and at what cost to the business? What at year end? What if half the year their sales are at 15% VAT and the other half at 17.5% VAT? The colossal scale of the administration costs to sort the figures will dwarf any economical benefit to the average consumer. At times like this, when such schemes are announced I really shudder at the thought that these people are supposedly guiding our country to better times.

UPDATE: Now the idiots have gone ahead with this it makes you wonder: is this merely a underhand way of bringing us ever more closely and inextricably linked to the EU? How long before slack-jaw decides that the pound has so little difference to the euro we should abolish it altogether?

On the cost to UK business issue one has to wonder what sense any of this makes. For the next week, until this comes into effect no consumers will buy anything. So that's 1 week out of the years 52 of trading you can kiss goodbye. Meanwhile, as consumers sit on their hands, businesses will be spending vast amounts of resource reconfiguring their financial systems to run at 15%.

When the country really needed a resolute stance from its government all it has received is a set of floundering erratic changes that provide all the stability of Gordon Brown's jaw. Great plan Labour.

TV: I despair

2008-11-21T11:18:00.004Z

Have males been completely eradicated from the thoughts of producers?
Apart from Top Gear, which serves as the last bastion of political in-correctness and male programming, just what is there for us to watch?

The obligatory sport of course, but there is literally nothing else in the way of dramatic programming for us. As the viewing figures for each channel are continually eroded (thanks to DVD box sets and the proliferation of satellite channels), I can only hope that we get something like an HBO over here. Where quality drama can flourish, without being dumbed down to pander to the masses, reach specific demographics or get viewing figures. Simply to give us something home-grown and worthwhile to watch again.

TECH: iPhone 2.2 and still no MMS or cut and paste

2008-11-21T11:14:00.004Z

I'm very fond of my iPhone but I can't help but wonder if Apple have some of the priorities wrong. The 2.2 release of the software has just hit the servers and there is still no support for MMS messaging or cut and paste. I only hope they have fixed the email problem that has blighted 2.1 (doesn't check for emails at the pre-determined intervals).

Roll on 2.3...

WRITING: Computer Buyer video feature

2008-11-21T11:11:00.004Z

I recently contributed a beginners guide to video article for Computer Buyer magazine. The aim was to give the reader a layman's guide to cameras, editing and publishing video project on a desktop or laptop computer (Windows based). Nothing heavy so if your thinking of picking up a camcorder for Christmas, it may be worth you checking the next issue of the magazine out. Available in all good newsagents.

WEB: combistore.co.uk now live

2008-11-21T11:08:00.005Z

Here's another CubeCart based website I've just got up and running. The company wanted a simple and affordable ecommerce system they can start to sell their boilers and accessories from. As the company is in its infancy, expect far more product to be added to the store in coming months.

Visit the store here: www.combistore.co.uk

WEB: chicubes.co.uk live

2008-11-21T11:02:00.003Z

Here's a small ecommerce site I created using CubeCart as the basis. It's an interesting company doing something a little different: the company sells Coops for Chickens, other poultry and small animals. They needed an ecommerce system they could manage themselves and provide an all important online brochure for their products. It was a matter of setting up their domain and hosting, installing and configuring CubeCart and then creating them a custom CubeCart 'skin' and adding things like the google maps and contact page etc.

Check them out here: www.chicubes.co.uk (pronounced 'Chick-Cubes')

TECH: The answer to Blu-ray adoption?

2008-10-21T10:57:00.001+01:00

Even though Blu-ray has officially defeated it's closest rival (HD-DVD) it still seems an incredibly niche product. I know of only one person who owns a player, and that's a PS3.
The trouble with any form of high definition medium at present is that to the majority, the quality increase just isn't worth the expenditure on new hardware. More succinctly: DVD films still look pretty good. With the cheapest Blu-ray players costing £199 at present, take up of the format just isn't going to happen. And the same thing happened with DVD. At least in the UK...
If my memory serves, the DVD player was a largely geek/niche product, gathering slow momentum over the preceding months until Tesco launched the Wharfedale DVD player into it's stores. It was almost at the magic £100 price point and all of a sudden, the masses that had considered purchasing a DVD player but then delayed, rushed out to pick one up. Within a couple of weeks they were completely sold out and then before long other stores started to stock their own budget DVD players and they became commonplace in UK homes.
Until Blu-ray adopts that strategy, I just can't see them making a dent in the film rental arena and that's before we even consider their aggressive digital rights management or the competition from digital downloads.
However, a sub-£100 Blu-ray player will place it in the domain of 'can afford this being a waste of time' for a great many users and vastly increase the installed user base. Until then, Blu-ray seems set for nothing more than the digital junkyard. Sony should have the sense to avoid this outcome, after all, they have been there before with another piece of technologically sound but overpriced product: the consumer Betamax format.

TECH: iPhone - where the hell is TomTom?

2008-10-14T12:26:00.000+01:00

Since the June launch of the iPhone 3G there was speculation of TomTom being available for the device. After all, with the inclusion of a GPS chip in a touch screen device, surely full-blown satellite navigation is the next obvious step?
Well, it's been a bit quiet lately hasn't it? I've heard nothing through the rumour mills about the software being available for purchase any time soon either direct from TomTom or through the app store.
I know there was talk of legality issues over the iPhone having complete sat nav and who would be responsible should someone drive headlong into a river but come on people - sort it out!

TECH: Podcaster App for iPhone

2008-09-15T08:40:00.004+01:00

This is the application/functionality for podcasting that SHOULD be on the iPhone. Similar to the way podcasting works on Symbian S60 devices: you can download podcasts straight over the air (Wifi/3G) to your iPhone. Unfortunately, Apple has refused to list it on the App store as they believe it infringes on the functionality of iTunes. Hopefully Apple change their mind (or purchase the intellectual property from the developer and integrate it into a future iPhone firmware), in the meantime you can buy it direct from the developer here: http://www.nextdayoff.com/default.aspx.

BOOK: First Light by Geoffrey Wellum

2008-09-12T19:53:00.004+01:00

Anybody with a passing interest in aviation or World War II that hasn't already done so should do themselves a favour and read this book.
It is truly touching, engaging and riveting, reading as intimately as if the author was sat across the table, relating the story first hand.
It bristles with detail and authenticity throughout and yet still manages to affect the reader emotionally with the intimate thoughts and reflections of the author in his darker and more fraught moments.
This book deserves to be read by the widest possible audience, especially given the complete omission of any Word War related lessons in schools these days. It truly is startling to consider the attitudes of the people back then: the sheer bravery and sacrifice.
I would truly love to shake the hand of this man, and the others like him who simply aren't given the respect and status they deserve. Absolute heroes. Geoffrey - thank you for this book and the sacrifice you and your generation made. To quote Winston:

"The gratitude of every home in our island, in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world except in the abodes of the guilty goes out to the British airmen who, undaunted by odds, unweakened by their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of world war by their prowess and their devotion.

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few..."

Get First Light here.