What I Learnt Today

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“HAL, I won’t argue with you anymore. Open the doors.”

Did you know that the iPhone has built in voice commands?

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) recently featured ‘Voice Control’ as part of its iPhone 101 series.

To activate ‘Voice control’, hold down the Home button for 2 seconds, and state your command after the beep.

The iPhone understands the command ‘Call’. You can say ‘Call Home’ or ‘Call Julia Gillard’, or any other contact on your phone.

You can also control the iPod feature. Try ‘Play Jack Johnson’.

If you are enjoying the song that is playing, Try ‘Genius Play more songs like this’.

Like Dave found out in 2001: A Space Odysey, you may find that your iPhone has a mind of its own.

When I asked it to play Cat Empire, my phone decided to ring Ian Lennon, instead.

Perhaps I need to review the instructions at TUAW and read the tips at Apple Support.

 

 

 

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Sunday is the day for Paella – especially at St Elmo’s in Byron.

It is served with Sangria – despite the weather, that put a smile on our face and a spring in our step for Sally’s birthday.

Paella is to Spain as the Barbecue is to Australia.

It is traditional to have Paella on Sunday, and for it to be cooked outside over a very large pan by the men, as the women deserve one day off. Many non-Spaniards view Paella as Spain’s national dish, though the Spanish consider it to be a regional Valencian dish, from where it originated. The name comes from the Catalan word for pan, which in turn is derived from the Latin word ‘patella’.

The main ingredients of paella are rice, meat, seafood and vegetables. Spanish Calsaparra rice is preferred, if you can source it.

Chef Carlos Lopez makes cooking a Paella look easy in this video from SBS Food Safari

If you really want to get in to making traditional paellas at home in a big way, you can get all the gear you need, including rice, gas rings and pans, from Senor Paella Pans

 

 

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Millie recently asked “Why is the Queen’s Birthday on a Monday every year?”

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was actually born on Wednesday, 21 April 1926 at 2.40 AM to Albert and Elizabeth, the Duke and the Duchess of York, at 17 Bruton Street, London – the home of the Duchess of York’s parents. She was named Elizabeth after her mother, but known to all as ‘Lilibet’.

At the time of her birth, it was not expected she would ever be monarch of the realm, being third in line. Her father Albert was the second son of the then King, George V. Her uncle Edward (known to the family as David) was the Prince of Wales, heir to the throne. Her place in the royal family was somewhat analogous to that of  Princess Beatrice (daughter of Prince Andrew and ‘Fergie’, also the Duke and Duchess of York) at her birth in 1988 (if we disregard her cousins William and Harry)

Lilibet’s sister Margaret was born in 1930. If her parents had ever had a son, he would have had precedence over his older sister as heir.

Her uncle became King Edward VIII on the death of his father George V on January 20, 1936, aged 41. 

The legal ascension to the throne happens instantly at the death of the previous monarch, hence “The King is Dead, Long Live the King”. However, it is customary to have a delay of more than a year for the official coronation ceremony. The coronation is a joyous occasion – time is needed to complete the mourning of the previous monarch, and time is also needed for the elaborate preparations.

Edward VIII abdicated the crown on 11th December, before his coronation, to marry the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. 

At the time of his abdication, Edward VIII’s coronation date had been set for May 12th 1937. Planning continued for the same day – just a different monarch. His young brother was called up instead.

Albert had therefore never expected or wished to succeed to the throne. He was naturally shy and anxious, and had a (now famous) stutter. He had fought as a young naval officer at the battle of Jutland in WWI, and was the first royal to learn to fly. 

At the time of his coronation, the monarchy had lost popularity. He assumed the ‘regnal name’  of ‘King George VI’ to emphasise continuity with his father. Fortified by the influence of his wife, the Queen, his sense of duty restored confidence in the royal family. “The Highest of Distinction is service to others”.He is particularly remembered for sharing the danger of the blitz with fellow Londoners. 

His daughter, young Lilibet, met Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark when she was 13, was apparently much taken by him, and they began to exchange letters. (They are third cousins through Queen Victoria) They were married 7 years later in November 1947 at Westminster Abbey – the first televised Royal Wedding.

The King had been a heavy smoker, and had a lung removed for cancer in 1951. He became increasingly unwell, and died from a heart attack in his sleep on 6th February 1952, aged 56, one week after he had farewelled Elizabeth on a tour of Australia (via Kenya). She and Phillip quickly flew from Kenya back to London.

The coronation of Elizabeth II, Queen of the Commonwealth Realms, took place on 2nd June, 1953.

The Monarch’s birthday has been an official day of celebration since 1748. In Australia. Governor Arthur Phillip declared a holiday on June 4th, 1788, for George III’s birthday, and released four convicts from jail on Pinchgut Island (now Fort Denison) so that “there would not be one heavy heart in this part of His Majesty’s dominions”.

Until 1936, the holiday was celebrated on the actual birthday of the monarch. George VI’s birthday is a rather inconvenient 14th December, so it was decided to keep the holiday mid year, near the June 3rd birthday of his father, when the weather in England is better less miserable. It is now celebrated on the second Saturday in June in the UK with ‘The Trooping of the Colours’, but is held on many different days throughout the Commonwealth of Nations.

In the Eastern states of Australia, the land of the long weekend, it occurs on the second Monday in June, marking the start of the snow season, among other things. It is a traditional time for bonfires and fireworks – although since the banning of the use of fireworks by the general public in the 1980s, New Years Eve has taken over as ‘cracker night’.

In New Zealand, the holiday is celebrated on the first weekend in June (they have a longer snow season). In Western Australia, there is no fixed date, but it is determined each year by the governor, usually at the end of September or beginning of October. (Foundation Day is celebrated in WA on June 1st).

So this weekend, as you watch the traditional Magpies vs Demons game at the MCG, risk life and limb with some bootleg fireworks, or freeze somewhere by a wet campfire, spare a thought for our 85 year old monarch.

To Her Majesty, the Queen. Belated happy birthday

 

 

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Would you like to make free calls from your iPhone?

There are a number of apps that allow VOIP calls from an iPhone. Today, Robyn showed me Viber.

VOIP stands for Voice over IP. It is the protocol used to transmit voice over the Internet – the most famous implementation of which is Skype.

Are VOIP calls free?

If you are calling from one VOIP user to another, a la Skype, then there is no charge for that call, apart from the usual data charges associated with using the Internet.

Therefore the best time to use VOIP is when you have a Wifi connection, particularly is someone else is paying for it. You may be able to log on to a free wireless network, such as at McDonalds and other cafes. Sydney Airport now has free Wireless Internet, as does some Sydney Public Transport. If you have a Wifi connection at home, you will be paying some charge for the data you use. You will usually have spare capacity in your broadband ‘cap’, which then makes the marginal cost of VOIP free. 

Generally, the cost of the internet data will be less than the cost of a regular phone call.

You can make a VOIP call from your iPhone without a Wifi connection, in which case you will be using some of your 3G data allowance. For many of us, there is plenty of spare capacity before we reach the ‘cap’. However, the amount of data you use is something to keep an eye on. 

If you have a free WiFi connection, using VOIP while overseas is fantastic. However, don’t use VOIP overseas through a roaming 3G connection – data charges can be astronomical.

There are a number of competing VOIP networks with iPhone apps.

I looked at Facetime, Skype, Truphone and Viber today. 

VOIP is most effective when you call someone else who uses the same VOIP network – So Skype to Skype, for example. Truphone and Skype both allow you to make cheap calls to normal landlines or mobile phones, using a PrePaid model. You need to have credit in your Truphone or Skype account to enable this.

Facetime

Facetime comes pre-installed on iPhone4 and iPad2, and is not available for iPhone 3GS and iPad. It is also available on an iMac or MacBook.

On an iPhone, users are identified by the phone number. On an iPad or Mac, by their email address.

It is available over WiFi only – and will not work if either user is on 3G.

Incoming calls will ‘ring’ even if the Facetime app is not running.

In the limited circumstances when you and the person you wish to video call are both using an iPhone4, iPad2 or Mac, and are within a WiFi network, Facetime is effective and easy to use.

Skype

Skype is the market leader in VOIP, and is available on the iPhone and iPad, as well as for Mac and Windows desktops and laptops. Skype allows conference calls and video calls, and works over WiFi and 3G. You can make ‘SkypeOut’ calls to normal landlines or mobile phones if you have prepaid some Skype credit. These calls are very cheap, particularly when calling from overseas.

Skype users have to register a username and password to be part of the Skype system.

On the iPhone, incoming calls will ‘ring’ only if Skype is running in the background ie the user will have had to have opened the Skype app each time they turn their phone on.

Viber

Viber is a relative new comer to the field, and is iPhone only.

It is very easy to set up – users are identified by their mobile phone numbers, and on first using the network are sent a ‘one time’ security code via SMS.

The Viber App emulates the usual iPhone app almost exactly. It is clearly indicated if someone in your contact list is also on the Viber network. 

Viber works over WiFi and 3G. I have found the quality of sound on the calls to be very good.

Incoming calls to a Viber user will ‘ring’ even in the app is not running in the background. That is a very significant advantage.

Truphone

Truphone, like Skype, is available on most phones and desktop systems. Like Skype, you can use it to make cheap calls to landline and normal mobile phones.

To receive an incoming call on the iPhone, the app has to be open and running in the foreground! This is a show-stopper for incoming free VOIP calls.

Summary

I think Facetime, Skype and Viber all have a place on your iPhone. To a very large extent, it depends on what your contacts are also using.

Viber is particularly good for iPhone to iPhone calls, when both caller and recipient have installed the app – it is very easy to set up and use.

I keep credit in my SkypeOut account, and use Skype when away for long distance calls to normal phones,and for Video calls back home when not on a WiFi network

FaceTime is good for video calls when on WiFi.

 

 

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