MarcForrest.com

Category: On The Marc

  • A new kinda fun

    Profile for MarcForrest

    I have recentley found myself addicted to a new hobby. Geocaching. After I bought my Garmin Nuvi 200 at the end of last year, I wanted to use it for more than just driving around. So I signed up on Geocaching.com, which is a really great site, that lists all the geocaches around the world.

    Well, what is a Geocaching ? Straight from the Geocaching website:

    Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for gps users. Participating in a cache hunt is a good way to take advantage of the wonderful features and capability of a gps unit. The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet. GPS users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to do is if they get something they should try to leave something for the cache.

    So armed with my Garmin Nuvi, I have set out and so far found 3 geocaches, hidden in and around my area. The Nuvi 200 isn’t the ideal GPS device for this hobby, but it does work. The Nuvi 200 is an “automotive GSP”, which will direct you to the genral area, but viewing the actual GPS coordinates, is quite tricky. I have put up a post on GPSBlog.co.za on how to use your Nuvi 200 for geocaching.

    I have also since managed to get my hands on a Garmin eTrex H, which is a hand held GPS, that allows you to get right to the cache. This really helps when it comes to getting to the actual spot of the cache, and directs you in the correct direction as well as giving the distance to the cache.

    This is a really exciting hobby, and with loads of these hidden spots all over, you will be greatly surprised how many are right around you without even knowing. Sign up on the Geocaching website to join the fun.

  • Garmin Nüvi 200

    Been the gadget freak that I am, earlier this week, I felt like a bit of me spoil time, so I decided to splash out on something I have been wanting for a while. I went and bought the Garmin Nüvi 200 from Autostyle. Although I got the Nokia E50 earlier this year, which came with Garmin Mobile XT software for the phone, as well as a Bluetooth GPS, I have been “lusting” after a “proper” GPS since. Well I am not regretting it for 1 second. This thing is awesome. It really is.

    Pros:

    • Logs onto GPS satellites fast.
    • Easy to user interface
    • Loads & Loads of points of interests.
    • You can even change the way the car looks ;)

    Cons:

    • Petrol price

    Autostyle currently has a special on, where you can get the Nuvi 200 for R2350, and the cheapest I have seen them around has been at R2999. If you looking for a easy to use reliable GPS, then get yourself one of these.

    Ok, bye, gotta go for a drive now :)

  • Smoking IS bad for you. This guy shows us !

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    For those of you who know me personally, know that I detest smoking. Its just gross. I came across this brilliant video today, that shows you exactly what smoking does to you and your lungs, after just 1. Its really gross. Click on the picture above or click here to see the video.

  • I’m the biggest loser

    At the beginning of June this year, I decided to take a trip to the Doc’s office to do a normal checkup. Apart from the fact that I knew I was overweight, drank way to much beer on the weekends, hardly did any exercise, and ate McDonald’s for lunch a couple of days a month, I was a pretty healthy guy. Yea right.

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  • Vox Telecom buys Storm Telecom

    I have been working for storm for the last 8 years. It’s a long time.

    I have also been through many changes since I started working for Club Internet back in 1999. Eventually Club Internet was sold to ITI, which was eventually liquidated. At that stage 2 British Guys, Tim Parsonson & Tim Wyatt-Gunning, who had started a small company called storm telecom, came into the picture and bought out the data side of ITI. This was a strategic move from them, as they knew sooner or later, the South African goverment would in, and allow ISP’s to start reselling VoIP in South Africa.

    That day arrived on the in Feb 2005, and so storm began its rise to fame. 2 years and 8 Months later, the news of the company being bought out is announced. Today Vox Telecom or Datapro as they are commonly known, put in an offer for R360 Million and bought storm. (The whole press release is here)

    It is exciting times ahead for us, and I can’t wait to see how this is all going to work out. VoIP is such an exciting technology, and in South Africa it has huge potential to grow. Personally I think the acquisition of storm is great for Vox, as it compliments thier business, and I am sure it’s going to grow.

    Keep your eye out on Storm & Vox, big things are going to be happening.