My ISP (Comcast) has a “mirror” of ipv6test.com on their IPV6 site. I’m always getting near perfect results:
What I find puzzling is that the external site they are mirroring testipv6.com only gives me a 7/10 score.
I’ve been having mixed feelings about Windows 8 on a desktop. I hate the navigation using mouse and keyboard and dislike the stark switch between Metro and the classic desktop when I start a classic app from the Metro Start menu. It is jarring to say the least.
I do love the idea of Live Tiles and the constantly updating information, although I don’t think it is suitable for privacy reasons when your device is in a public place. Yes, I know you can turn off a Live tile, but then what is the point.. I don’t want my email and other personal stuff shared only with friends on Facebook seen by passers by.
With respect to the Metro App “previews”, I am disappointed with the incompleteness and buginess of the various media apps – Music – Photos – Video. And as far as Metro’s Mail App goes, the omission of IMAP and POP connectivity is troubling. It is unclear if this is just unfinished or a design decision.
The app I like the best (though it needs work) is the People app. It does seem to bring everything together seamlessly. I wish you could add social networks without connecting them to a Microsoft/Live ID. This could be a Flipboard for Windows type app if the user could add all types of networks and RSS feeds.
I love the way People displays images in What’s New.
And I also like the way individual Facebook posts are displayed with comments and likes, along with the ability to post a comment.
I haven’t figured out how to post a NEW entry/status update/photo to Facebook/Twitter from this app. This feature needs to be added.
Sort of. Thanks to Splashtop streamer and the iPad mobile client.
I was a little frustrated as all my existing RDP clients on my iPad (Logmein, VNC RDP, etc. would only show me a black desktop). I ask the Splashtop folks via Twitter if their product ($4.99 in the app store, at least for now) would work with Windows 8 and received a “yes”.
So, now I am up and running with Windows 8 on an iPad. Still experimenting, but at least I can see the Metro desktop and navigate.
My old ASUS Eee 1000HEB PC had been running the Windows 8 Developer Preview and I decided to see if I could “upgrade” it to the Windows 8 Consumer Preview via the web installer. I had previously performed some hacks to fix the problem of only 1000 x 600 screen resolution in order to get Metro Apps to work. I used an Intel video driver that I downloaded from Samsung:
I also used a registry hack on the Developer Preview:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ialm\Device0]
"Display1_DownScalingEnabled"=hex:01,00,00,00
The above gave me full functionality but a slightly skewed screen resolution. Nevertheless, the EeePC happily, albeit slowly, ran the W8 Developer Preview.
I decided to try the web installer from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/download
The installer told me my devices were ok and I was able to get completely through setup using the Express route. Note that I did have a failure and a roll back when I tried the Customized route. Not sure why, but the end result was that I was able to install the Consumer Preview of Windows 8 on my old and dusty ASUS EeePC for testing purposes. After Windows 8 came up for the first time, I immediately installed the video drivers, then ran the reg file (not sure if this is actually needed, but…). Then I rebooted, and then changed the desktop screen resolution to 1152 x 864 which gave me full Metro functionality including apps. Images below illustrate this success story:
I’ve recently written 5 posts about "do it yourself home security". Another piece of the puzzle I wanted to solve involved home automation, both for security and convenience. I’ve had some X10 lighting controls here for a while, but X10 is not 100% reliable and integration with a home network involves expensive third party software.
So I started looking around and doing some research on the other technologies like Z-Wave, UPB, Insteon, etc. One of the biggest issues I had with X10 (and Homeplug) was that I reside in a multi electric phase home where it was nearly impossible to send signals through home wiring (even when filtering power strips and UPS units were removed). Insteon had some interesting capabilities with dual band (RF and home wiring), phase coupler/access points and had some reasonably priced hardware. Another plus was that there are a few iPxxx free apps available to control Insteon enabled devices, both while at home and while away from home. I spent a fair amount of time at the Smarthome website deciding which components to order.
I ended up with an Insteon system that included a network control module, two access point/phase couplers, and several lamp/appliance control modules. I have web browser access for complete control from anywhere in the world, and I can set a schedule to turn lights on and off for security or convenience. I can dim lights for home theater use, and I can turn devices on and off from my iPxx devices from anywhere.
That comes in handy when I arrive home after dark, have armfuls of groceries and no spare hands or light switches. I simply turn on some lights from the car.
I’ll be adding a couple of posts his week with the details of the equipment and configuration.