RobiNZ Personal Blog

Settling in with the new Sony DVD/HDD Recorder

I’m still getting to know my new Sony RDRHX900 DVD/HDD recorder but already have found a some features I love and one that could be better. The Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is awesome for time shifting especially as we don't have anything like TiVo in New Zealand. If simply using the HDD as a time shift device there are features that represent a major advance over tape (even digital); Huge Recording Capacity: Although the maximum capacity of the 160gb HDD is 204 hours the SP quality I regard as best for everyday use reduces this to 68 hours (see table... Read more →

Smart Brisbane encourages Smart parking, Dumb Auckland doesn't

Brisbane encourages Smart parking, Dumb Auckland just thinks about revenue collecting. Why not encourage smaller cars in the city especially when you consider the probability of two Smarts in Auckland wanting to park in the same space at the same time is about zero? Smart parking 19.01.05 Brisbane City Council is the first local government authority in Australia to endorse legal parking of two smart cars in one parking space. Brisbane city councillor Graham Quirk told the Courier Mail: "If people want to go to the trouble of buying environmentally friendly, space-saving cars, we ought to be giving them incentives."... Read more →

Prime TV New Zealand to screen Ellen MacArthur "In The Eye of the Storm"

Prime TV New Zealand to screen Ellen MacArthur: In The Eye of the Storm. Prime TV SPECIAL: Ellen MacArthur: In The Eye of the Storm 7:30pm, Sunday 30 January 2005 In a BBC premiere special on Prime, it’s the extraordinary journey of a gutsy 25-year old who sailed into the history books to become the youngest and fastest yachtswoman to cruise around the world single-handed. Ellen MacArthur thrives on extremes. After her record-breaking, life-threatening performance in the Vendee Globe round-the-world race, many people thought she might relax into cosy celebrity. Her response was to announce an attempt on the Jules... Read more →

The Fiat/GM thing

Autoblog and Just Auto have updates on the whole Fiat/GM thing… The GM/ Fiat saga continues: It looks like we will have an end to all this by next week when the mediation is over. Fiat still holds firm and it is expected that GM will pay…[cont on Autoblog] ITALY: Fiat extends period of mediation with GM over put option: Fiat SpA said on Monday the end of its mediation period with General Motors had been pushed back until February 1, but that it will have the option to compel GM to buy its troubled auto division beginning the following... Read more →

After 22,555 miles its only just begun

After sailing B&Q 22,555 miles, at an average speed of 16.5 knots, its only just begun. With lead of 0 hours Ellen MacArthur faces a race to home as flaky weather has eroded the 4 day advantage held as she rounded Cape Horn. Follow this amazing feat of endurance & courage at: http://www.teamellen.com for the latest data updated hourly. Read more →

A true Formula One Star retires

Professor Sid Watkins is probably not a name many would think of when naming Formula One stars. His contribution to the sport has been enormous. After 26 years service he has helped make Formula One, a once deadly sport, far safer. Thanks “Prof”. Motoring - F1 stalwart bows out Professor Sid Watkins, who stepped down as Formula 1's medical head on January 20, leaves behind a far safer sport than the one he entered 26 years ago…. Read more →

A single charging pad for all gadgets?

Anyone with a several rechargable devices knows that the mix of chargers is a pain. Maybe the solution is one charger for everything? New Scientist Breaking News - One charging pad could power up all gadgets Read more →

Top 'Travel Safe' Tips

Although written “for women” these tips are worthwhile for everyone. Travel: Travel Tools: Health: Top 'Travel Safe' Tips For Women So how can you enjoy travelling and keep safe, too? Read on for tips and tricks to keep you safe on your overseas adventures Read more →

Airbus 380: It is an Airvillage

I like the new name, Airvillage, Boris Johnson suggests is more accurate than Airbus when talking about the A380 in an article on his blog. Airbus 380: This is not a bus, or even a tram or a train or ship. It is an Airvillage. Already Richard Branson is planning to fill his 380s with casinos and gyms and coffee parlours Read the full article at: Boris Johnson MP Read more →

Randy's Boeing Blog

Randy Baseler, vice president of Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, has a new web journal. Not quite a what I’d call a Blog yet (no permalinks, comments or RSS feed) but looks like it will develop into one. Suggest Randy looks at Bob Lutz’s Fastlane Blog as a good example of corporate blogging. In the posts to date he reviews their sales in 2004 (inc 7E7 sales launch) and has comment on the Airbus A380. We will probably see both as Air New Zealand have 7E7’s (& 777’s) on order and the airport here has been altered to cope with... Read more →