TBL Network Round Up - February

Image via Wikipedia

Over the last couple of months I have been working hard on organising the-broken-link.com into a better experience for my readers.  There have been some changes in layout and themes so as to cut the clutter.  Content has been moved into different pages.  This means that the Linux readers don't need to wade through all my posts on Cloud Technology, and those who enjoy the Broken Tech links don't need to sift through the opinion posts.

Each blog has its own RSS feed so please subscribe so you don't need to check back so often.  If you are on Twitter, I always twitter any new posts on @thebrokenlink and if you would like to follow me, check out @corran57.  I'm working on a Facebook page so you can get a better look at TBL's inner workings, and trying organise better ways to capture conversations.

Here is a quick roundup of the month of February here on The Broken Link.

The Broken Blog

This month TBL weighed into the Flash debate with "The Fall of Flash: Adobe Flash" picking up on the iPad launch and the high profile blog fighting around its lack of Flash.  Since this post there has been a lot of good comparisons between Flash in its new rival HTML5.  It will be worth keeping an eye on this debate as the web will need to change to whoever is the winner.

Next was the look at Google's Buzz product which had been launched a couple of weeks earlier in the post "Google's Anti-Buzz".

Broken Technology

We have a look at the problem with the iPhone and 64-bit Windows 7 in the posts "iPhone and 64-bit Windows - A Hate Story".  Then we keep with the Apple/Microsoft theme by linking to a How-To on cross platform file sharing in "Peace and File-Sharing: Between Mac and Windows 7", very interesting as the Mac continues to gain market share.

Broken Cloud

Just the one post this month, even though cloud computing is one of my favorite subjects -  "UbuntuOne V's Dropbox".  Here we take a look at the UbuntuOne service and the news that they are planing to make it cross platform, like Dropbox.  Not that there aren't a number of these types of services starting to appear, but the importance of the move is more in what this will mean in the show of support for cloud storage and computing.

Broken Penguin

February saw the launch of the Broken Penguin blog which is to be the home for most of my posts dealing with Linux platforms.  Here I'm hoping to have reviews and commentary on Linux distributions and software.  Also How-To's, fixes and general notes on the Linux scene.

This month started with a look at Video Editing software with "Video Editing on Linux", which has always been a bit of a weak point for Linux.  Then there is a post on how many mobile devices, even from the likes of Nokia, are coming with a Linux OS in an effort to compete with the iPhone.  "To Beat iPhone we Need to go the Linux...Really?" asks the question - are mobile and smart-phone makers missing the point?  Also am I the worst headline writer in the world?

I hope you are enjoying the content here on TBL, I'm enjoying making it.  I want to provide an Australian point of view to a highly Americanised industry.  I hope that the information found here is useful, and somewhat entertaining.  Please comment and join the conversation, as I prefer to talk with my readers than at them.....

Jason Remnant

...if it's not Broken, please just wait till the next post :)

Rockbox 3.0 Vs iPod Photo Part 2

"It isn't until someone tries to improve something, that the beauty of the original

is laid bare." - Me, just then.

I have been working with Rockbox 3.0 on my iPod Photo for the last couple of weeks, and I just wanted to finish up my last post on the subject with some more thoughts about using Rockbox as an alternative to the Apple firmware.  I have by no means hammered the device, more just using it as you would day-to-day.  I have been tweaking the settings and having quick looks at Wiki, but really I have just been trying to replicate a new iPod/mp3 player experience again.

Click to read more ...

The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 details, and Price drop.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="295" caption="Thanks Dell nice pic."][/caption]

We are starting to see the details emerge for the Dell E Netbook, and as you know from previous posts, I'm one interested puppy.  The name given to Dell's offering to the UMPC market is the "Inspiron Mini 9", but was it worth the wait?

Last month I posted on leaked details which weren't too far off the mark.  The changes that we will see are a 1.6GHz Atom processor, the rest looks pretty standard.  I'm still waiting on being able to do a proper order to determine the real price, at this stage it is justpre -order with a AU$599 online price.  Because of the way Dell works, I'm interested as to how much we'll be able to customise the Mini 9, and what the real price will be in the end.

Last week I was fortunate to be able to spend some time with the Asus Eee PC 901 - Windows version (thanks, Tim!), which was quite impressive.  The only flaw I could see was having the 2 small drives.  Tim said that he had to reconfigure the 901 and install XP onto the larger drive.  This was because when he installed MS Office, he was out of space.  Now, the Linux version of the 901 comes with a 20GBSSD, not sure why if it is the 4GB + 16GB combo.  If it is, then I would say that you would be having similar problems with space.

The Dell seems to get around this by just offering up to 16GB SSD.  So I guess this means that it will be just the one drive.  Another difference is that the 901 also has the larger battery pack, 6 cells I think, where the Dell comes with a 4 cell.  Again, I'll be keen to see if the battery is an  upgrade option.

In the all important $ column, I note that the 901 was dropped to AU$649, and so at this time, with the Dell weighing in at AU$599, it seems a good deal.  But I'll be waiting till I can order one before I get too excited.

Jason Remnant


While i was editing this article, Dell updated the website so you can order the Inspiron Mini 9, just to make me look silly. There is not much to say, but the options are limited, limited to the details above really.  There are no options for the SSD, you get the 16GB, or the battery.  Also no Ubuntu version yet, just XP Home.  I still like it, and at the price, the Mini 9 could be aEee PC killer.

Jason Remnant Again.

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Dell Sub notebook surfaces and it has Ubuntu on it.

Image via Wikipedia

Last month I proclaimed my desire for the UMPC/Netbook and sighted a couple of models that I was interested in.  Well, since that post I have been keeping an eye out and, so far, the shelves have only been stocked with the Asus Eee PC, and the occasional HP Aspire One.  The HP is a nice machine, but the price places it up there with a basic full laptop, so I have been waiting to see what would come from other manufacturers, namely Dell.

Well, finally, some details are beginning to emerge as Gizmodo gets some leaked specs, and in a world where early information is good information, you can count me in.

Important bits:

• Processor - Intel Atom, 1.5GHz single core


• Memory - 1Gb


• LCD - 8.9" (1024x600)


• HHD - Flash SSD 4/8/16Gb


• OS - Ubuntu 8.04/Win XP

The Dell Inspiron 910 looks to have all the normal Netbook features, plus the introduction of Ubuntu 8.04.  I have played around a little with the Linux offering on the Eee PC and, as good as it was, I kept wanting a more fleshed out experience.  The Netbook Remix of Ubuntu looks great and promises to bring a fuller experience for those of us living in/on the cloud.  So the Inspiron 910 looks like it's going to be the Netbook of choice, and with a rumour of a $299 US price tag, I'll be cleaning some space on the old plastic card.

Launch is rumored for 22nd of August which will be just in time for my 32nd year on this earth(hint hint). Though when it will be available here in Oz is anyone's guess.

Jason Remnant.

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And the winner is.....?

Image by scottpartee via Flickr

Waving my hands mystically, and channelling the universe.....this is the future of computing.....  The home PC market will be dominated by Apple and custom Linux installs from Dell.  The Mobile (Cellphone) market will be a fight between Android and Apple.  Microsoft and Google will control the Cloud.  Video Gaming will be done on consoles that look more like supercomputers, probably between the same three as now - Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo.

Why do I say this? Look at where the money is going, and where the consumers are going.

Here is the finer details:

Microsoft, and many others, will shift to the Cloud to stop piracy.  If you want/need office, just subscribe to it, download and desktop client and you're away.  They are already flirting with it, I'm sure they will see the advantages of a crossplatform market, once they're out of it.

Apple make the hardware we all want and once you get the iPhone and move to the Cloud you too can have that perfectly designed PC or Mobility Laptop for your home, and/or lap.  And not to worry, all Microsoft's clients will run fine.

Google will continue their Ad supported hippy code-fest, and with their lead, will hold a good share of the Cloud space.  Their push into the mobile market will be helped because with major cellphone manufacturers, when faced with competing with Apple, just made their phone's compatible with Android and re-skined the UI.  So there is the elegance of the iPhone and the nerdiness of the Google Phone.  Rolling a twenty to see the winner.

Gaming is a tricky one because the hardware manufacturers that don't get in with Apple and Dell, or who want to push the envelope, will need to get into the Video Gaming field.  As the PC will be all but dead, consoles, water cooled by this stage, will be the platforms of choice.  And with the money at stake there will always be enough room for the big three.

This is the future according to TBL Nostradamus.  And we all know his record......So?  It could happen!

Jason Remnant

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