So I just started playing with QIK (the streaming video application for the iPhone*) and I have to say - this is an absolute godsend application!

The opportunity to stream live video from music events will be a huge benefit to OSNAP.net!

More to follow.

*more phones are supported, but I use the iPhone first-generation.

In the next two weeks I will be sending e-mails to my existing clients about an impressive upgrade opportunity.

First, there will be a free migration for all paid customers to move to my new Grid Hosting system. This free upgrade will increase the amount of disk space a client can use, the amount of network traffic available to them, and the speed and responsiveness of the Web site(s).

Second (still related to the first), the free upgrade will provide my clients with their very own Web site control panel - now clients can control every aspect of their Domain! This has been a long time coming, and with the Plesk browser-based control panel installed for each domain, clients will no longer have to contact me for e-mail setting updates, database configuring, etc. Each paid customer will have 100% control over every aspect of their Web site.

Third, I will be offering some clients a new layout and design for their Web site. Some clients have used the same design for years, proving the layouts were effective. However, advances in technology, and the need for some to move away from Flash has given me the responsibility to help my clients update their designs. These updates will cost, of course, but I will provide each client with a summary worksheet should they choose to use another developer to update their Web site.

The updates will not be forced, however, the performance improvements and the suggestions I will make on the design and workflow of the domains will greatly enhance each clients business.

Keep an eye out on this blog, and in your inbox (should you be a client) for some exciting news.

Internet Explorer, we don’t often get along, but your behavior today is really getting me irked.

Specifically, you seem to load a background image for a Web site (client) of mine just fine - even though the graphic is hosted on an external server. However, you fail to load the background image for the header bar, claiming that it’s “blocked.”

Why does one image get loaded, and the other not? Why are you claiming the header as a cookie, anyway?

Internet Explorer, we are not friends.

Odd occurance for me: I bought a Western Digital 160GB external hard drive (the “Passport”) the other day to move files between my three laptops (2 mac G4 powerbooks and a Toshiba Satelite running Ubuntu 8.0.4), and all my Mac and PC towers (yeah, I’m a serious tech nerd with a problem).

At first I was very happy with this snappy little drive. On my original G4 PowerBook (a 700mghz), the USB 1.1 ports made for slow copies, but the drive operated like a champ. On the towers, everything moved along at a zippy pace. However, once I started to use my newer G4 PowerBook (a 1.5Ghz model, with USB 2), I noticed some problems.

The first time I plugged the Passport drive into my free USB port (the other is used by an external mouse), all was fine. I copied some files upstream and down. After that, I have been unable to mount the drive whatsoever. Just the “click, click” noise forever.

After reading some blog posts, support threads, and printed documentation, I’ve found that the G4 PowerBooks came with less-than-optimally powered USB ports - in some writers opinions, in order to better focus on FireWire. I suppose that would cause the constant clicking of a drive that doesn’t have the required power to fully mount; however, I did get away with using the drive once, for a day. Also, why would my older USB 1.1 enabled PowerBook be able to power the drive, yet my newer USB 2 PowerBook not?

Seems quite sad that I’m going to have to carry around a powered USB hub in order to use a pocket-sized drive. The whole purpose of the small drive was to have an easily portable - and yet large amount of file space - device.

I guess I’ll just have to wait another year until I can get a MacBook or MacBook Pro.