Surface keyboard shortcuts

The Surface keyboard is getting an update to better support added functions, here are some additional features available, via Gizmodo…

  • Fn+Caps: Locks F1-F12 into being function keys. Do it again and you get the charms, volume, Home, End, etc. if you are in the function lock mode, you can get the inverse options by pressing the Fn key, naturally.
  • Fn+<spacebar>: Print Screen.
  • Fn+<spacebar>+Alt: Print Screen for the in-focus App only.
  • Fn+Del: Brightness Up
  • Fn+Backspace: Brightness Down
  • Fn+<left>: Home
  • Fn+<right>: End
  • Fn+<up>: Page Up
  • Fn+<down>: Page Down

 

Twitter visualises cities around the world using only tweets

Visualization: Europe

Here’s a visualisation of every Tweet sent since 2009, via The Next Web…

What’s so impressive is that with all of this context stripped away, the images just look like normal, incredibly accurate maps of the world. In fact, we’d be willing to bet that if Twitter normalized some of this data and found a way to package it in a user-friendly interface, you would be able to navigate most of Earth’s major cities with no problem at all.

What I Use: My home network setup

network

I recently updated my home network setup, some elements are probably overkill for a small home network, but it does give me a chance to play with some features that larger networks enjoy, like vlans. This space is sandwiched down the side of domestic freezer, so has to be less than 10cms away from the wall, which itself is under the stairs. The upside is that it remains at a cool stable temperature all year long (you’ve got to love those Victorian houses!)

The breakdown of the new setup includes…

1. 10way power strip
A great design, fits snugly into the space at the end and all the sockets are angled to allow better access for larger power packs.

2. Ubiquiti Unifi power over ethernet adaptor
there wasn’t a good way of securely mounting a small power adaptor to the wall, but found some Cisco VXR Router Rack Mount Rack ears that worked well, when combined with some velcro cable ties to hold the back in place. I’ve also used some 50cm power cables to reduce the trailing cables blocking access.

3. Ubiquiti Edgerouter Lite
a new and pretty advanced addition to the network, this kit is basically a small professional grade router, lots of power, but tricky to setup for anyone that isn’t committed to learning a whole new way of working. Good fun trying it though!

4. HP 1810-24G v2
My previous switches have been Netgear 8port units, very small and robust, but limited on ports available, I was looking for something larger but still silent, as rack mounted kit tends to be loud, due to the small fan sizes and the fact they are usually isolated in a rack. This switch is brilliant, low power, smaller case and completely silent.

5. BT Router
A generic box but provides me FTTC, running at 50mbps down/10mbps up. Does the job.

6. Small patch panel;
Routing 1gbps connections around the ground floor of my house.

In addition I have another HP 1810-24G v2 in my office, I’m hoping to run some fiber between each switch at some point. The network connects a number of machines, a Windows Media Center and HP Microserver, something I might write up about in the future.

Details of next generation HP Microserver leak

New details of the next generation HP Microserver have started to leak, this is the first major update since coming to market, changes include new dual network adaptors (upgraded from the single socket), change to Intel processors (up to 160% performance increase over the N54L), and build in iLO4 remote management support.

The downsides of a redesigned case is that the DVD drive bay is now a laptop style price, which restricts the ability to use it for additional storage solutions, and the dual PCIe slots have been reduced to a single slot.

Also removed is the eSATA connection on the rear, to be replaced by 4x USB 3.0 connectors, which should make using external hard disks much more practical.

If you need the processing power then this is a major improvement, but if you were one of the many home server hackers who have customised their system this could be seen as a reduction in flexibility over the current model.

Time will tell what the new model retails at (estimates range around $499-599 depending on the processor choice) and whether HP will continue the cashback offer they have been running almost since the current model was introduced. Fingers crossed!

More details can be found at ServeTheHome and the new Microsavants Facebook group.

Personalize your MacBook with Uncover

Loving these custom laser cut screen cases for the mac, developed by Uncover…

The Dutch developer Uncover offers Apple MacBook owners a way to personalize their system. It turns out that beneath the aluminium unibody of the MacBook, there´s an entire illuminated panel, used to backlight the Apple logo. This gave Uncover the idea to produce unique covers for the device, thus providing consumers with their own personal look.

Traktor DJ for iPhone

Traktor DJ for iPhone brings simple but powerful mixing tools to Apple's small screen | The Verge

Here’s the latest release from Native Instruments, the iPad Traktor DJ experience brought to the phone, via The Verge….

Earlier this year, Native Instruments released Traktor DJ for iPad, a powerful DJ system that also has a lower learning curve than most mixing options out there. Now, the company is attemping to bring that experience to the small screen with the dedicated Traktor DJ app for iPhone and iPod touch. It’s a $4.99 app, compared to the $19.99 NI is asking for the iPad version, but it doesn’t skip on features — in fact, the company says just about every feature from the iPad app is present in this new release.

 

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