BBC iPlayer: Wonderful Idea. Horrible Implementation

Have been using the Beeb's iPlayer now for some time, and whilst it fits with my 'on demand' viewing preferences, it is still not totally bereft of issues.

I started digging around trying to find where all these huge downloads were saved and came across a mysterious folder I had not seen before called "Kontiki". So the BBC is using some third party malware ridden P2P client! Horror of all horrors! And there I was all snug and cosy wrapped in Aunty Beeb's false sense of security. Apart from Data Protection issues, I suggest to anyone that runs this to check there settings, as this bloatware and seriously damage your bandwidth health in addition to leaving maliscious malware lurking on your little PC. Check this piece.

iPod Heaven

Well. Finally gone and done it. Given in and got myself an iPod. A Touch no less. If you browse previous posts you would have read my constant struggle to find the ideal PDA or smartphone lifestyle/productivity solution. Many others no doubt share the same challenge. Do you go for ultimate convergence a la iPhone, LG Viewty or Nokia E90, sacrificing perfomance, or do you ditch convergence for a separates solution of phone, PDA and camera? It's been difficult as my needs have changed over time, but now I've accepted that a highly portable device that goes part way to productivity is important for me, and a camera has to be separate due to quality. Also, as long as the phone is small with a decent battery and connectivity features, then this solution can be split three ways, rather than losing performance by converging all into two or one. So despite dismissing Apple's iPod/Phone products without a thorough trial, I revisited Apple's offerings by recommendation. After all I do own a sexy MacBook.

So I've gone for a web-tablet with the iPod Touch, supplemented by a separate phone and camera. What's great is that the combo works, possibly due to the Touch. Even out of the box, it simply works and does so beautifully. Full blown productivity is yet to come, as I haven't gone down the Jailbreak route unlike many others. Official third party support will arrive in February anyway, so why risk voiding that warranty.

iPod Touch; Samsung E900; Casio Exilim

I'm finally happy. :-)

This blog was written on an iPod Touch.