The Life and Times of Neil

No, the “Eee” doesn’t mean it’s from Yorkshire!
I’m currently sat in the pub waiting for some old work colleagues from my last job in the UK to show up, so thought I’d use the wait as an excuse to churn out a new blog entry.

It’s also an excuse to try out the Android WordPress app on my new toy! Released only about a month ago, the Asus Eee Transformer is a 10.1″ tablet running Google’s Android OS (currently version 3.0.1). Size-wise, it’s a nicer shape than the Crapple iPods. The Transformer’s screen is, I think a 16:9 widescreen as opposed to the iPod’s 4:3 screen. This means that the Transformer is a narrower device and so just about fits into the palm of the hand. One of the (many) issues I had with the iPod was that it was too big to fit into the palm of the hand. I was originally tempted by the 7″ Samsung Galaxy Tab, but that is currently running Android 2.3, and there were questions over if it would support version 3 beyond the initial release. The main advantage of the Galaxy Tab is that it really does fit nicely in the palm of the hand.

However, the real winner for me on the Transformer is the optional keyboard. Whilst the iPod and, I think, the Galaxy Tab do have keyboard available, the design of the devices mean that it sits in the keyboard in portrait mode. There also appears to be a very limited range of angle between the keyboard and the screen. The Transformer’s keyboard, however, slots into the long edge of the tablet meaning that the sceen is in landscape mode as you’d have on a traditional PC or notebook. It is also a full hinge so the angle between screen and keyboard can be beter adjusted to suit the user and their position. This also has the added advantage that the keyboard can be used to protect the screen whilst travelling.

As well as making the Transformer more user-friendly from a human-computer interation viewpoint, the keyboard includes 2 USB ports and an SD card slot. Adding to the micro-SD, mini-HDMI, and earphone/microphone socket on the tablet itself, this gives a much wider range of storage and expandability options, especially when compared to an iPod. The keyboard also contains a 2nd battery which is first used to charge the tablet’s battery and provide runtime power (the keyboard battery is drained in preference to the tablet’s own battery, thus extending runtime when the keyboard is disconencted).

Some might argue why you would want a keyboard with a tablet and why not just get a netbook. My main reasoning behind it is travel. Working overseas I spend a fair amount of time travelling and away from a computer. In the past I have stumbled by using an iPod Touch (2nd Gen). As my main use of the device when travelling is for email and IMs, the small keyboard eventually becomes tiresome to use. Anyone who’s chatted with me when I’m on the iTouch will know that my answers tend to be very short! As anyone who read the blog while I was in Australia may have noticed, my spelling on the iTouch isn’t wonderful, and editing existing text is not easy due to the touchscreen-only interface. With the Transformer’s keyboard I have cursor keys to make navigating text easier.

As this is an Android device, the usual advantages over a crApple device still apply… I can use Flash on the internet, I can install apps from any source

And at that point I got distracted by people arriving at the pub! Can’t really remember what else I was going to say, so I think I shall just leave it there!

Well, made it back to the secret stopping-off location. Melbourne Airport is a joke where public transport is concerned!

The 2 times I arrived there I used the Skybus service. This is a bus service that stops outside each of the arrivals areas and gies direct to Southern Cross station; and charge you AUD16 for it (or AUD26 for a return journey). Since I needed to use trams on the last day I decided to get back to the airport by public transport. Just under AUD11 fir the 1-day pass which covers all buses, trains and trams. The problem is the Melbourne doesn’t have a train station, so you have to catch a bus from the nearest train station. This part is fairly easy… The problem is that the bus stop at the airport is a good 10 minutes walk to international departures! This really isn’t good enough for an international airport!

Interesting first flight. we got pushed back, engines started and then just sat there. Eventually the pilot told us they had decided to change the active runway direction, so they had to redo some calculations before we could taxi.

He’d also mentioned that we may get dome turbulence about 6 hours into the flight. Unfortunately, he was right. Nothing too major, except for a few bits where we were flying through cloud at 36,000 feet. The problem was we kept having patches of turbulence followed by a buy of smooth flight; but they ended up keeping the seatbelt signs on a good 5 hours or so!

Finally, the approach and landing. Given the number of flights I’ve done in the past few years, the fact I tend to sit at the back of the wing so I can see what we’re doing, and my playing around on Microsoft’s FlightSim software, I know what to expect. Watching the speed and altitude on the screen I couldn’t help but feel we were approaching on the fast side, and we were getting to the final approach yet there was no sign of the flaps being extended. In the end we suddenly appeared to have a full flap extension at the same time as the landing gear was being lowered. Normally the flaps are almost gully extended by that point; the final level being deployed with the landing gear. It also ended up being the worst landing I’ve had on an Airbus – until now I’ve always had pretty smooth landings in the Airbus range of aircraft. Now I’m no expert in flight… These are just personal observations based on the 30+ flights I think I’ve done in the last 2 years alone. Perhaps someone out there with more knowledge can explain what may have been going on to lead to such an unusual approach/landing. Anyway, now just killing the 7 hours till my flight back to the Secret Location.

And this was posted at 7am local time. No idea what time appear on the blog as I’ve not reset the timezone on the iPod yet!

So I’ve actually managed to write something for every day I’ve spent in Oz!

Just had a leisurely day around Melbourne today. Was a bit wet this morning, so couldn’t really do too much. Plus spent some time packing. The hotel wanted to charge AUD60 for a late checkout, and even that was only till 4pm; so decided to checkout this morning and leave suitcase at the hotel. They’ve said I can use the gym to freshen up and get changed before I leave for the airport.

Had a visit to the Victoria Parliament Building this afternoon. Not a long tour, but you do het to visit the 2 Chambers and the gardens, along with a little history.

With the photos taken today I believe up to this point I have 1347 images captured! Some of those I will discard as they are just for reference (eg closeup images of plaques so I can remember who statues are in photos, place names, maps, etc). I will probably upload them a couple of folders at a time as I get the chance to process the images. I’ll try and drop updates on here, or just keep an eye on the photos page of my site: http://www.nshaw.co.uk/photos/

This will probably be the last update to the blog from Oz. I will try and drop in an update at the secret stopping-off point using their free wifi, and I’ll drop something in once back at the Secret Location!

Penultimate day in Oz!

Spent the morning in the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. The ACMI has 3 main exhibition spaces. 2 of these hold their special exhibitions, some of which they charge for. The remaining space is their free permanent exhibition.

The current special exhibition is on the works of Disney. Lots of drawings from various stages if some of their best known animated feature films showing the various processes involved.

Random fact: The voice artist who portrayed the evil queen in Snow White changed her voice when the queen turned into the old apple seller by removing her false teeth!

The main exhibition was a little difficult to get much out of. There’s no clear ideal path to take through the exhibition, even though it’s meant to chronicle the development of moving image. Some of the displays also felt cluttered and it was sometimes difficult to see what info card related to why exhibit. There were also a surprising number of exhibits not in working order.

The weather always seems one step ahead of me. Decided last night that I’d spend this afternoon over at St Kilda for an afternoon by the beach, and hopefully some sunset photos. It is doing its best to rain though. Perhaps the world can’t handle the thought of me in shorts! Well, I shall go get some lunch and see how the weather looks. It’ll be a nice tram ride out, regardless of what I end up doing there!

Update: 2235
Well the weather stayed mostly dry, so quite a long day out at St Kilda. Think I arrived there shortly after 2pm and got the tram back to the hotel at 21:45 (and it’s a 20-30 min journey).

Had a walk along the pier. At the end there is a breakwater, most of which is now locked off as a penguin breeding area. There’s a small boardwalk area where you can play hide and seek with the penguins. They’re good at it; able to hide in the small dark gaps between the rocks of the breakwater. Did manage to spot a few and get some photos. It seems most of the penguins are active after the sun’s gone down. Around the time of sunset there is a volunteer onsite. I’m not 100% sure what they do (apart from tell people not to use flash photography and turn off any white lights) as I was getting hungry and still had to find somewhere to eat, so left before anything happened. I don’t think it’s any Parade of the Penguins like you’d see at the attractions; but here you’re seeing them in their natural habitat and at no charge.

Then had a walk along the promenade. Not a lot to see, but I found it a nicer beach area than Bondi. There are a few bars and cafes along the promenade with views straight out over the sea – no roads in the way. The whole area has a bit more character to it as well.

After a quick beer headed back to the pier and breakwater for some more photos, especially if the sunset. Once again, the weather wasn’t ideal with a few brief periods of light rain and a fair bit of cloud. Still, there were enough breaks to get a red sky in places. Plenty of photos taken; be interesting to see how they turn out.

Talking of photos, I’ll get an updated count soon. Just need to wait for the battery to recharge!

Last day in Oz tomorrow! Flight is late in the evening, so still gives me most of the day in Melbourne. Just need to see if the hotel can let me do a late check-out.

So it’s it’s a return to blue skies today as I’m back in Melbourne!

Had a quick look around the small ANZ Banking Museum. Situated in the Gothic-styled ANZ bank the museum provides a brief history of the bank, along with various examples of early banking machines (mainframe consoles, manual adding machines, etc) and many of the piggy banks issued by the bank over time. Quite good for a quick visit as it can be done easily in about 30 minutes, and entry is free.

Next had a wander over to the MCG. First had a tour of the ground; although certain areas were off-limits today due to some state cricket final. They were just finishing the presentations as the tour started in front of a packed crowd of about 10 people (the ground seats around 100,000). The tours are run by volunteers from the MCC’s members, so perhaps not as polished as the tour at the Sydney Olympic Stadium, but you still get to see the ground and behind the scenes.

The MCG is also home to the National Sports Museum. You can easily spend a day here, especially if you take the audio tour which is included in the entry fee and stop at every listening point. Sadly, I was a little late arriving so had to rush the MCC part of the museum and missed the interactive part of the museum. I also failed to find the Shane Warne hologram!

Now back in Federation Square abusing the free wifi and enjoying a beer. I forget what it is, but I will find out! Just deciding if I’m brave enough to try the 11%er I spotted on the bar!

Update: 1820
The current beer is Mountain Goat’s Organic Steam Beer.

Update: 1840
The 11%er has been ordered. Just waiting for them to change the keg! The beer is an Aussie-brewed Belgian-style beer called Imperious from the Murray’s brewery. At AUD14 a not-a-pint glass it’d better be good!

Update: 1845
Actually, that’s not bad! It’s a bit like the Durham Brewery’s “Temptation” insofar as you know it’s alcoholic, but it doesn’t taste ad strong as you’d expect. You don’t get the same sensation as with a similar strengthen wine. Instead it’s got quite a full body; you almost feel like you should be eating it. Quite yeasty in flavour, but the finish is fairly floral and hop-ish. I feel a need for dark chocolate with it!

Don’t expect any coherent updates till tomorrow!

Update: 2000
Nearly forgot food! Found a place that sounds right up my street… The Meat & Wine Co! Decided to go for the kangaroo fillet, medium rare. Been advised to go for a Pinot for the wine. Big glass, but not that full! Just waiting for the food to arrive. Just noticed the knife… I’m scared! Blade must be a good inch in width and 4 or 5 inches in length. I’m sure it’d be classed as a lethal weapon anywhere else :-/

Update: 2030
Kangaroo + Pinot + garlic bread = something words can’t describe without sounding like Homer Simpson! I will find out exactly what the wine was. Back to the hotel now for a coffee and bed now me thinks! Or maybe fond somewhere on the way back for a night-cap!