Unstable Windows

Windows crashed today. Again. It is XP Pro, and has 1 gByte of RAM and 128mBytes of Video RAM. So memory is really not an issue. Anyway my machine gets to the point where the machine locks up. I think it might be video driver related.

My machine needed another few reboots… Mainly becase the computer decided to stop recording CD’s. This is DUMB. I am beginning to think that I need to do a reinstall of the software… But at the moment I cannot afford the time. And it would cause so much of a disruption. I guess it would take two days to do, once I got the paperwork together to do the complete backup and restore process. Still I think it would be more reliable.

GPRS in the Pacific Islands

One of my contacts in the pacific was due to start playing with GPRS yesterday. They have put that back until July 15, due to problems. But then I found out the real show stopper. I already knew that they were intending to run it as an ‘All You Can Eat’ payment plan. This is horrible for telemetry, but you can live with it. The show stopper is that they are planning to allow HTTP only for ‘Security’. The only reason that I can think of for this is that they do not want people sending SPAM from the mobile device. Apart from that I cannot see security issues.

Remember here, these devices can initiate connections only. They cannot receieve connections. Incoming connections are just not possible. So why add other layers?

WiFi and Unlicensed Space

There is an Interesting Article about how some venues were attempting to restrict the use of WiFi by lease holders on interferece grounds and require them to use services provided by the building owners and managers.

I am not sure that this is the right decision. Sure it is good for the rights of the unlicensed masses, and asserts the FCC’s exclusive right to manage spectrum. But at the same time, isn’t this just like a building owner requiring that certain telephones are used, or restricting a person at a trade show from renting services from anyone apart from those provided by the show organizer.

I think the reason why this passed was on interference grounds. If the additional access points had been prohibited on any other purpose, including the response that ‘we own the building so we can restrict you from doing anything if we like’, I am not sure that the FCC would have ruled how they did.

I expect the other issues will come up soon… Just you wait…