Belkin Wifi Skype Phone is here in Singapore!!!

I was walking around Sim Lim Square today looking at IP cameras and routers. I wound up at Media Pro on the 5th Floor. I was negotiating with him on a camera and ASUS router when I asked him about SMC Wifi Skype Phone. The guy says that he has something better... The Belkin Wifi Skype Phone just came to his shop today.
See the official site here.

Anyhow, it is on promotion for SGD 289 and you get a free Belkin Wireless Router. Say no more.. I got one. I had it configured for my office network and my home network today. I had a minor problem and called Belkin Tech Support. The techie was speechless as he barely knew that it was in the market today. But the usual techie solution worked - "turn it off and on again."

The phone is great. Feels good and work and sounds just like Skype on a computer (ringtones, etc.). It really breathes life back into Skype for me. Way cool....

PS one major drawback.... "The Skype WiFi phone does not contain a web browser and therefore cannot access hotspots, which require web-based login or authentication." So Starhub wireless Coffee Bean addicts are 'sh*t out of luck'. Is Singnet Outdoor Wireless the same? Will try and update.

Mac Mini Troubles

It has been a while, and there is much to update.....

My MacMini has been shutting down all by itself. It seems to be because it is getting hot and the thing decides to shut off. This was consistent on both OSX and Windows. It runs for about 15 minutes and then "puff".... it goes out. Rebooting will only go partway before it goes out again. If I wait for 15 minutes and try, it will go on and then shut off again. The underside of the Mac Mini also gets hot....

Anyhow, last time I had trouble with the Mac Mini, the AppleCare guy told me that I am covered for Apple Protection Plan so they will come to my home to fix it. I thought, "that sounds like a good idea".

So this time I called up AppleCare and told them I wanted someone to come fix my Mac Mini. I called from my office because their Call Centre hours were 9am to 6pm, and I did not have my computer with me (duh). Well I was told that before they send someone over, they have to determine that it is a hardware issue and I have to do some tests for them before they will send someone over... so another day without a functioning Mac Mini.....

So I stayed home late the next day to call them. The telephone support (Australian call centre) had me put in the Install Disc and that had the Diagnostics. I had to search for the discs. So I popped the disc 1 in and followed the instructions. The next thing I know I boot up to an nice error page that tells me to reboot. And this page keeps on coming up everytime I reboot. I do the "C" reboot and choose my WinXP. WinXP boots up and then shuts down after 15 minutes still. OSX still boots into error page.

So after over 90 minutes on the phone with Apple Support, they finally agreed to send someone over. I was given the Dispatch number for QCD - who is their contractor. They would call me and arrange for a date to come fix my Mac Mini....