DVD catalog software

I found this software today and am very impressed with it.

Invelos Software's DVD Profiler - DVD Collection Software for the DVD and Blu-ray Enthusiast. 

I went through all of the DVD's I own and entered the barcode number from the back of the original box and it found every one. 

A real nice way of cataloging one's collection. I'll be giving the free version a spin for a while and if it continues to behave well and does not have any annoying quirks or bugs they will be getting my purchase.

Cooking and recipes

Loving the Allrecipies web site.  I especially like the ability to find a meal and add the ingredients to a shopping list and either print it, have it on my iPhone or both.

I've made quite a few things from the site and will blog some of the items I cook soon.

My profile is here.

iPad iPod icon crashes

Since getting the iPad the few occasions I tried to use the iPod icon it would show briefly (and quite empty) and just exit. Google hit #1 came up with this Apple support forum link.

To quote from the forum...

"i opened the "videos" app and watched a video, and then i tried the ipod app again and it started working magically. weird, right? i had the same problem as you guys and it worked, give it a shot. (so glad i didn't have to restore all my apps and music!) "

It worked for me !

Now I have a "new" feature on the iPad since I've never been able to open it before. It felt like I just downloaded a new free app.

The simple lesson learned here is that "You are almost always never alone with IT related problems. Google it !"... or phone a friend and they will Google it and you will be in continued awe of their Geekness for solving your IT problem.

Computer memory. A story of customer service excellence.

So, a couple of years ago I purchased (from www.newegg.com) some Corsair computer memory. 4Gb in total, consisting of 4 x 1Gb DIMM memory "sticks". The memory became faulty and started to cause some pretty horrible PC behavior. Everything ranging from strange slowness and complete crashes to just hanging, needing to power off the whole PC.

I went to my Newegg customer account page and checked the memory I ordered so that I could get the exact part number and proceeded to RMA it (obtain a replacement exchange from Corsair). I went to the www.corsair.com web site and went through the RMA process. After a few questions relating to the part number, etc, I was instructed to go to www.memtest.org and use the software to check the memory. I left the PC checking for a few hours and it came back with errors. So, happy that the memory was indeed faulty I carried on with the RMA process.

At the end I received the expected RMA number and shipping address but it dawned on me that I needed to send my memory and then they would send me the replacement. Obviously that is going to make my PC dead with no memory.

Hmm... I called Corsair up the next day and asked if they would take a credit card in order to send my new memory ahead of time and then I send the faulty memory back when I get the new memory. They were very happy to and promptly set the shipping of the new memory in motion. I received a new RMA number the memory was shipped.

Three or four days later I get the new memory and opened up the PC only to find I had received two new memory sticks and that I had four in my PC ! Oops. I really should have opened the PC to check that but as I said, I went to the Newegg account page to use the part number.

Hmm.. I called Corsair back and they explained that the 4 memory sticks were old stock and they sent me an alternative pair, still totalling 4Gb. AWESOME !

Now I have two slots free to buy another 4Gb and bring my PC up to 8Gb.

I will be buying memory exclusively from Corsair in the future as the lifetime (did I not mention that before?) replacement on their memory is a wonderful thing.

Thank you Corsair ! You have now obtained a new brand-loyal customer.

Essential Software

Check out the Essential Software tab

The New Adventures of Stephen Fry

One of the most intelligent and fascinating individuals online today. Great blogging, podcasts and other content delivered with wonderful wit and style. The New Adventures of Stephen Fry

Zune !

Recently I discovered the Zune service.  I have been purchasing a couple of favorite songs or albums a month via iTunes for my idevices.  With the constant urge to purchase "just another" song it's obvious that it can become expensive.

Zune is my alternative to impulse buying of songs that all add up in cost.

I went and bought a 32Gb Zune HD and subscribed to the service and had my eyes opened to a huge collection of available music (and lots of other content) under one subscription.

Loving the Zune and Microsoft have me hooked on their DRM'd music.  I certainly don't consider I "own" the music due to the DRM but the almost limitless amount of music works for me.

Go check out www.zune.com.