Andy Pennell's Blog - All Comments

re: Gas IS Cheap: It's Official

Andy Pennell — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:24:59 GMT

The table link needs updating, it is now www.eia.gov/.../gasolinewithtax.cfm

re: The Best Microsoft Keyboard. Ever. The Natural Keyboard Pro.

Matt — Sun, 05 May 2013 22:19:20 GMT

When I joined MS 7 years ago, I found the nastiest, dirtiest nkp in the world. I disassembled it completely, scrubbed it, and then washed all of the non-electrical parts in the dish washer. I put it back together and it still works like a champ. I love that keyboard.

re: Car Head Unit Compatibility with Windows Phone 7.5 Mango

Olaf Gradin — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:56:38 GMT

I used this post to help convince me to buy a JVC head unit for my Honda Pilot. I have the Lumia 900 running 7.8 and paired it with the JVC KW-R800BT. Everything works very well, and I was able to integrate this unit's microphone in my visor for good hands free use. I also put in a universal steering wheel controls adapter to keep the car's functions working with the new unit. My only complaint is that there is no play/pause for Bluetooth devices on the unit. I also hate that there is such tight integration with iPhones, but not Windows. This stereo has audiobook controls (e.g. Slower/faster) for iPhones, which would have been an awesome thing to have for my Lumia.

re: The Best Microsoft Keyboard. Ever. The Natural Keyboard Pro.

Jay Bazuzi — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 05:51:48 GMT

Having a USB hub built in was a fantastic idea. Today my monitor has a USB hub in it, which is just as good.

Those function keys are grouped wrong (5+7, not 4+4+4), and they're small. Hard to find the right ones while debugging.

There should be a second 'Y' key next to the 'T', and a second 'B' next to the 'N'. You can tell because there's a big blank area there.

The row of blue keys across the top of that keyboard are impossible to navigate without looking down at the keyboard. And a button that puts the computer to sleep is too much power for one key to have.

Microsoft made a bunch of keyboards with a special key that would *log you out*. Ack! Reprogramming to lock the workstation made sense, but you had to remember that every time you install a new Windows.

I went through keyboards pretty fast for a while - they kept breaking, or had stupid layouts (like the plus of arrows, or function keys in the wrong groups). Finally I gave up and bought the cheapest non-stupid keyboard I could find, a Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000. It has enough of a curve for ergo, although it's not a split keyboard. Function keys are 4+4+4. Media keys are usable without looking. Inverted-T arrows. Insert/delete/home/end/pgup/pgdown in a 2x3 group. Numeric keypad. At a mere $15, I figured I could replace it if it broke. 10 years later it's still going strong. I periodically submerge it in soapy water, rinse well, then hang it up by the cord from a clothesline to dry. I can't say I love it, but I don't hate it either, and it won't die.

re: The Best Microsoft Keyboard. Ever. The Natural Keyboard Pro.

Andy D — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:17:21 GMT

Mind died at about 10 years old... stuck with a lesser replacement

re: The Best Microsoft Keyboard. Ever. The Natural Keyboard Pro.

Damien Guard — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:41:39 GMT

I prefer a mechanical keyboard over anything rubber-domed - the snap helps my fingers lightly flick over the keys without waiting for them to go all the way down and stop.

If you want to try a mechanical and combine it with a natural layout you can check out http://ergodox.org/ or the Kinesis ones www.kinesis-ergo.com/freestyle2_link.htm

[)amien

re: Need Two Camera Baby Monitor

daddy08 — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:16:52 GMT

Hestia H100 Monitor - Peace of mind like never before.

Choosing the right monitor from the hundreds available isn’t so easy. Faced with too much choice, I tend to get overwhelmed and inevitably make the wrong decision. As with any other technological purchase, I trust that when given my needs, the retailer will point me to the right product.

The Hestia H100 model ticks all those boxes and more and, after using it, I would consider it the best on the market.

These are the official features of the unit:

• FHSS – frequency hopping technology ensures interference free transmission.

• Absolute privacy protecting the transmission data

• Transmission distance of 250m in an open area

• Night time is a whole other story and this is where the clarity of image and feeling of connection really came into its own. In my case, the monitor was absolutely for my peace of mind and security, but, again given my son’s age, was also a way to let him know that I could see him and hear him, even though we were no longer sharing the same space. I do believe that helped with the transition; for both of us.

•

• For parents using the monitor from their child’s infancy, this device will be invaluable for allowing that valuable time when baby is asleep to be used to re-charge their batteries, whether by sitting and watching a movie, reading quietly or getting out into the garden and healing fresh air. Or, as is most often the case in those early days, gazing lovingly into the sleeping face of your little angel!

I bought mine from www.Babybubs.com.au

re: Need Two Camera Baby Monitor

Hestia Baby Monitor — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:52:21 GMT

Hestia H100 Monitor - Peace of mind like never before.

There comes that moment in every child’s life when they make the transition into their own room, whether it’s from the day you arrive home from hospital, or after spending their first six months sleeping soundly within arms reach in a cradle by your bed, or, like my son, who at 2 years old, has decided he’s ready to sleep alone

The Hestia H100 model ticks all those boxes and more and, after using it, I would consider it the best on the market.

These are the official features of the unit:

• FHSS – frequency hopping technology ensures interference free transmission.

• Absolute privacy protecting the transmission data

• Transmission distance of 250m in an open area

• The greater distance will allow those with a two story, or very large house, to move around freely, knowing the transmission signal won’t falter. With the option to run 4 cameras from the unit, parents with more than one child will be able to lie in bed at night and watch their children dream.

I bought it at www.babybubs.com.au

re: Using WCF on Windows Phone 7: Walk-through

Ömer Evci — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:27:57 GMT

Thanks a lot for this article...

re: Finding Your Own IP Address On Windows Phone Mango

Jack — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:26:16 GMT

Hello, I wrote a comment last week, but it hasn't been published. So the problem is: app throws a lot of "WebSocket" exceptions (something like 2000 catches) when you try to programmatically call this class, or for example, when you put your app in FAS or Tombstoning mode.

Any suggestions? Please, I REALLY need your help!

Thanks in advice!