Author: primaryt

Chrome OS notebooks. What you need to know

Posted on by primaryt

Want a 30 second summary?  Scroll to the bottom!

Google released a new Operating System (Chrome OS) and to go with it a new laptop.  Did you wake up this morning thinking how you need a new operating system or yet another supplier of notebook?  If so, this post isn’t’ for you.

I’m getting really tired of blogging about Google’s latest this and that, to the point where I wish they would just STFU for a few months and let us absorb the latest technology.  If I feel like this and I work full time in tech then I can imagine how tired teachers are getting of new technology landing on their desk that claims to make their life easier but really ends up consuming more time.

I’m not bored of tech as a whole, the industry is still great and Google is still a big player so that sort of forces me into a position of having to give a crap.  It was cool when I got of my own ass to give a crap, now I feel like the crap is flicked in my face in a predictable timely fashion.  This poop barrage would be okay if it was targeted specifically at my face but Google are so big that educators jump on every possible bandwagon and we have to develop something new to accommodate their growing needs.  A lot of this development time is wasted as we are simply re-creating something for a new platform in a new language.

It’s not all doom and gloom.    I love the depth perceptive abilities of Microsft Kinect and I think that is exciting new tech.  It gives us a tool to solve problems unsolvable before without expensive equipment.  It’s a strange world when Microsoft are giving us the breath of fresh air and the technology that really captures my imagination..

It does what?

The Chrome OS netbook boots as fast as Windows XP. BFD.

Your settings/documents etc are stored on the internet. This has been available for years and it isn’t great.

You are always connected to the internet.  Constant signal with Verizon, are you kidding me?  Does Google actually read any consumer reviews?  I’m in the UK and I know Verizon sucks so bad.  PS I’m already already constantly connected to the internet. Actually this is pretty cool but contention is going to be a huge problem if you try this in your classroom.  More than a few devices and the 3G will fall over.  From a business perspective this shows that schools should preparing their wireless infrastructure.

Security built in & auto updates. I get that with any other OS I use.

Web apps. Yea, erm, websites put into some sort of market place..  How is this healthy for the internet as a whole?  Can anyone say sourceforge, tucows, download.com, itunes(spit)?  I’m probably missing something here..  I assume the experience is like Google TV where one creates some web objects specifically with Chrome OS in mind.  An example would be something like Satpin where you would be able to cache a lot of the data locally, but erm, wait, there is no disk.  I’m also expecting the Chrome Web store is open for anyone to publish to assuming you don’t care for your Oprah(spit), IE and Firefox users.

The device will probably be free on contract in late 2011 and enter an already saturated market.

A warning to grand parents

Don’t end up being the one that has this conversation…

Grandparent: “Grandson I got you one of these netbooks”.

Grandson: Oooh sweet now I can play Diablo 3.

Grandparent:  It’s one of those Google ones, I saw Google on your screen the other day so I knew you would like it….

You talk a lot of crap John..

So here’s the thing, from now on I’m only going to talk about problems that Google actually solve that need solving.  When it comes to operating systems they are few and far between.

I think that Google Chrome OS is basically Google’s first troll product.  Troll in the sense that it doesn’t fix any required problem but upsets a crap load of other players in the industry.  Safe to say you wont be able to play Diablo 3 on it so I won’t be buying one to replace my main laptop/notebook.

On the topic of me talking a lot of crap it is kinda needed once in a while.  I know a few Google staff members and we have a lot of open and frank discussions about different technology.  While I am an expert in no specific technology I try to get across the needs of a child in a classroom and at home.  Google is a big company but if you kick it hard enough it does react.

And what the deuce is with 3G only.  Wasn’t it about 4 years ago we figured out 3G wont scale to modern demands, did they go and re-create 3G without telling anyone?

Brief summary

  1. It’s a pay monthly device through your mobile phone provider.
  2. It does nothing new for you that your current computer doesn’t do(probably).
  3. The 3G will be useless in a lot of classroom scenarios.  Your school will need a good Wifi system.
  4. It will make accessing facebook easier and more reliable.
  5. Parents will probably end up buying kids one of these.
  6. It will make your life difficult initially if you are a power user.  Let’s face it if you are a power user and loathe MS/Apple then go Ubuntu.
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Blogging Edu Techers we need your help!

Posted on by primaryt

A naughty website is trying to “SEO steal” traffic from Primary Games Arena, this is risky because if they are successful then if your pupil searches for Primary Games they may be shown a link to a website that includes some extremely questionable content.  I noticed this on twitter earlier today..  Obviously bots/spam but Google struggles to tell them apart.

Note how they have used the same font as Primary Games Arena in their headings.  Also look at the ad on the left hand site..  Oh dear…

The only good fix for this is that Primary Games Arena has more links in than this dodgy website so please help by logging into your website/blog and adding a link to Primary Games Arena.  The URL for Primary Games Arena is http://primarygamesarena.com


WordPress and Varnish comment IPs

Posted on by primaryt

If your WordPress install is behind Varnish you may have issues with Comments showing your Server IP. This will also cause problems with Spam as Akismet will not be able to check the source IP.

In the vcl_recv part of your varnish config add this

set req.http.X-Forwarded-For = client.ip;

Then edit your WordPress wp-includes/comment.php and replace REMOTE_ADDR with HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR
Then edit your wp-content/plugins/akismet/akismet.php and replace REMOTE_ADDR with HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR

Restart varnish

/etc/init.d/varnish restart

Finished, test by commenting.

Note: Users experiencing spam on PrimaryBlogger should now experience less spam and more accurate comment filtering.

If you are running Varnish 2.1.2 RPCXML will not work, you need to upgrade to 2.1.3..  You can find out your version by typing


varnishd -V

Wikileaks stuff

Posted on by primaryt

I think the general consensus among normal folk like myself is that those in power are mostly out of touch Eaton type boys with a good heart but out of touch with “Joe public”. The wikileaks reports simply highlights some of the decisions these power wielding employees of states were maybe taken after 1 or 2 too many espressos.

I’m not saying we don’t need diplomats or people with specific responsibilities, far from it. I just think the leaks highlight that so much power given to a few in an internet connected society is actually counter productive. 20 years ago this wouldn’t of been the case — Diplomacy needs to evolve.

As for our monarchy making stupid comments. Monarchy = Individuals with too much power. I don’t take our monarchy seriously so please any foreign readers do the same. The monarchy doesn’t affect my daily life in anyway, shape or form and that is how I like it 🙂

I consider myself a global citizen before any other type of citizenship — Problem solved.

I have an opinion to share..

We had substandard equipment and a lack of support going into Afghanistan yet the American commanders were surprised when we gave a 1/2 arsed effort. Ask any normal American citizen if they feel this was a surprise and I can guarantee their answer will be no.

Our military isn’t the pride of our nation, we are grateful for all they have done and continue to do but I do not believe we are a global military force nor do I want my country to be.

Will these leaks prompt governments to be more open by default or more secure?
The natural reaction by those in power is to try to be more secure. I hope this isn’t the case. I am a global citizen, I don’t want more rules/laws/policies/restrictions on how I live my life.

The governments have a perfect opportunity now to come out and be more open with sensitive information, we can take it, we live in an information age.. The clue is in the name!

I support wikileaks and all the founding orgs and Julian in publishing the papers. I think they are needed to take our society from a draconian information age into a truly fair society. After all that is what we taught at school. Wikileaks just makes it a reality, unfortunately the reality has a few short term painful implications.

So that’s my thoughts, nothing controversial. Nothing work related but hopefully if someone in the pub blurts “Wikileaks just want world war” or “Omzg America will get nuked by XXX” remind them this goes on every day behind closed doors and in theory it should lead to a more open, fairer future.

Post at Guardian – How the hell are Guardian so awesome?

Using Kinect to teach control?

Posted on by primaryt

Let’s face it, the “forward 3,left,forward 2” type of programming is dead.

How about Kinect watches you do something then programs a robot to do it by copying your movements?

The same logic applies, you are dictating how an electronic device interacts with a physical space but in a much more natural (human gestures) way.

Watch the video to get a better idea of what I’m trying to explain.

Oh and at the risk of supporting Microsoft (2 posts in a week, I know it’s crazy.) here is a reminder that Microsoft still suck really bad from time to time (although they are getting better imho).