Fri, 29 Sep 2006
Around again — Software update merrygoround! // at 00:00
Seems that Apple have actually noticed that the iTunes 7.0 update from a fortnight ago doesn't work so well! Updates today to iTunes 7.0.1 and Last.fm 1.0.7. Now if only the damnable Quicktime installer wouldn't insist on ignoring my preferences every bloody time the bloody thing is updated or installed and re-enabling the system tray icon!
I haven't discovered yet whether it fixes the w-w-w-warbling and g-g-g-garbled music....
Fri, 15 Sep 2006
Software update circus // at 23:59
Another whirl of the software upgrade merry-go-round on the Windows laptop today: Firefox quietly downloaded and installed 1.5.0.7, but after restarting, the Google Browser Sync. plugin didn't reload all my tabs so I lost something I was reading. iTunes asked and I consented, and so version six point something was replaced by 7.0.0.70, but then all my music started sounding all w-w-w-warbly and g-g-g-garbled. Plugins it is, the Last.fm/audioscrobbler plugin was at fault, so out it went and in came the newer Last.fm for Microsoft Windows. At least the latest revision of the Garmin Web Updater seems to have gone in without a problem....
Revisited 2006-09-18: Seems that my iTunes problem doesn't go away by disabling the plugin. The latest version is a major step backwards for me and the slightest bit of activity by any other application and it warbles and stutters. Followed all the recommendations on configuring Quicktime to no avail. I guess I just wait for iTunes version 7.0.1....
Mon, 03 Jul 2006
Thu, 22 Jun 2006
Update headache // at 23:59
Musing on the methods of software updates under Windows. Seems that
the assorted linuxes are well ahead here; Debian's apt-get
upgrade, SuSE's rug update, not just the operating
system but application packages too.
Windows has Windows Update, but every other application has its own mechanism — perhaps. Monitor the mailing lists, read the web page, click “check for update” in the application....
Today's updates were for the Edge 305, GPS firmware update to 2.60, Motionbased agent updated to 2.3.0.0, Garmin Training Centre updated to 3.1.4. All performed differently, all initiated manually.
I think Windows needs an API where applications can register an update URL, a time frequency (eg monthly, weekly, daily, manually), and an update behaviour. A single "check for updates" tool could then find everything that you have installed.
Back to the Garmin Edge. Hopefully the Edge 305 2.60 firmware will be better than the bad 2.40 and the appalling 2.20, there are shocking bugs in all of them — this is not a product that's is ready for release! Twice this week I've gone to turn the unit on in the morning only to be told that it has a flat battery, and I know that I turned it off the night before.... Plug it into the charger and the damn thing turns itself on after a while, then complains that it can't see the satellites. Turn it off and a while later it does it again! Firmware version 2.60 can't possibly be any worse....
