Most people know of Speedtest, the online performance testing website, but most nerds reach for iPerf instead. It's a self-hosted, full-featured, open-source network performance testing application that runs on almost everything. Today I realized that there's a free iOS port of the iPerf3 client! It's super useful! Why iPerf? iPerf is widely used because it's open source, … [Read more...] about Test Your Wi-Fi with iPerf for iOS
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Liberate Wi-Fi Smart Bulbs and Switches with Tasmota!
I'm a fan of home automation but not of proprietary platforms. It seems like every few months we hear about another automation platform shutting down just as a new one pops up. My rule for IoT and Home Automation is that it must be a well-supported platform with good open source support or I'm not interested. So the first thing I did when cracking open a package of smart … [Read more...] about Liberate Wi-Fi Smart Bulbs and Switches with Tasmota!
What You See and What You Get When You Follow Me
Social media ought to be social, not just a broadcast platform. That's my feeling at least. It's been a while since I've ranted about "write-only" social media accounts, so I thought I might as well do it again. And at the same time, I thought I would update you on my promise to the people who read, follow, and interact with me online. I guess I'm an organized Pack Rat. I … [Read more...] about What You See and What You Get When You Follow Me
GPS Time Rollover Failures Keep Happening (But They’re Almost Done)
On Sunday, April 7, every GPS device on the planet will "roll over" the date. This shouldn't affect most devices, but it's likely that quite a few will no longer show the correct date. We know this because it already happened back in 1999 and similar GPS date issues have been cropping up for the last few years. The good news is that all this trouble will soon be at an end, with … [Read more...] about GPS Time Rollover Failures Keep Happening (But They’re Almost Done)
Ranting and Raving About the 2018 iPad Pro
Now that I've used the new 2018 iPad Pro a bit longer, I thought I would share some more in-depth observations about Apple's latest pro tablet. There are some concerns about durability, curious design issues, and really nice aspects in practice. Let's dive in! Handle With Care The 2018 iPad Pro has a slab-sided design reminiscent of the iPhone 4 and 5, but its durability … [Read more...] about Ranting and Raving About the 2018 iPad Pro