Still As Life

Since upgrading to Windows Vista, I have found more problems with the Vodafone software for the 3G broadband modems.

On Windows XP or Mac OS X, when you unplug the modem without disconnecting the connection first, it will act the same way as if you unplug an ethernet cable and unplug a USB device.

On XP, the network connection changes to a disconnected icon, it makes a disconnected USB sound and says the device has been disconnected. The Vodafone software then displays the “Searching for Hardware”  message.

On OS X, the network connection simply disconnects

However, on Windows Vista it complicates it entirely. If you unplug the modem without first disconnecting the connection, you have to reboot the computer before you can use the 3G modem again.

When you unplug it, it performs the normal disconnected USB notifications, however, it doesn’t change the network status to disconnected, and the Vodafone software just sits there, counting the time connected. If you press disconnect, it does nothing, if you try to close it, it does nothing, even forcing it closed and reopening it doesn’t fix it, it straight up starts counting the connected time again.

Even if you manually disable the network connection it keeps doing this.

Plugging the modem back in doesn’t change anything, you simply cannot press the connect button again because it will not come back up until you reboot.

I am using the latest version of the Vodafone software that is meant to be Vista compatible.

Vodafone have been no help either, the software works, it just does not work correctly unless you remember to disconnect it before unplugging the modem.

Popularity: 40% [?]

This is an awesome song and a great video. Peter Denahy has captured the average Australian teenager so well, I can definitely relate, both from my own experience of being a teenager and from seeing my sister be one as well.

Anyway, watch and enjoy!

Popularity: 15% [?]

I was doing some research on podcasts yesterday for a website I am working on at the moment.

The site is using Drupal, so there is a podcast module already available, I was just doing some research on how other people are laying out their podcasts, doing their designs and so on. While doing this, I found some interesting tag clouds.

If you have a look at:

• http://www.podcast.net/
• http://www.podcastalley.com/
• http://www.thepodlounge.com.au/categories

Have a look at the tag clouds and the top categories.

On Podcast.net, the 4th biggest category is “Religion and Philosophy.”

On Podcast Alley the 4th biggest category is “Religion and Spirituality.”

On The Pod Lounge, the tied second biggest tag is “Religion and Spirituality.”

At the time of writing this, 3 of the top 10 podcasts on Podcast Alley were religious podcasts, this has since changed though.

I just found it interesting that in a world where religion seems to be quite unpopular, particularly in my generation, not just Christianity, but religion in general, that some of the most popular podcasts and one of the largest genre’s is in fact religious.

I suppose in a way, religion is ideally suited to podcasting, since sermons can easily be recorded, and in many places have been getting recorded for a long time. So it’s just one extra step to upload them as a podcast.

What do you think?

Popularity: 15% [?]

Original I know, but hey, I not long got a new phone, so that’s the poll.

“When did you buy a new mobile phone?”

I know you want to vote on it. Go on, go for it, I won’t tell.

Popularity: 11% [?]

As many would know, I work at a store doing the website and network maintenance and make sure all of the emails get answered and so on.

There was an email come through today that reinforces to me the importance of treating a web store like you would a real store:

In a store, you want to make it as easy as possible for people to find what they are looking for.

Online this is amplified because it takes so little effort to leave and shop elsewhere instead.

If prices aren’t shown up front and easily, it takes much more effort to send an email or ring up to enquire about prices, it would be easier to just go to another online store that has prices available online.

A user isn’t going to quickly come back to a site that they know won’t fulfill their needs, so there are potentially millions of users who would never return to the store website.

We don’t display prices on our website for products unless they are in the sales page. Why? Well, the reason that my boss tells everyone is because prices change regularly and there are a lot of products to keep up to date. Really though, the majority of the products on the website could easily enough have pricing put with them because the main price changes occur when the model changes which means the entire product needs updating anyway. Aside from clothing, the majority of prices are fairly stable, and plenty of other stores manage to do it. I really see no reason why we can’t.

If you are considering re-designing your website or would like some advice on how to make your current website work better for you. Please feel free to contact me at Terramedia for a specialised web design quote or help with your website.

Popularity: 14% [?]