I’m not a geo-physicist, but it’s interesting to see the blue area just South of India.  A dip like this means that any satellites circling the globe would pass lower over this area.  (Perhaps they like the curry?)

Click here for the  ESA press release.

http://dimak.blogspot.com/2009/08/silent-ringtone-for-iphone.html

Engineering 101: IDF Curves

Engineering 101: Modified Rational Method and SDF

Hydraulic Calcs for Storm Pipe Profile Label – Part 1

AUv Wrap up: The EXPRESSway to Hydraulic Analysis

It is not a Sump!

Edit Those Survey Figures

Really Easy Rendering

Order of Priority for Point Display

Hydraulic Profile Label for Storm Profiles

Hydraflow Storm Sewer and Hydrographs

Finally HP announce their workstation replacement with a 15″ screen – the  HP 8540w.  Compared with the opposition (Lenovo 510, Toshiba P11 and Sony Vaio F series), it’s very good value for money.  Unfortunately the original eta of late Feb has moved to late Mar. Grrr…!!!

So, in the meantime I’m collecting hints on how to use Windows 7.  We’ve got 3 workstations running it in the office (1 new and 2 upgrades from WinXP), and I have used them from time to time.  I’m very impressed with Win7 – it seems more stable, and our Civil3D seems to be less flakey on it (we’re using Win7 64 bit).

So here’s the hints that look interesting so far:

Ten essential, inexpensive Windows 7 downloads

Move the Users Directory in Windows 7

Learn to Use Windows 7′s Compatibility Mode with Older Apps

Get to Know Windows 7 Libraries Inside and Out

Windows shortcuts can boost your efficiency

Freeware outdoes Windows’ built-in system tools

Aero snap and dual monitors

Speed Up Windows 7 Taskbar Navigation with a Registry Hack

Use Transparent Shortcuts to Separate and Organize Your Windows 7 Taskbar Icons

Add Your Dropbox Folder to Windows 7′s Start Menu

So, create the playlist as you normally would.

Now for the trick: Once you’ve created your playlist, select all the videos, right-click and select “Get Info”. On the options tab, change the media kind to music video.

Make sure this playlist is set to sync to your iphone, and we’re done.

Here’s some directions to do it in iTunes on a Windows computer.  Good luck… 

1. Go to Preferences (under iTunes on Mac, Edit on Windows)
2. [press a button called import settings half way down the General tab]
3. Set import settings to AAC
4. Select the song you want to use as your ringtone
5. Right click and choose “Get Info” (cmd/ctrl-i)
6. Pick the Option tab
7. Set the start and stop time for your ringtone (no more than 30 seconds total!)
8. Right click the song again and choose “Create AAC Version”
9. When your 30 second extract pops up in iTunes (under the same name, check carefully!), select it
10. Right click the new 30 second extract and choose “Reveal in Finder/Windows Explorer (cmd/ctrl-r)
11. Change the extension from .m4a to .m4r
12. Import or drag and drop it back into iTunes, and voila, you have your new ringtone! (drag and drop to library area)
13. You can now find the ringtone in the ringtones list 
14. Dont forget to change the import settings back to it’s previous setting.
15. delete the shortened version from the main music list in itunes
16. reset your original song back to play for it’s full length

I found directions for this here:

http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/12/27/tekzilla-iphone-ringtones-itunes/

Topo Sample

These applications will allow you to get more from your iphone GPS.  I’ve been experimenting with 2 applications: Runkeeper and Motion-X GPS. 

MOTION-X GPS
This application replicates what you get with a typcial handheld GPS unit.  You can see your speed, heading, lat/long & elevation, create waypoints and/or tracks, and then navigate to those waypoints.  You also can view a map of your data showing waypoints and tracks on a lat/long grid.

The Heading Compass, showing direction of travel (red arrow), and direction to the waypoint (blue arrow).

The things that you might not find on a normal GPS unit is the ability to take a photo that is associated with your current track, and the ability to send waypoints and tracks to yourself via email.  These are forwarded as kml and gpx formats which can be used by other mapping applications (incl Google Maps).

I’d reccomend MOTION-X GPS if you’re looking for something that emulates a handheld GPS.  It performs really well.

RUNKEEPER
Runkeeper is a GPS application that only tracks your location as you move about the place (i.e. it doesn’t do navigation).  It has a single dashboard showing your speed, pace, total time and total distance. The dashboard also incudes a graph showing instantaneous speed (minute by minute).  You can also view your location on a google map background.

But runkeeper really shines with the associated website.  After you complete your run you can upload it to your account at the website.  This site shows a list of your runs and allows you to see more detail for each run – there’s a plan view on a google maps background, and a graph view showing speed and velocity.

Screenshot from Runkeeper webpage showing route, and graph of elevaton and speed.

I’ve found Runkeeper very handy as I train for my wee run!

Both of these are available as free/lite versions. So you can check them out at no cost.  I’d reccomend them both.

LIMITATIONS
Any GPS device is subject to limitations requiring a view of the sky. 

In addition any heights obtained with GPS are very approximate.

On the iPhone GPS is referred to as the locations service, because the iphone can determine an approximate location by cellphone towers and/or WIFI networks.  Sometimes this leads to errors including my phone believing it was on the other side of the world last week (Hamburg anyone?)  However it appears that these approximate locations assist the GPS when it is initialising.

In my opinion (and no actual testing) I’ve found any GPS work on the iphone to have significant lag when compared to a handheld GPS (i.e. it takes a while to catch up with my current position).  I suspect this is the trade-off for using a multi-function device.

There’s also a general restriction that you can’t turn off the iphone when using these applications, as they are logging data continuously and can’t do this in the background.  Typically if you stop logging data then on opening the application you can resume from your new location.  This restriction also has battery life implications as the device stays continuously on as the applications are running.  (However, you can start your music in iPod before starting up the GPS App).

NOW, no excuses, get GPS-ing!