Boxing Day Tech Sale

I've got a bits of tech that has been collecting dust and I've decided to sell.

Let me know if anything interests you and make me an offer, or bid on the eBay auctions linked.

Apple MacBook Pro 13" (Mid 2009)

  • Model ID MacBookPro5,5
  • 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
  • upgraded to 8GB RAM
  • upgraded internal 240GB OWC Mercury Electra 3G SSD (285MB/s read/write data rate)
  • Battery health at 524 cycles, current max capacity 4744mAh (~87% of original design capacity of 5450 mAh).
  • minor cosmetic scratches and scuffs, never dropped, no dents, no cracks anywhere.
  • screen, keyboard and trackpad in perfect condition.
  • Mac OS X 10.8.2 Mountain Lion installed

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/300838691893

Apple iPad mini 16GB Wi-Fi

  • Excellent condition, no scratches or wear on either the glass screen or on the back case.
  • Up to date iOS 6.0.2
  • purchased 19/11/2012 - just 5 weeks old. Receipt will be provided for remainder of the 12 month warranty

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/300838674596

Apple iPhone 4 32GB Black

  • Out of contract, unlocked, use any sim worldwide
  • good condition, some scuffs and wear on stainless steel band, tiny chipped off bit of plastic around the screen, no scratches on back or front glass
  • Silver 'LEAF' metal skin, maze pattern, applied to back (removable)
  • Free Kensington Mini Battery Pack to extend the battery life, attaches directly to the 30-pin dock connector
  • iOS 6.0.1

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/300838685425

Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB White

  • brand-new, pristine condition, no scratches, no scuffs, no cracks, no water damage
  • unlocked, never activated, use any sim worldwide
  • iOS 5.x (probably 5.0 or 5.0.1)
  • warranty replacement unit (1-1 swap at Apple Store for damaged iPhone)

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/300838682585

Blackberry Playbook 7" 16GB

  • excellent condition, barely used,
  • updated to Playbook OS 2.1.0.1088
  • ability to run Android apps as well as Blackberry AppWorld apps

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/300838678233

Satellite Maps - Bing is Best

While on a trip to the Warragamba Dam today, Anthony recognised a location that we drove past on the M7 (Westlink) highway as the Hoxton Park Airport, a small regional airport. However, instead of the usual airport terminal buildings, it looked like a complex of warehouses and offices now. Curious as to what's happened, I looked it up on Apple Maps on my iPad.

The satellite imagery seemed a bit outdated, showing what looked like a construction site, with no buildings. On the northern end of the brown dirt, you could just about make out the remnants of what were the runways.

Since everybody's having a big whinge about how crap iOS6's maps are, I thought I'd compare it with the superior Google Maps (using Safari). It showed very clearly two landing strips and a few small buildings. Nothing like what is actually there today.

I've never used Bing Maps at all, but I though I'd give the benefit of the doubt and give it a go. I was not hopeful that Bing would be any better than Apple or Google in their mapping solution. To my surprise, Bing Maps' satellite view showed the new buildings, clear as day.

Just comparing the area around it, there also seemed to be a few other developments in the area that Apple and Bing maps have, but still look like farmland on Google Maps. To Google's credit though, they still had the correct roads and road names on the maps overlay, even though it doesn't match up with anything on the satellite image.

This quick test turned out to be quite an eye-opener for me, that Google Maps actually had the most out-of-date satellite imagery, and Bing was the most accurate. Maybe it's time to reconsider other options.