Wardriver Wednesday

Apr 27 2009

Moblogging–Wardriver style

“According to the Oxford-English dictionary, the word ‘snapshot’ was
first used
in 1808 by an English sportsman by the name of Sir Andrew Hocker.
He noted in his diary
that every bird he shot that day was taken by snapshot.
meaning a hurried shot,
without deliberate aim. Snapshot then… was originally
a hunting term.”
-One Hour Photo

Over a month ago I
announced that the articles formerly known as “Road Warrior Wednesday”
would take a new name to depict the “edge” that it was intended to
ooze. Since that time I have brought you such terrifying and controversial topics
as USB gadgets, messenger bags and presentation remotes. I know, I haven’t been
keeping up my end of the bargain. Well, this time around, I”m hoping to ruffle
a few more feathers…we’re going MobloggingÃ³Wardriver style.

Moblogging?
Moblogging is short for “mobile blogging” which, in tern, is short
for “mobile web logging” It is a activity practiced by a growning
number of people who form a community of web sites that document the events
and experiences of the various lives through the use of digital cameras both
standalone and those that come with some of the latest mobile phones. Mobloggers
take these snapshots and post them on their web sites. They often offer insites
into the meaning the particular image has for them and invite you, the visitor
to leave a comment of your own.

I’ve been moblogging
for a few months now as part of my
personal blog. And, of course, I invite you to get involved and interact
with me there also. But today I have another activity in mind.

Warchalking?
Warchalking is commonly
conducted in the course of wardriving. (If you don’t know what wardriving is,
why are you here? Okay, it’s when you drive around looking for open wireless
internet connections. Happy now?!) A wifi hotspot is often chalked with a symbol
to denote the type of access, the degree of protection that is in play, the
quality of that signal and sometimes the distance to the actual access point
from the chalk mark. That is warchalking.

Moblogging Wardriver style
Now this is a bit of an experiment and how well it works is entirely up to you
wardrivers. What I propose is that you go out wardriving and when you find a
nice, free, unprotected hotspot that, instead of pulling out your chalk and
marking the sidewalk, take out a camera and email
it to the MacMerc.com
Wardriver Wednesday Moblog. Here’s how:

Take a picture of the building from which the discovered signal is
emitting.

Attach that image to an email
message addressed to the MacMerc.com
Wardriver Wednesday Moblog.

In the subject line of that email, enter the name of the signals location.

Use wardriving software like MacStumbler or iStumbler to find out the
name of the access point (the SSID), the channel the access point is using,
the signal strength, whether or not it is protected by WEP and the type
of router. Also take note of your physical location; the street you’re
on and the address of the building that houses the wifi signal. If you
want to get really high tech, use a GPS unit to find your global location
or enter the street address online at Maporama.com.

Now, in the body of the email, type the information you gathered thusly
(replacing the italicized parts with your own information):

SSID = Name of access point
Channel = Channel number
Signal = Signal strength
WEP = WEP protected? Yes or No?
Router = Router Manufacturer
Location = City, State/Prov, Country
(GPS location)

Submit that email and watch for your submission
to appear on the MacMerc.com
Wardriver Wednesday Moblog.

Again, for this idea to work it hinges on the participation of you wardrivers
out there. Get out there and photograph your local hotspots (protected or unprotected,
public or private) and send submit them as I have detailed ablove. The most
recent submission appears below:

Keep an eye on the MacMerc.com
Wardriver Wednesday Moblog for wifi hotspots in your area.

By admin • Articles, Wardriver Wednesday • Comments Off • Tags: com, controversial topics, course, growning number, latest mobile phones, location, mobile web logging, Moblog, name, oxford english dictionary, signal, sir andrew, style, time, Type, use, warchalking, wardriving, wifi hotspot, wireless internet connections

Apr 27 2009

Gifts I gave, Gifts I got

(republished from The
Inner-workings of the Merc Mind)

This Christmas I found a few choice items under the tree while also putting
a few there for others to enjoy. Here are a few I can recommend for those of
you looking to spend your returned gift money or the cash Aunt Martha gave you
this year.

iPod
Skin from Speck Products I am usually a big fan of iSkin
products, but for rubberized iPod sheaths my nod goes to the iPod
Skin from Speck Products. It’s not as sticky as the iSkin so it goes in
your pocket with less of a fight and the flip out bottom on the 3G model
allows for access to the docking port without stretching or disfiguring
the Skin. The cut-out on the top of the sheath also allows you to add
an iTrip with very little modification to the iPod Skin.

+: Protects the slick iPod surface from scratches. Isn’t as sticky
feeling as the iSkin
Exo and offers easier access to the docking port.
-: Also hides the slick iPod surface from view. Does not include
a screen protector or belt clip like the iSkin
Exo

Griffin
iTrip FM Transmitter for iPod Anything that makes the world a
little more cordless is a good thing. 2 or more cables left beside each
other without supervision will eventually braidÃ³it’s a fact. It is also
a fact that, in many parts of the world, it is illegal or al least dangerous
to drive while listening to music on headphones, so being able to transmit
your iPod music over an FM signal to your car radio is terrific. The good
news and bad news is that the transmitter isn’t that powerful: bad because
you need to find just the right place to put your iPod while it transmits
but good because, most likely, the guy waiting for the light to turn green
in the lane beside you won’t be listening to your tunes on his radio.

+: Wirelessness rocks! FM signal not strong enough to be stolen
by cars in the next lane.
-: FM signal sometimes not strong enough to be used by the car carrying
the iTrip.

iSkin
ProTouch PB Finally, the people at iSkin have released a keyboard
protector for the PowerBook layout. What? You thought the “PB” stood for
“peanut butter”? Well, it might. Since the ProTouch keyboard protector
will stand between your keyboard and your sticky, greasy “PB&J” fingers
and protecting the fragile keys from subatomic
toasticles. I bought this for my
roommate, CJ.

+: I love these things! No more crumbs and hairs in my keyboard.
-: The texture takes some getting used to.

The
Official eBay Bible by Jim Griff Griffith (not exactly inkeeping
with WDW’s mobile theme) I had already bought a copy of this book
for myself to find out how I might scuttle the parts of my now defunct
iBook on the World’s Online Marketplace. But as I read through it, I kept
thinking to myself, “George needs to read this.” George
is a SCUBA diver and likes to collect bottles that he find on his
dives. He’s always wondered what it would take to sell a few of these
items or at the very least find out what they’d go for. This book goes
into all of that and more. If you’re an eBay addict or are thinking of
cultivating an addiction, this book will have you freebasing Beanie
Babies in no time.

+: Tips for buying, tips for selling. Tips on everything from
setting up your eBay account to leaving feedback.
-: PC-centric informationÃ³nothing to worry about though.

Gotta go, I think the folks at the Future Shop just figured out that someone
is scamming their wifi signal.

Happy New Year!?

-Rick

By admin • Articles, Wardriver Wednesday • Comments Off • Tags: aunt martha, car, car radio, choice, docking port, Exo, fm signal, gift money, griffin itrip fm transmitter, iSkin, iskin exo, lane, Merc, port, screen protector, sheaths, signal, speck products, surface, year

Apr 27 2009

The Elemental Road Warrior– Part I– Earth

Compatibility Legend

12″

G3 iBook

14″

G3 iBook

12″

G4 PowerBook

15″

G4 Titanium PowerBook

17″

G4 PowerBook

In this edition of Road Warrior Wednesday, we’ll take a look at products designed

to protect your portable. Not baggage, mind you — that we’ll discuss sometime

down the road a way. No, I’m talking about protecting your iBook or PowerBook

from the rigors of everyday use. There are those who believe that a notebook

computer should always look like it’s been through Hell a few times and survived

to show its souvenir stickers. If you are one of those people, maybe next week’s

RWW will be more your kinda thing.

For the purposes of this article, we will categorize the forces of nature thusly

— earth, wind, fire and water. This week we’ll be looking at …

Earth, as in dirt and scudge. It can come in many forms and

it gets on your screen, in your keyboard and on the case of your portable. It

sucks. Wipe it off.

iKlear

–

Check out the fine products from KlearScreen.com. The Singles 12-pack

is compact for carrying with you in your pack and contains little moistened

towelettes that have been marinaded in iKlear, an anti-static, alcohol

and ammonia-free solution that is also non-toxic, non-damaging and non-flammable

…sounds like water, but it works a lot better. You can use the various

iKlear products to clean any portable’s screen or the case and trackpad

of your iBook.

+: the 12-pack is very handy indeed

-: I never got the “polished marble” feel the bottle promised

no matter how diligent I was with my weekly polishing.

Ice

Creme

–

Do you have an iBook with some fairly deep scratches. Ice Creme is a two

part skin care system for iBooks that helps bring back the luster.

+: does a fine job of polishing minor scratches.

-: may require much of the small supply of Compound A to buff away

the nastier scratches.

TiPaint

–

TiPaint is a specially formulated touch up paint for the scratches and

blisters that have plagued the Titanium PowerBooks since their release.

The paint is available in either Light Silver and Titanium to closely

mimic the color of the inner and out case surfaces.

I have not personally tried this product, but it comes highly

recommended from our readers.

Now that your ‘Book is clean, keep it that way a bit longer by investing in

a screen protector. Your ‘Book’s screen is the most expensive part. I have learned

by experience that any damage to any part of the screen, lid or latch that necessitates

service, means the replacement of the entire top component of your portable

— everything from the hinge up. Once the screws that fasten the case to

the screen bezel are removed, your warranty is void. Apple will authorize no

service that includes the separation of those parts. I’d take that to mean that

the wiring and hardware in that thin little top is a bit touchy. Try to protect

it, will ya?

iskinasphalt The Elemental Road Warrior Part I Earth

iskin The Elemental Road Warrior Part I Earth iSkin

–

I’ve reviewed these before and I still recommend them. They protect both

the screen and the keyboard (another component that is more expensive

to fix than replace) and come in many fashion colors including the snazzy

new Snow and Asphalt opaque models. I should warn you that you do have

to clean them regularly or you will simply be transferring finger oil

to the screen from the iSkin just the way you would have with the keyboard

+: Fine product. Helps keep unwanted bits out of the keyboard.

-: No iSkins currently available for the Aluminum PowerBooks. Opaque

models hide the Caps Lock and Num Lock lights.

Wildeepz

–

This is just too simple. If you’re having a problem with your keyboard

touching your screen and getting it dirty, don’t let them touch. Duh!

Wildeepz are small squishy rubber cushions that help maintain distance

between the screen and keyboard when you close your ‘Book. A guide is

provided with the Wildeepz that help you apply them properly so that the

cushions themselves do not touch the keyboard and cause other problems.

+: Simple, inexpensive solution.

-: You might go through a few pairs of Wildeepz trying to find the

best place to situate the ones near the latch. (Extras are provided)

ScreensavRz

–

No, that wasn’t a typo. The product name is “ScreensavRz” and

it’s a lint-free, ultramicrofiber cloth intended to be used between the

screen and keyboard when your ‘Book is not in use. It can also be used

as a cleaning/refinishing cloth for minor blemishes and since it is washable,

you can use one ScreensavRz for double duty. An excellent product that

is even better when used in conjunction with iSkins or Wildeepz.

+: Feels nice. Comes in many fashion styles with different imprinting.

-: You might lose it on the road since it has no place to be while

you’re using your ‘Book.

Why would you want all three? My personal reason: the iSkin prevents hair,

crumbs and dust from getting in the keyboard, the Wildeepz help align the top

and bottom portion of the ‘Book and prevent uneven wear on the hinge and the

ScreensavRz add extra protection for the screen while coming in handy as a screen

cleaning cloth when the need arises — all things I need.

With the gadgets I’ve recommended here, you should be well equiped to protect

your portable for our first force of nature: earth.

By admin • Articles, Wardriver Wednesday • Comments Off • Tags: Book, earth wind fire, everyday use, free solution, g4 powerbook, I-, iBook, iKlear, iSkin, Lock, notebook computer, pack, PowerBooks, road warrior, rww, solution, titanium powerbook, towelettes, trackpad

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Wardriver Wednesday

Moblogging–Wardriver style

Gifts I gave, Gifts I got

The Elemental Road Warrior– Part I– Earth

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