Welcome to Brendon Davis

Interactive MCE Remote

Autor brendon | 19.10.2009 | Category 7, MediaCenter, TechStuff

What do you get if you cross a HTC Touch GSM Eddn. II, Windows Phone 6.5, a Bluetooth Adapter & Windows Mobile Sideshow…

Short answer, an awesome remote for a VISTA Media centre… Of course, I was planning on posting an awesome how-to on configuring the device for Win7 MCE but as it doesn’t work how I’d planned…

Now I know that Windows 7 isn’t officially released until the end of this week but what’s really disheartening is that the Sideshow team have posted that they do not plan to release a 7 Compatible MCE Sideshow gadget.

My aim originally was to have a remote control I could use to the Guide and check my scheduled recordings without having to disturb who was watching TV AND to control the music from the back porch.

Interestingly the pre-installed Windows 7 media player Gadget is able to manipulate the now playing music but only when you start playing music from MCE. The downloadable MCE Gadgets just completely fail to work.

All up the sideshow remote idea isn’t a complete failure. We can control music from around the house but the interface is painful and un-intuitive. I’m certainly going to keep an eye on what happens in this area.

Domain Controller out of Sync

Autor brendon | 13.10.2009 | Category Server, TechStuff

“Oh no! My Domain Controller has been turned off for too long and lost kerbose synchronization with the domain! What can I do?”

Have you ever been in a situation where a domain controller has lost synchronisation with the domain? I know I have….

Well worry no more. Thanks to the good folks at Microsoft we can now easily reset the computer account and get your DC up and working in no time.

Don’t believe me? Well follow these 5 easy steps to get your DC’s back on track.

Now how much do we want for this wonderful tool? Nothing!

This service is completely free AND if you are not 100% satisfied, we will give you no money back.

That’s right, don’t call us and you too can have your DC’s operational.

My Media-Center Setup -Updated

Autor brendon | 13.10.2009 | Category MediaCenter, TechStuff

Much has happened since my post in 2007, outlining my current Windows Media center setup. For one, the finance department has approved a larger budget to record and play back more content. Much of my hardware has failed so I have been able to install better hardware over the past few years.

My goals are still the similar:

1. Provide scheduled recording for our favourite TV programs using the new Digital broadcasts.
2. Provide easy access to our pictures, music, videos & movies stored on the Windows Home Server.
3. I had to use existing equipment at home and spend no more than $250 per month control spending for upgrades.

I have moved this page to its very own tab now, so if you’re interested, check out http://brendon.davis.to/mymce.

Matter-Antimatter Collider

Autor brendon | 09.10.2009 | Category Rant

Now I don’t normally repost other people’s content but for this I just couldn’t resist…

From Slashdot “The Register is carrying a story on the early design efforts for the next generation of high-energy particle accelerators. They will be linear, and will collide matter and antimatter in the form of electrons and positrons. The obvious question will be: once we have a matter-antimatter reactor, how long till we have warp drive, and will the Vulcans show up for a sneak-peak?”

I couldn’t have said it better myself!