What we searched for on Google in 2013

Xbox One beat PS4...

The Grand National was more popular than Wimbledon...

http://www.google.com/trends/topcharts

Playing around with Hurricane electrics IPv6 tunnel on a Raspberry Pi..

Apparently I'm Newbie Certified... 0.o

Lynx command line browser

sudo apt-get install lynx (Debian based systems)

Handy if you want to reference something quickly from the CLI. 

Netflix: Enabling Support for IPv6

http://techblog.netflix.com/2012/07/enabling-support-for-ipv6.h

and here's a Open Connect video:

2H 2013 Global Internet Phenomena Report: Peer-to-Peer Disappears?

http://www.internetphenomena.com/2013/12/2h-2013-global-internet-phenomena-report-peer-to-peer-disappears/

ISP Sky Broadband Launch Wireless Booster and Offer Half Price Service

Well it's been a long time coming, other providers offer Homeplug products when their routers can't cut the mustard in larger home or homes with wifi unfriendly walls. Obviously nothing will beat a Ethernet connected up house but that involves a lot more work.

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/12/isp-sky-broadband-uk-launches-free-wireless-booster-device.html

Windows Phone getting VPN support in 2014

So the Enterprise update will add some much needed features. The ecosystem still has a way to go but it's getting there. Custom keyboards please !

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-to-beef-up-windows-phone-enterprise-features-in-2014

Been on a bit of a gaming binge today so have been neglecting ukgamesdeals.co.uk and this blog a little. CS:GO, Rome 2: Total War and Bioshock: Infinite if your curious.

I can across a rather unusual bug in Bioshock: Infinite though. All keys in game would work apart from the WASD & arrow keys. As you can imagine this makes the game pretty much impossible to play.

The answer was found on the link below:

½pint:

I have solved this problem. It was being caused by the 'synergy' service that was running on my computer. Synergy itself wasn't running, but the service was (it starts automatically if you install synergy as a service). You can actually reproduce the bug live while the game is running - stop the synergy service and the keys start working immediately, start the service and the keys stop working immediately. Bizarre.
http://forums.2k.com/showthread.php?222941-Keyboard-Bug-some-keys-work-some-keys-don-t

I think I've've blogged about Synergy before, its a great tool but it can be buggy as well. Still, can't complain for a free application! 

Joke no more: Comedy virty currency Dogecoin gets real in big Xmas heist

Wow. So hack. Very theft. Much sorry. Wow

Amusing unless you used the meme digital currency...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/12/26/dogecoin_christmas_heist/

LG's pushing home automation again with their 2014 lineup

They've done some pretty cool stuff over the years but you kinda have to be tied into all their products. I don't think home automation is going to go mainstream until there are some good open standards in place.

Motorola, Microsoft and others all have separate products.

The closest I've got is a Belkin Wemo.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/26/lg-homechat-line-messaging-smart-appliances/

2014 FORMULA 1 MONACO, BRAZILIAN & SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRANDS PRIX LIVE ONLY ON SKY SPORTS F1® HD

See press release:

http://corporate.sky.com/investors/press_releases/2013/2014_formula_1_monaco_brazilian_singapore_races_live_only_on_sky_sports_f1

Ofcom outs BT, EE and Talktalk as most complained about networks

Well done Sky and Virgin.

Ofcom outs BT, EE and Talktalk as most complained about networks- The Inquirer

Facebook launches Dislike and Donate buttons- The Inquirer

Not quite what was wanted but it's a start!

Facebook launches Dislike and Donate buttons- The Inquirer

Engadget: Dish and Sprint to trial fixed LTE broadband in Texas.

As predicted,  it might take a generation but 4G's low latency and high bandwidth could prove more popular than expected in areas where FTTC is lacking.

Engadget: Dish and Sprint to trial fixed LTE broadband in Texas. http://google.com/producer/s/CBIw2Kfs2wM

BT Openreach List Next 82 UK Exchanges for FTTP on Demand

Harrow is one but with those install costs I won't be considering it for a long while...

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/12/bt-openreach-name-2014-q1-uk-fttp-demand-exchange-upgrades.html

A picture of what a typical FTTPoD setup will look like:
http://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/products/super-fastfibreaccess/fibretothepremises/fttp/downloads/NewSitesnewhomeflyerFINAL.pdf

Rectangular Light Spectrum Pulses Promise 10x Faster Fibre Optic Networks

Good news for core network development

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/12/rectangular-spectrum-pulses-promise-10-times-faster-fibre-optic-networks.html

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2013/131204/ncomms3898/full/ncomms3898.html

Ofcom Make UK Calls to 0800, 0808 and 116 Numbers Free for all Phones

Good news!

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/12/ofcom-makes-uk-calls-0800-116-numbers-free.html

Valve's SteamOS will be available for individuals and OEMs on December 13th

http://steamcommunity.com/groups/steamuniverse#announcements/detail/1930088300965516570

Spotify goes free on mobile devices*

Its a shuffle mode.... Still its better than nothing!

http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/11/spotify-shuffle/

Cisco loses fight to reverse Microsoft's purchase of Skype in European court

Er... With their unified products and Google's business app's i'm not sure how they figured that one out..

http://www.neowin.net/news/cisco-loses-fight-to-reverse-microsofts-purchase-of-skype-in-european-court

Ubuntu gets its first smartphone deal, comes to high-end devices in 2014

The Edge may have failed on Indiegogo but the OS is still around! 

http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/10/ubuntu-gets-its-first-smartphone-deal/

USB 3.1 is getting a new connector.

It'll be reversible and smaller. That fugly micro USB 3 connector was never going to cut it..

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2013/12/04/usb-type-c-to-be-slimmer-and-reversible/1

4G on Three begins rollout.

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/12/three-uk-begins-low-key-4g-lte-mobile-broadband-rollout.html