Sunday 24 June 2012

Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapter

I recently was given another monitor to add to my collection - this one now sits above my desk.


So a new monitor can only mean one thing - a new VGA adapter for my MacBook Air



Sunday 17 June 2012

The sad demise of the first generation iPad


I have been doing more reading about the reasons why iOS 6 will not be available on the first generation iPad.  Technically there seems to be no reason why this is not possible as the same tech will be available in later iPhone models.  I guess the basic question is how long we should expect a product to remain fresh and supported?

Despite tremendous sales figures the first ten iPad has been eclipsed by the next two models, as you probably would expect.  App developers will now be writing and coding for the new iPads with much better hardware stats compared to the first models.  The question really should be, do we want to run some of these new cutting edge apps on a machine with only one core processor and significantly reduced RAM?

Support and further updates will also be an issue for anyone using the first generation iPad.  As iOS6 rolls out there will be less and less support and updates available potentially leaving the first gen iPad open to security threats.

As far as resale value goes first generation iPads are currently selling on eBay for 64GB for £250 and as low as £120 for the 16GB model. 

The future does not look good therefore for my first gen iPad.


Head over to uktechreviews.com for more news and stories.

Blessings and curses


Curses, Blessings and the Law

Listened to a great talk tonight at church on Galatians 3

Galatians 3:1-14 (NIV)You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. [2] I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? [3] Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? [4] Have you suffered so much for nothing---if it really was for nothing? [5] Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? [6] Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." [7] Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. [8] The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." [9] So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. [10] All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." [11] Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." [12] The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." [13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." [14] He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The contrast between curse and blessings.

Why do they keep choosing curse rather than blessing?

We don't set out not to receive curse in our life, we would much rather have a blessing.

Time and again we are presented with a choice but why do we chose the curse.

Galatians 3:2 (NIV)I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?

We can't live as a follower of Jesus if we don't have faith and trust in Him. It doesn't have to be much (faith as small as a mustard seed).

It is nothing we have done but rather we have heard and believed.

It is about faith and not about human effort.

Galatians 3:3 (NIV)Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

Galatians 3:5 (NIV)Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

What does it mean for us?

It is a reminder of our salvation.

Galatians 3:6 (NIV)Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

We are counted as righteous because we have faith and trust in Jesus.

Does it sound too simple?

YES - IT IS THAT SIMPLE.

That why it is called the Christian Faith rather than Christian works.

We have to remind ourselves of this. Because we believe we receive blessing.

The blessing that God pours out on us is not related to our works but because of our faith.

Galatians 3:7 (NIV)
Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.

Not by what we do but by having faith not by trying to fulfil the law.

Do we feel blessed?

We should be able to say that "I feel blessed" but there will be times when we feel tired and worn out and not feel that God's blessing.

If we are engaged with too many church activities we may feel tired and then find it hard to feel blessed. Faith can sometimes feel like a burden.

Galatians 3:7 (NIV)
Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.

We don't have to volunteer for everything but we must strike a balance between how we serve.  We will feel that we want to serve because we love Jesus but we must get the balance right.

Those who rely on faith are blessed.

This does not mean that nothing bad will happen or every prayer will be answered in the material way we want.

Being blessed brings us a step closer to God. We know we are blessed when we detach ourselves from earthly things of the world and focus on God.

The curse ..

Galatians 3:10 (NIV)
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."

The Law is almost impossible to meet and was given for a purpose and a time and was met in Jesus.

Trying to follow the law wraps us in minute detail and we will never meet it.

Galatians 3:13 (NIV)
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."

Jesus made a way that means we can find a way to God.

Galatians 3:14 (NIV)
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.


How will we know God's blessing tomorrow?

God's grace is abundant and freely poured out by believing and not doing.

The First must be last?


"If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last and the servant of all"

Mark 9:33-37 (NIV)They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" [34] But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. [35] Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." [36] He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, [37] "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Why is it so hard to have pure motives?

Mark 9:33-34 (NIV)They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" [34] But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.


In the presence of Jesus our motives are exposed.

Jesus was aware that the end was coming and His focus shifted to teaching the Disciples.

How does it feel to know that Jesus can peer into your heart and expose your motives?

- challenging 
- helping
- what would Jesus think?
- strength to hold back

Why did the Disciples have this argument?

- different backgrounds from Humble fishermen to well educated.
- pushy mother of John and James
- they still haven't learnt and understood
- were they thinking of succession from Jesus
- male bravado "I'm the best..."
- ambition - there was an inner circle
- human

Why do so many families argue on the way to church and then suddenly appear all smiles when they get there?

This is similar to :-

Mark 9:34 (NIV)But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

Why did Jesus use a question rather than just telling them off?

Mark 9:33 (NIV)
...... he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?"

They know that He knows what they were talking about. 

This brings the truth home to them with impact.

Mark 9:35 (NIV)Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

By sitting down Jesus was specifically teaching.

How can exemplify the "last shall be first" in

- the workplace
- the dinner table
- at church 
- in our small groups

A good leader would not ask anyone to do something that they would not be prepared to do.

The Greek word for child also means servant.

What does it say about the disciples argument after Jesus had just said..

Mark 9:30-32 (NIV)They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, [31] because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." [32] But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. 

Mark 9:36-37 (NIV)He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, [37] "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

What comes to mind when we realise that welcoming others is the same as welcoming God.

Matthew 25:35-44 (NIV)For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, [36] I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' [37] "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? [38] When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? [39] When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' [40] "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' [41] "Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [42] For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' [44] "They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

How are the themes of welcoming and servanthood related?

How can we adapt our lives to move from self preservation to servanthood?

- do we move from what is in it for me to what can I do to serve?

Would we be willing to serve if it is costly?

Faith without deeds?


Faith and deeds

James 2:14-26 (NIV)What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? [15] Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. [16] If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? [17] In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. [18] But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. [19] You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that---and shudder. [20] You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? [21] Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. [23] And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. [24] You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. [25] In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? [26] As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Have you ever been in a crowded place and yet it still feels dead?

What about a church full of people but feeling dead?

Things aren't going well

James 1:1-2,6 (NIV)
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. [2] Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [6] But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James asks what real faith look like for us and our church?

The question and the answer.

James 2:14 (NIV)
What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

James 2:26 (NIV)
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

What does our faith look like?

Jewish religion seemed to be all about "doing" - the deeds that went with it.

But then the disciples said it is more about faith, prayer and relationships.

But ...

James 2:26 (NIV)
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

We show our faith by our actions and deeds. Our actions can reveal our faith.

Two examples are given.

Abraham and Rahab the prostitute.

James 2:21-22 (NIV)
Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

James 2:25 (NIV)
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?

Some people thought that Christian faith is just about faith.

James 2:19 (NIV)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that---and shudder. 

Christian faith is meant to change lives and society.

What does it look like for us individually?

Faith, Prayer, Action and deeds all go together.

During the week we are called to do the same.

We probably fall into two groups;

We may feel intimidated about living in the world are we focus on prayer and faith.

We may just want to do the practical things and leaving the prayer to the spiritual people.

James 2:26 (NIV)
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Wednesday 13 June 2012

Internet Trolls

I realise that as soon as I write this I will probably unleash a torrent of hate from the very people I am thinking and reflecting about.


Trolls


Or more accurately those people who hide behind their computer screen and cause havoc on the Internet.


It starts so easily ...




Hitting the dislike button on YouTube
Writing a negative comment on YouTube
Making a negative and personal comment on Facebook


Where does it end ...



  • Obscene messages being left on tribute sites for people
  • Vile rumours being spread
  • Careers and lives ruined
  • Damage to self esteem and trust in others
  • Suicide?

Have I been a victim?

Yes - I have had some very negative comments left both on YouTube and my Blog.

How did I feel?

To have horrible messages left about a video I spend ages recording and editing left by someone who has uploaded no content was hurtful.  Being called quite nasty names because I left a positive review for a video was a shock.

Has it happened again?

Yes - I think that as soon as I started to get more popular on YouTube / Blog the negative and hate comments started increasing - so this will probably will be the future.

How can I deal with it?

- as easy as it sounds, ignore it. 
- don't reply to any comment - don't feed them!
- don't take it personally.
- share what is happening with a friend and don't bottle it up.

This is an interesting article from the BBC News on how websites will be forced to identify trolls.


Monday 11 June 2012

Live Blog from WWDC 2012 - part V "one more thing"






Live Blog from WWDC 2012 - part V


Will there be one more thing?


NO!

Live Blog from WWDC 2012 - part IV






Live Blog from WWDC 2012 - part IV

Scott talking about  iOS 6


365,000,000 million iOS devices with many running iOS 5


- Notification centre
- iMessage, a billion messages sent every day
- Twitter integrated into iOS5
-75% of customers say they are very satisfied (less than 50% for Android)


New features for iOS6 - over 200 new features


- SIRI - lots of new sports results and information type things including "eyes free Siri integration" in the next 12 months.  Local search now going world wide.


SIRI now available on the new iPad.


- Facebook integration right into iOS6


- New phone enhances - text messages, reminders to callers.  Do not disturb, no flashing up screens or buzzes.  You can now select phone calls you want to allow and if people call you repeatedly they will get through.


- FaceTime unifies phone number and Apple ID, so if someone calls your number you can answer on iPad or Mac. Facetime also available over cellular.


- Safari for iOS will get iCloud Tabs shown earlier (see anything open on any Mac/iDevice). Reading list goes offline.


- Photo-stream with new feature of shared photo-streams.


- Email - VIP with a flagged message mailbox. Insert photos and videos into email - how cool


- Passbook - all of your passes in one place.  Boarding passes, store cards and store card available in the app


- Guided access - accessibility Apps including a single app mode where pressing the home button doesn't take you back to the home screen.


- A whole new mapping solution, all new cartography - a world wide effort! Goodbye Google maps.  Local maps and local search!  Traffic service with overlaid incidents. Turn by turn navigation!  Siri integration - ask Siri and she will take you there!  Flyover with a new view taken by helicopters.


200 iOS updates


- game centre
- redesigned stores
- hearing aid support
- account signatures for different accounts
- lost your phone - find my iphone improvements
- improved features for China


iOS beta for developers released - shipped this fall.


NOT SUPPORTING FIRST GENERATION IPAD!!!





Live Blog from WWDC 2012 - part III OSX






Live Blog from WWDC 2012 - part III

66 million Mac Users


Lion - 26 million copies sold to date - best selling release, 14% after just 9 months.


Mountain Lion is a major release with over 200 new features.

iCloud

- launched October 2011
- all your content across all platforms, messenger, notes and reminders, documents in the cloud.  This looks like it might be a rival to Google Drive.  Document libraries available across all devices.
- location based reminders available now on the Mac
- documents libraries syncs across all devices

- Notification centre with banners sliding onto the screen

- Dictation now coming to the Mac, talk even into third party applications

- Sharing - across all applications to many different social networks

- Safari - New unified smart search field, pickup all your web pages across all platforms. Nice zooming out feature to see all your tabs.

- Game centre

- Power nap - keeps your Mac up to date while asleep, email fetch, reminders, photo stream etc

And the price $19.99 which is around £15-20









Live Blog from WWDC 2012 - part II






Live Blog from WWDC 2012 - part II

Tim Cook back on stage and thanks developers for their incredible apps.


Tim confirms new notebook updates and updates to OSX and iOS updates.


MacBook Air update


Everyone is trying to copy the MacBook air but failing.


Updates


3rd gen Core aka Ivy Bridge, up to 2.0GHz dual core i7. Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz. with 8GB of memory


Thunderbolt and USB3 with 60% faster graphics, 720p facetime camera


Tweets as they arrive



MacLife
Comes in 11-inch (1366x768 display, unchanged. 4GB memory in standard config. Starts at $999, or $1,099 ($100 less).
11/06/2012 18:20



And they ship today - wow! I wish I had held back buying mine until now!


MacBook Pro - amazing specs


MBP: Up to 2.7GHz Quad-Core i7, turbo boost to 3.7 GHz, up to8GB 1600 MHz memory, up to 60% faster graphics



MacLife
Same 7 hours of battery life in 15-inch MBP. Less than an inch thick (not in the Air wedge casing), ships today.
11/06/2012 18:23



Pretty cool updates


New Mac ??


New Apple notebook - New generation MacBook pro.


"You want a killer new display, architecture built for the future, radically thin and light, bold new technologies…"


- a new and amazing display


0.71 inches thick. 25% thinner than current MBP. About as thin as a MBA. 4.46 pounds.




Yes, it is a Retina Display." 15.4 inches, 2880.1800, 4x previous gen's pixels. 220ppi - greatly reduced glare.

MacLife
Phil says they reduced the glare and reflection by 75%. Lion and the Apple apps have been updated to take advantage of the Retina display.
11/06/2012 18:29



Some amazing updates for the new retina display. 

I have never seen such a big battery! 7 hours of battery life!

MacLife
Quad-core i7, up to 2.7GHz. Up to 16GB of memory, 1600MHz. Kepler graphics GeForce GT 650, up to 1GB of VRAM. Flash storage up to 768GB!!!
11/06/2012 18:34


HDMI connector - at last!

MBP ports: SD card, HDMI!!!, USB 3/2, TWO THUNDERBOLT, a thinner MagSafe 2, headphone. 

MacLife
Apple has a Thunderbolt Ethernet adapter now, which is nice.
11/06/2012 18:36

And now we have another video ...

It is a contradiction - extreme performance but portable.

Stream 9 camera views in Final Cut Pro X!


The price ....

$2199 is the starting price with a 2.3GHz quad-core chip, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of flash storage.

Shipping today!