The Babylon 5 Universe Shrinks Again

 

Jerry Doyle, Babylon 5 character "Garibaldi" dies at age 60.

Mediasonic only SELLS worldwide

But they won't support their products if you were unfortunate enough to buy them.

During the 'Hard drive Disasters' of a few months ago, Seagate sent me back a replacement hard drive without the enclosure (that's another story of crappy support, but I digress), so I ordered one from PC Case Gear. A Mediasonic ProBox HDL-SU3 3.5' SATA Hard Drive Enclosure, marketed as a "Hotway ROCK HDL-Series".

It was delivered forthwith, and there didn't seem to be an issue....at first. Then I noticed that Hard Drive Sentinel was 'blank' in regards to identifying the drive/case. Windows ID'ed the drive (make, volume, storage)Being tech savvy, I went through the check list of troubleshooting (this is my polite way of saying "Don't try to give me advice, I know what I'm doing) and still nothing.

After a week, I contacted HDS. Turns out that the issue is with the MediaSonic case chipset. It's not sending the data needed.

From HDS:

Originally, when USB 3.0 enclosures released, we contacted them to make sure that the new products should contain the required functions. But the problem is that for some manufacturers, their customers are not really important and ignored this.

Personally I'd be more than happy if I can change, modify the software in any ways: if there would be a problem/bug in Hard Disk Sentinel, I would surely fix it and add support for this enclosure. But as the limitation is related to the enclosure itself (its chipset), I can't really improve.

Since the problem was the chipset, I contacted MediaSonic.. this is their reply (keep in mind, they sell worldwide)

Hi, We only provide support to our customers who purchase our products from our distributors in North American.

If you meet the above criteria , please provide photos showing front and back of the enclosure and a copy of receipt.

Regard, Vincent Mediasonic Support

Vincent's reply is disingenuous as my email address clearly shows I am NOT in the North America, and I informed them I purchased the item at PC Case Gear, an Australian company. They don't/won't provide a firmware update unless you bought it from North America distributor.

So, my local to me friends, and those also NOT in North America, steer clear of MediaSonic aka Hotway Rock HDL Series. Because if there's a problem, you're screwed. (They could have at least offered a kiss first, yes?)

PulseBeta Firmware update v14

Test results:

It still works wonderfully, with a few issues. As this is a BetaTesting phace, issues and bugs are expected.

Cameras used - Canon 5D3, Canon 7D2

HDR exposures - Perfect

Long Exposure - Perfect

Time Lapse - Function perfect, but with a bug

Single Exposure - Function perfect, but with same bug.

If I have preview/thumbnail view enabled, the App and Pulse disconnect.

Bug reported.

Being polite when making a complaint has rewards

Just got off phone with store manager/owner, who fell all over himself apologizing for the stuff up yesterday

Because of the goof, we are getting an upgrade on which mattress.

Well, that was a wasted day

Wing and I went to Snooze to get a new mattress for Alan, as he has springs coming out of it. We ordered it and were told it would be delivered on Thursday, today.

So, I waited around today, blowing off a photoshoot in Fremantle.  I told a friend that I couldn't be moral support at tattoo parlor, as I had a delivery due to come today.  (Luckily, sort of, her tattooist couldn't make it so it's been rescheduled)

I waited. Now, Thursdays are late trading but when it got close to 5pm and still no show, I called Snooze.  Couriers have gone home, owner went home, mattress not here, mattress might be in the warehouse... :/ 

I get to play the waiting game again tomorrow.  Oh joy. :p

Ephemeral Street Art

Here today, gone tomorrow. But luckily, I photographed them before they were destroyed/covered up.

"Heartless Winker" - New take on the Tin-Man.

Wacom tablet drivers and Windows

You would think after all these years, either company would have fixed the damned problem of Wacom drivers not loading on boot up, and a quick easy way to load the drivers when you get the dreaded "TABLET DRIVER NOT FOUND"  (yes, I have already done the Services/Local Services/Stopped and restarted Wacom drivers trick. It doesn't always work)

More "Ephemeral Street Art"

It goes up and is quickly removed/covered up by painting crews. 

"Naked Arrogance - When the emperor first realizes that he has no clothes.

That's one

Today, renewal of Ziggy's pet insurance policy arrived.  Soon now, Keito, Loki and Trance's will arrive.   It's worth it.

This was funny

I periodically check bookmarks/links to see if they are still 'live'.  One of the sites I visited had MalWareBytes web protection block it. I have it, on occasion, wrongly block a site, so I 'whitelisted' the site, and reloaded it.

What I got was a rather official looking Microsoft page with an audible and text warning about my computer being infected, and to PLEASE call this toll free number to speak to someone on how to step by step, remove the infection.

I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday, but I can see how someone not computer savvy could be duped by it.

Removed the site from MWB's whitelist, and from my bookmarks list.

Won't be doing that again

I decided to try out Trillian IM on web browser.  Facebook threw a shit-fit, and not only logged me out, but forced me to change my password AGAIN (just did it last month because I dared to login on my friggin' laptop instead of desktop) even though I did verify it was me using web-based Trillian.

I understand security, but when I answer my own friggin' security questions correctly, why the hell do I still have to change a my password?

Uh, no thanks

After the crap we went through with the last clique-y camera club, including the president of it showing up at my door, uninvited, to threaten and intimidate me, the last thing Wing or I want is to be part of another one.

So, imagine my surprise when I got an email from a different member of the club, telling me he started his own and would we be interested in joining it, as we had so much to offer yada yada yada.

One of the biggest part of the surprise is how the fuck did this person get my email address, as we were supposedly struck from the membership (I so hope they did a bell, book and candle). I showed Wing the email, and he told me not even to bother to respond.

So, pressed the DEL key and sent it into the bitstream.