I love iTunes

What's that iTunes? There's a new version of iOS available for my phone? How exciting! 5.1 you say? Well of course you can download it and update my mobile, what could possibly go wrong there?

This is the general conversation that went through my head as the usual new software popped up after I plugged my phone into the old netbook and iTunes kicked in. I of course allowed it to continue, but what followed turned out to be a pain in the arse!

Software downloads fail all the time, especially from apple, so it wasn't a massive surprise when after 30 or so minutes of downloading and a brief installation attempt it informed me all had indeed gone tits up and it would now be kind enough to restore the phone to what it was, only there was a problem there too. Things not going well, but then the phone starts to come on anyway and everything's fine...or not, I not have a lovely iPhone 4 on factory settings. No apps no nothing.

Swiftly and with the poise of an IT professional (which I'm not) I restore a backup of my phone made not 1 hour earlier, and after several... dozen minutes of waiting, the phone restores the data and to my surprise everything seemingly goes ok, even the in app data is fully restored to it's previous glory. Even my Temple Run high score (2.3m) remains in tact.

But also, the strangest thing, according to iTunes, I now have 5 gig of memory free, when before it was stacked to the rafters. Funny as well as the new found free space was almost exactly the same as the memory taken up by my... cock biscuits.

I quick trip to 'Music' app confirms it, every trace of an mp3 (or equivalent iTunes compatible format) is gone. So while writing this I've also started slowly adding songs to thee phone from my iTunes library. Which itself has presented brand new issues, I'm skipping past most of it thinking... meh, never listened to it anyway.

So far I've managed to add about 9 songs to the phone, but I am still on C for the artist name, so there's some distance to go yet. But nothing in inspiring me, bad times. I think I need some new music, any suggestions feel free, ooh and to anyone who would suggest Beady Eye or High Flying birds, save yourself the keyboard wear and don't.

iOS5 and the 3200 error

I've had some fun with technology the last few days. Firstly I switch on my netbook on Monday evening and the screen is screwed up, green lines, flashing pixels like green snow, colour scheme that would make Windows 95 look classy, to say I wasn't impressed wouldn't exactly be an understatement. After some brief internet searching, I discovered the area around the side of the screen was somehow coming apart, so I clicked that back in, still the same.

Then I closed the netbook in annoyance and noticed the battery bit thing wasn't straight, somehow something there had come loose too. Out came the battery, and a quick repair later and I had one netbook looking like nothing had ever happened to it.

So I thought right, that's my weekly machine break down, it's all good. Then last night I decided to try n get a bit of iOS5 action going on for my little soon to be out of date little iPhone. I was expecting slowness having the drawn out process of going os3 - os4 still in my memory, but thought fuck it lets go.

The first part was more a lesson than anything, don't ignore iTunes updates, as I think I had to do about 150 updates to that first (that may be an exaggeration... may be). But then I was ready to go. I began the download, all ok and done in about 30 mins, much better than I was expecting, iTunes then backed up the creatively titled 'Andrews iPhone' (imagination pumps from every pore on times), it was time.

Time? Yeah! Time to friggin crash!

I was greeted with the soon to be infamous 3200 error, iTunes didn't know what it was or if it did it didn't want to tell me. The update stopped and the phone reverted to its previous state. OK, no big deal, no harm done. Let's try again. Same thing happened.

"To google!" I exclaimed (in my head) and started a search for this problem. Of course the Internet was instantly filled with know-it-alls who were making it their business to tell everyone how to fix it as they knew cos they were clever. They varied from restarting PCs to restarting phones to reinstalling iTunes itself. Nice one assholes, I've heard people talk shit before and I spotted it a mile off, so ignored them. However there was one, reasonable sounding post saying to just keep trying eventually it worked and they thought 3200 was some kind of server issue due to traffic.

This all made sense, it was doubtless busy at the moment, so I soldiered on. Numberous times I was thwarted at the metaphorical gates of Mordor by this 3200 error, but I battled back, only to be pushed back again. Then finally... it connected, the installation started, this was it... iOS5 would be mine.

Boom in comes a 3004 error and stops it dead, only this time no revert, I'm stuck in restore mode. I have no idea how to get out of restore mode. I stomp off for 5, phoneless...

A bit of research tells me how to reset the phone using the buttons, I do so and try again. 3200 kicks my ass all over again. Twitter is alight with part 'yay os5' tweets and part '3200 gumble grumble' ones. With a side helping of smug Android users (easy to be consistent if you never try anything new). One more item I think, just one more time...

Battle of Los Angeles (that's battle of, not Battle: Los Angeles) had been playing in the background thanks to Syfy+1 and was about to finish (and may I say what a piece of dog turd that film is. I know it's one of the Asylum low budget cash in films, but Jesus Christ, how do you make films this bad??) so I knew it was late.

I hit restore one last time and bingo, it worked, iOS5 was mine took seemingly an age to update and then it was done. To be honest, looks a bit prettier in places but so far not noticing a ton of changes, but I have used it for about 15 minutes to date. But improvements are the subject for another day. This was about my battle against 3200 and how I won!

Go me...

My beloved netbook and me...

...we go everywhere together. But on times we don't half get some strange reactions.

We live in a very technological world, I'm pretty sure the non Amish readers I have would agree with that. Amish readers... you appear to be cheating, you better go...

However, despite this the sight of me slipping out my black sleeve and getting my little red one out incurs at best some funny looks, at worst some disdain! The people them selves can be put into one of a few categories:

• The over the shoulder reader - as if I'm up to something so interesting that they just have to see it. I have absolutely no idea what they're hoping to find on my screen, but as a general rule I'm assuming they leave disappointed. In a mild variation of this an OTSR has once been reading something I was producing, and was never intended to actually see the light of day (he seemed quite interested so maybe it's not all that rubbish) and decided to give me a grammar tip on the last bit I typed. Which I took and said thanks, as he was right.

• The WTF is that?? - I'm sure laptops, netbooks, tablets, kindles etc have been around for quite a time now, but still on occasion you'd swear we were in a cave and I just pulled a lighter out of my pocket and produced fire. These people tend to be older, as you'd expect, but to them the idea I can look on twitter (not that they'd probably know what twitter was) on my lap on the bus boggles their mind. I mean honestly, where's the wires!! If it was their day, and let's face it, their day was quite some time ago now I'd be trying to type this while tied to a stake on the village green, about to get a wicked tan.

• The mine is bigger than yours - On occasion the sight of my little friend sends some people flying into backpacks, holdalls etc and has them dragging out whatever device they are also carrying. For some people I've served as some kind of reminder, like an alarm clock for 3G, that they have something with them. For others it almost seems like I've laid down a challenge, as if I've gone, "Hello stranger on the bus, my nob is so big, let's see if you can top that bad boy." I've seen kindles, ipads, various android devices, fellow netbooks, laptops, even all of a sudden a spike in those HP pieces of crap that were sold off cheap and once, and I remember this, a brand new in box xbox 360 elite. The guy then proceeded to open the box and.. stroke it, that's the only way I can describe it... he stroked it. Once again, sometimes people simply use them, others they are almost like a geek off weapon, screens are tilted towards me to give me the chance to show my respect at the geek altar. Please just leave me alone!

• The conversation starter - These are the worst, particularly if they are sat next to you. I always dread hearing, "Oh what's that?" or, "Excuse me is that a Packard Bell Dot netbook." Now before I go any further, I'm an introvert, and a pretty severe one, I struggle in large groups or when weirdos some straight on to me, but I'm not (usually) rude, so I feel some need to respond, at least at first. But I really don't want to have a conversation about what version iTunes I'm running, if I know I can update the firmware on the graphics chipset, if I suffer from overheating after prolonged use (a little, but nothing drastic, there now never ask me again), battery performance through the years, or the relative speed of my 3G dongle compared to the 3G capabilities of an iPhone or iPad. (all of which have been real conversation I've experienced in the years of commuting with a computer). Headphones, usually the barrier between me and various people I don't want to speak too (works lovely on charity collectors in the street) are no boundary, to the point where hand gestures are used to gain attention, and once some dick puled out one of the headphones and said, "Ahh I didn't think you could hear me...".

• The suspicious mind - Some people think the Internet is for 2 things only, facebook and porn. Due to this some OTSR people check what I'm doing as opposed to being interested in reading it, they think they should make an assumption based on it. When my first reaction of the day isn't to open Facebook, they make the logical step too... porn, and assume that's where I'm headed. I've had people look at me in disgust and then look quite apologetic when the ATP site turns out to be the 'Association of Tennis Professionals' not 'Ass Tits and Poontang'. I've even one respectable looking gent get up and sit somewhere else before I've had chance to put my password in... on two separate occasions. Maybe he was allergic to red start up screens and championship manager?

There are normal people who realistically don't give a crap what I'm doing as long as it doesn't bother them, and kudos to these people. I like to think when netbook-less either by choice, battery or forgetfulness, I'm one of those people. I hope anyway, I'm weird enough as it is...

Oh and apologies to the eels for the title.

I've got a new toy!!

I'm quite a gadgety, computery type of person (neither real words), and so there are few things quite as exciting as having a brand new toy to play with!! I'm proud to announce now is one of those times.

I had an old nertbook a while ago, which I used to death essentially, the pathetic battery life meant I had to carry the charger and eventually things got broken, tears were wept, a cupboard had new content and I was computerless on the commute to work. Which also coincided with a drop in productivity on this blog, I used to post in the mornings and then obviously couldn't (apart from on effort from the iPhone, what a chore).

Anyway, yesterday I popped down to my local electrical store (Currys actually...) and picked up my shiny new netbook!! I am now the owner of a Packard Bell dot s-can't remember the model number! Woo-hoo! Take a look, isn't she perdy (for a computer)?

Not a great spec, but it's a netbook, I'm going to use it for exactly what I'm using it for now and the 8 hour battery (believe it when I see it) means I'm not carrying the AC adaptor! A great spec isn't required. Yes I'm a couple of hundred pound light (not round the waist, still fat there!) but it's something I will use!

So far so good too, all seems to run ok, quite quick, as it's new, the keyboard is taking some getting used too as it's bigger than the other netbooks, but smaller than the laptops. So it's whole new territory. My apologies in advance for the typos, unless I've already made them, then you have my retrospective apologies, you nitpicking bastard :)

Anyway, I'm sat on a bus in traffic, late for work due to an erratic iPhone, yesterday the alarm goes off an hour early, obviously BST/GMT confused. Today? Silence. I wake up 70 minutes late and.. oh dear.

Anyway I'm going to play with my new toy... Hmmm Firefox or Chrome, or shall I try IE9...

The return

OK, I know it's been a while, but I'm not goingto stand om ceremonies. Sadly I can report the death of my netbook, the brave servant lasted well for 2 years, but went to the big PC World in the sky, so killing the time I do 89.98% of the blogs.

If anyone knows a bargain netbook/mobile broadband deal (3 gig use, freeish netbook, £20 a month or so, please feel free to let me know.

Anyway, back to an aimless postings, first up Newsthump (formerly newsarse) have once again used one of my articles. It's not great by any stretch, but it amused me, and clearly them at least briefly. I'm working on more, but with my record, another one will get used in about a year!

Also one of my favourite sports is getting headlines briefly, I love a bit of tennis, and tomorrow 8:30am (UK) see's the UK #1 Andy Murray in his 3rd Grand Slam final. Everyone watch, Eurosport 1!

I'll post something better later.

The death of a netbook, snow joke!

Yes, I know I've been quiet.

Frequent runs to hospital to see my father (who is now thankfully home) combined with the sad death of my netbook (the main place I typed from) have conspired against me. However I now sit in a snowy Merthyr with half hour spare while my daughter watches Dora the Explorer struggle to put on a Pirate play as she can't find the costumes, I'm back!

The netbook isn't dead really. The power supply is broken, so I can't charge it, I can replace it with a new one, but I can just as easily get a new netbook free with a new mobi broadband contract, so I'll do that some time soon! Anyone know any good ones, leave me a comment and I'll have a nose! Until then I've been entertaining myself on the train by reading Alan Sugar's autobiography. Quite well written really, a kind of sense of superiority running through it I feel though.

I was expecting panic this morning, it's snowed quite well yesterday, I remained thoroughly unconcerned, no desire to leg it home from work and the roads were all fine. I got home no concerns in the slightest. But then it snowed a bit more last night, quite a bit more, and the outside o my house looked like Pepper Pigs Christmas this morning (sorry, you have to watch them with her don't you. Don't you??)

However while taking the other half to work, I'm shoc\ked, almost aghast, to find, the roads as a rule are clear and passable. Well done Merthyr council, and I don't think I've ever said that before! The builders got here no sweat this morning to carry on (and hopefully finish) my conservatory. The world isn't a snow dead place! The sky is even clear so I don't think we're going to get any more. But don't quote me, I'm not a weatherman.

More excitingly, the semi finals of the ATP tennis finals are today, and I'm pleased Brit #1 Murray is in there. He'll prob get battered against a well up for it Nadal, but hey ho. he's back to 4 in the world now at least. There's also rugby, which will be the final leg of an shocking autumn(?) international series for Wales. Wooden Spoon contenders for 2011! 20 or 30 point win for NZ anyone?

I also noticed the blog had a hit from someone searching google for Peter Gabriel Tennis. now that be an odd search, I'm proud I matched it, somehow... (I think it was the tennis post that made the homeless Christmas single request, as that's a Peter Gabriel cover, so once again pls follow @QRistmas and buy the single Dec 13th pls, keep someone less fortunate warm and fed this Christmas, as it's bloody freezing out there

PS, I just realised, this post would now generate a hit too, woohoo, double random search results!

When a luxury becomes a necessity.

I have a fairly cushy life, the majority of people in the UK do (for now, the Torys aren't in full swing yet).

Yes, like with most people, I don't live in a palace, a castle etc but I have running water, more than enough food, a bed, a roof and access to healthcare. There are places on this planet where people would kill for any of them, but I/we take them for granted.

I thought I was quite grounded, until I moved home recently which resulted in a slight fall in my access to things such as TV, Internet, XBOX. These things are almost the definition of luxury, but there were times where not having these things really put my nose out. It was at this point I thought, when did these things become THAT necessary? I even have a dongle, at some expense, so I have a backup internet source (using it now!!), so just incase I'm out of wifi range, my iPhone hasn't got signal, I can still grab my spare laptop (smaller one so more portable) and check twitter http://www.twitter.com/andrewdrisc or post here.

The counter argument is we have worked hard for these luxuries and deserve them, and to be honest it's an argument I'm happy to hide behind!

I wonder whether many people of my generation could last without Sky Sports (maybe people would travel to the grounds to see sport?), without games consoles, without Facebook (which I dislike anyway) without email, IM, etc

To be honest I would probably fail horribly, but honestly I don't even want to try. If that makes me a bad person, I apologise whole heartedly.