Hi! I'm Erik.

Soundcard - Asus Xonar DX

Discrete is better?

I have been using integrated sound for several years now, and I have been mostly satisfied with it. But the weaknesses of the Realtek ALC883 clearly show once you crank up the volume - it's not just loud static, you can actually hear the hard drive and CPU (?) working, through the speakers! The signal must be badly isolated or something. I figured a discrete solution would not suffer from the same problems, and turned to the Asus Xonar DX. Read on for a short review.

Shiny Icon Maker - New features

By popular request

Creating icons for your web pages just got a lot easier. I added some new functionality to the Shiny Icon Maker - the possibility to add arbitrary text. Just click "Use Text Input" on the accordion. Type in some text, select a font, set the font size and download. You can also rotate the text! Everything still in beta, though. Go try it out.

Solved - Hotmail on X10 Mini Pro gives blank page

From the About Time-dept.

I recently upgraded the operating system of my SonyEricsson X10 Mini Pro from Android 1.6 to 2.1. Some minor (read: unnecessary) changes were immediately noticeable, like the "slide to unlock" or the darker background. So first impression: Yay. But after some time with it, I was happy to discover that the update solved a problem that has been bugging me for some time: Since Microsoft gave Hotmail that last major makeover, it has left me with nothing but a white page after logon. But now it works again! So that problem is definitely solved, and I guess it also means the system carries a more compatible browser. Thumbs up. :)

Icon Creation with Javascript

Look at the pretty colors!

I was playing around a bit with Raphaël today and I was quite impressed. Raphaël is a Javascript library which makes creation of vector graphics on the web really easy. I used some symbols freely available from their website and created a simple script that adds a shiny background to them (one example is seen on the left).

You can change colors and icon, and, if your browser supports SVG, download the result as SVG or PNG. Try it out!

My Neighbour Cthulhu

Call of Totoro

I really enjoyed the South Park episode that aired last week, mostly thanks to the references to Miyazaki's 1988 film "My Neighbour Totoro". In case you missed it, here is a "comparison". Also, make sure to check out the Cthulhu song (Japanese original).

New lens - Tamron 18-270 3.5-6.3 DI II VC

Good glass

Although the kit lens for the Canon 1000D (18-55 3.5-5.6 IS) does a pretty good job, it definitely has its limitations. After all, 55mm is not very long and you will finding yourself resorting to the good old foot zoom (aka running around). Since I was going on a trip to Egypt, I figured it was time to pick up something more powerful and flexible for my holiday memories. Since changing lenses can be a hassle, I decided to go for the Tamron 18-270 VC, which covers everything from wide angle to long tele in a single lens.

New pics - trip to Egypt

Sunshine guaranteed

I just came back from a week-long trip to Hurghada, Egypt. We took the opportunity to head up to Cairo to see the pyramids, which was quite an experience. Make sure to check out the image gallery.

Plantronics .Audio 995 vs Creative HS-1200

Wireless Headset Galore

For audio, I have always liked cables. They provide good sound quality, are cheap, and they never tangle or get in the way. Oh wait, they actually do get in the way. A lot. Ever been on Skype when suddenly the "real" phone rings? So you get up and run off to pick up, forgetting about the wires - I actually pulled the cable out of a headset this way once. So if you, like me, have a problem with wires, what wireless alternatives are there? I had a look at two.

Sweden Summer Trip 2010 Pics

Went for a visit in Sweden in July. Had a relaxing week there and got some interesting shots as well. Check the image gallery.

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini Pro hands-on review

Good things come in small packages

After Apple showed everyone that big touchscreens are cool and the way of the future, it seems that the phone makers are doing their best to follow. Not necessarily a bad thing, but don't some of us sometimes prefer tactile buttons instead of a flat surface? And can't a phone be high-end without having a 4" screen?

Looking for something more portable but just as usable, the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro caught my eye. The handset is much smaller than the average smartphone and packs a full keyboard. It also comes with the Android 1.6 operating system.