DHL require registration to use the service which is free of charge for private and business, from 2011 you can no longer use the customer number and PIN to access the Packstation but need to use your Goldcard and PIN.

Customers can use any Packstation in Germany, the address format is

Name (Willhelm Schmidt)
Customer Number (85673543)
Packstation and Number (Packstation 111)
Postcode and Town (14109 Berlin)

Not only can you send and received packages from the Packstation businesses can also use them to store parts for service calls. For companies with more then 3000 employees DHL offer in-house Packstations for the use of employees.

Other countries with similar systems include

• Austria with Osterreichische Post running a service called Post.24-Station. KEBA make the booths for them the same as for DHL Packstation.
• Estonia with Smartpost running a service called Delivery Point Solution. There is a booth within15 minutes drive for everyone in Estonia. Their system was self developed.
• Lativa with PostService running a service called Mana pasta stacija (My Post Station). Their system is self developed.

Australia Post recently announced they were going to be setting up and trialling their version of the Packstation which is manufactured by TZ Limited in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

56 lockers will be deployed at each location initially – a layout of the trial is available on the Australia Post website.

The Australia Post system will use a customised version of the TZ Courier software and the lockers have been custom designed for Australia Post. Each locker has a individual security code that is emailed to the recipient so couriers can drop off deliveries at the locker. At the three trial locations access will be 24/7 to a secure area. The photo above are the lockers being delivered today to the Brisbane GPO.

Unlike the DHL Packstation system the Australia Post system appears to be tied to a location (although the Customer ID may be usable Australia wide like the Packstation?), I registered for the three month free trial and received an address in the format;

Name (Matthew McDonald)
Locker number which is your Customer ID (Parcel locker C1xxx)
Address (261 Queen Street)
City State Postcode  (Brisbane City QLD 4000)

When a parcel arrives you will receive a SMS and email (The SMS can be set to only be sent between 8am and 10pm or 24/7) which contains the locker number and access code and you have 48 hours to collect the parcel.

You can receive any parcels delivered by Australia Post with the exception of

• Letters and standard mail
• Express Post letters
• Parcels requiring ‘proof of identity’ or payment on delivery
• Parcels containing wine or other alcohol
• Parcels larger than our biggest locker, which is 375mm x 600mm x 650mm
• Multi-parcel deliveries; we can only manage one parcel per locker

I’m not sure what they mean by proof of identity parcels, I assume this is where the person has to provide identification and not just a signature on delivery as the Trial information states (similar to the Packstation terms);

• When you register, you agree that delivery of your parcel will not require a signature. Instead, your use of the one-off access code will prove your acceptance (and the delivery of) your parcel.

If you don’t collect within 48 hours or it’s too large you have to collect the parcel as per normal during business hours. More information is available here.

Australia Post offer the following additional services at this stage

Missed deliveries – these can be redirected to your Parcel Locker by using the details on the missed delivery card.

Is there going to be a cost after the three month trial? The Packstation has no charges for using it so I hope Australia Post go down the same path.

Will we start to see DHL Packstation type booths popping up around the country? Hopefully yes.

Australia Post unveils ‘post office of the future’

Thursday, 16 June 2011

Australia Post is excited to announce plans for a ‘post office of the future’, an innovative store showcasing a range of new services to offer customers greater access, convenience and choice in the way they transact with Australia Post.

The store will offer a dedicated area for online shopping where online traders can fulfil their postage needs, a travel services zone and a private lounge where customers can complete more complex financial and identity services transactions.

In another first, the store will have a 24/7 zone for customers to pick up parcels, vending machines where customers can buy stamps and packaging products as well as weigh and send parcels at any time that suits them.

Managing Director and CEO, Ahmed Fahour, said that this was the first of many exciting changes to transform Australia Post into a more customer-focused organisation concentrating on eCommerce and trusted services.

“Our retail network is key to our strategy and a critical part in shaping the future of Australia Post – the community is changing and we are changing our stores to meet their needs,” said Mr Fahour.

“Our customers have told us they want more options in how they interact with us, so we will be providing them with greater access, convenience and choice in how they do business with Australia Post.”

The Brisbane GPO has been chosen as the first site for the new store, which was also the location of the first PostShop back in October 1989.

“The Brisbane GPO store will enable us to find out firsthand from customers about what services they use and like, which will help us develop future concept stores across the country,” said Executive General Manager Retail Services, Christine Corbett.

The new store will feature six dedicated zones:

• Online shopping zone for online traders including an eBay corner to dispatch parcels, purchase a range of packaging products and shop online with a range of Australia Post eCommerce partners;
• 24/7 zone with parcel lockers where customers can pick up their parcel at any time, a vending machine with packaging products and a self-service terminal where they can weigh, and post parcels as well as an ATM;
• Financial and identity services section where customers can sit down and go through transactions with staff;
• Travel services zone offering foreign exchange and a range of travel related services;
• Self-service terminals to allow customers to quickly pay a bill or post a parcel within Australia; and
• New spacious counters, divided into dedicated transaction types.

The concept store at Brisbane GPO is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Australia Post transforms its parcel service to meet online shopping boom

Monday, 10 October 2011

Australian online shoppers and sellers will be the big winners from the most significant changes to Australia Post’s parcel operations in its 200 year history.

Australia Post Managing Director and CEO Ahmed Fahour said Australia Post’s response to the internet shopping boom includes new delivery options such as the ability for customers to collect parcels from an initial 100 extended hours locations across Australia and access parcel lockers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with customers receiving email and SMS notifications when their parcel arrives.

“These new measures are additions to existing parcel services and come in response to a 10.9 per cent increase in parcel volumes over the last financial year – a figure which can be directly linked to Australians taking up online shopping in record numbers,” said Mr Fahour.

The new services providing customers with more flexibility and choice include:

Extended hours for parcel collection

The ability for customers to have their parcel delivered to a location of their choice from an initial 100 parcel pick up locations across Australia which offer extended hours with many open weekends.

New 24 hour access electronic parcel lockers will be trialled in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Customers can collect their items 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will receive a SMS notification when their parcel is ready for collection.

New parcel lockers for Post Office Box holders in 24 locations nation-wide by the end of November with more to come.

Trial of new self-service machines for domestic parcels and Billpay at five initial retail outlets, with many more to be operating across the country by the end of the financial year.

Competitive pricing and home delivery service

Australia Post/eBay low cost satchels and boxes priced at a low flat rate to anywhere in Australia no matter how remote or far away.

A new international tracked parcel product called ‘Pack and Track international’ which is a significantly cheaper option. This product offers tracked delivery between the United States and Australia with more international destinations to be added in the future and is available online from today and in retail outlets early next year.

To the door carding requiring our drivers to leave a card under the door, rather than the letterbox, to ensure customers who are at home receive their delivery.

Supporting consumers and Australian retailers get online

• 60 upgraded business hubs across Australia focusing on small to medium business activity, with the first to be opened in Mount Waverley (Victoria) in November, and 20 to be launched by the end of 2012.
• Australia Post, in association with our partner Mailplus, is offering free Express Post product pick up for new customers during October and November this year.
• An online label printing service, Click and Send, that makes it simple for customers to send parcels by allowing them to print labels, pay for postage online and organise courier pick up, all from the convenience of home or work.
• Our flagship concept store opening in Brisbane in December, which will have a dedicated online shopping area, 24/7 parcel pick up zone and vending machines with stamps and packaging.
• Helping Australian retailers with their online ordering and payments through our SecurePay business and our Shop In A Box product, which is available online shortly.

“We’re listening to our customers. Australians are receiving more parcels than ever and many of our customers are rarely at home during the day and find it increasingly hard to get to a post office,” said Mr Fahour.

“This is the biggest change Australia Post has ever made in our parcels business since it was set up many decades ago. It will allow us to introduce more services to complement those we continue to offer, such as home delivery and parcel collection at the post office.”

Richard Umbers, Executive General Manager Parcel Services said that while home delivery is still the best option for some people, for others it is more convenient to collect a parcel from a location of their choice which is open for longer hours.

“This year we trialled extended hours and drive-through parcel collection in Sydney and 90 per cent of residents surveyed who took part in the trial told us they wanted the service to continue.

“With our extensive delivery network and the largest retail network in the country, Australia Post is the natural partner for eCommerce in Australia with millions of parcels delivered annually on behalf of online sellers both domestically and internationally.”

These are the initial parcel pick up sites which will operate beyond normal business hours from early next year. Extended hours will be tailored to needs of the local community.

* Initial parcel locker locations.

A Current Affair removed their promotion of the device from their website soon afterwards they were presented with evidence it was a scam however by that time plenty of people had purchased the $895 box that promised power savings of up to 25% whereas Today Tonight has left it’s information on their website.

To understand why these devices don’t work you need to understand there are two ways that power is billed, Real power and Apparent power.

Real power

This is how households and small businesses (under ~$30K power spend per year) are billed and it’s based on the amount of  watts (W) consumed (true power).

Apparent power

This is how businesses (above ~$30K power spend per year) and factories are generally billed and it’s based on volt-amperes (VA) drawn.

Power Factor

Power factor is defined as Real Power divided by Apparent Power.

A circuit that consists of resistive loads such as incandescent/halogen bulbs, ovens and bar heaters will have a power factor of 1.0 whereas circuits containing inductive or capacitive elements such as electric motors and florescent ballasts which have a power factor of less then 1.0.

When these devices are being demonstrated they will usually use a wireless power meters that work by placing a clamp around the active conductor and measure Apparent Power not Real Power hence why when they demonstrate with an inductive load like an electric motor power “savings” are seen as the Power Factor is around .8 to .9. If the same test were performed by using an incandescent or halogen bulbs no saving will be seen as it’s Power Factor will be 1.0.

Essentially Power Factor is something that only matters if you are being billed for Apparent Power, these power saving devices are targeted at households where they make no difference to the size of the power bill and they are promoted through misleading methods including the use of wireless power meters that measure Apparent power.

This is a photo of the inside of a typical plug in power saver, they all work on the same principle which is a AC capacitor, a few components and a LED or two for looks (and to consume power so not only did you pay for something that doesn’t work it actually costs you money to have it plugged in). Cost to manufacture these devices would vary between $5 to $20 and they retail for $149 to over $1000, hence why so many people are willing to sell these as they are so profitable.

Devices

EnergySmart

The EnergySmart is being sold for between $149 and $299 by the following retailers; Poolmart Kenmore, iintegrate technology

Earthwise

Sells for $895 (installed up to $1500)

Promoted by A Current Affair (ACA) and Today Tonight (ACA took down their article soon after broadcast – Today Tonight left theirs online and added another segment covering it the next day)

Claims to also protect you from cancer (electromagnetic radiation) and has a reference from Panacea University (not recognised as a university).

Mark Maxwell said a number of times it’s capacitor based and works like a battery to save you power. All the excess electricity coming through is stored until required and it’s released, most of the devices use far too much power when they don’t need it and this capacitor based power saver stores a bit of that and this is where the power savings come from – video HIA Home Show Sydney 2011.

Other videos

Earthwise Power Savers featured on Today Tonight

Earthwise Power Savers Save Electricity Dirty Electricity = Harmful EMF and Facts (ok not real facts)

Earthwise Power Savers Saving Watt’s

Reegen Microplug

No longer for sale – Choice awarded this with their Shonky Award of 2009.

Claims to save up to 30% on your power bills – see presentation and video.

Enersonic Power Saver

Sold by Auscha Corporation – ACCC took them to court and they were ordered to stop selling – sell ACCC action below.

ACCC Action

The ACCC has taken action against a number of sellers of these devices, the most recent was action taken against Auscha Corporation Pty Ltd in July 2010 for it’s activities in 2008 and 2009 selling a power saving product. As you can see the ACCC is slow to act so don’t think that lack of action against any current sellers in any way legitimises their products.

• the Power Saver was not capable of reducing the amount of electrical power consumed by domestic consumers as measured by retail electricity suppliers, and therefore domestic consumers could not save up to 24% on their electrical power consumption by using the Power Saver
• use of the Power Saver could not lead to domestic consumers saving on their electrical power consumption as measured by retail electricity suppliers, and therefore domestic consumers could not save money by using the Power Saver, and
• the Power Saver was not designed and engineered in Australia.

Read the full release at the ACCC website - Federal Court declares consumers misled over Power Saver device

Further Information

Power Factor Correction Scam Review

Do Energy Savers Really Work?

Energy Saving Gadgets – Do They Work?

Hurrah! Another power-saving doodad!

Power Saver scam brought to you by Today Tonight and ACA

Earthwise power saver – scam or what?

Energysmart Go4Green power saver – is this a scam?

Whirlpool Snake Oil Post

World Health Organisation – Electromagnetic fields (EMF)

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a number of reports that debunk these devices are saving any money.

NIST Team Demystifies Utility of Power Factor Correction Devices

NIST Technical Note 1654 – Regarding Electric Energy Savings, Power Factors, and Carbon Footprints: A Primer

Installing the CM7 is easy by following the guide at xdadevelopers – Install CM7, OC kernel and Clockworkmod

Keeping the Nook Color up to date is easy, there are two types of updates stable and nightly, as the name implies the stable releases  are stable and the nightly releases are changes made each day so it may not be as stable but on the other hand you get the latest fixes and features. Actually there are three but the third is Release Candidate and this is only available before a firmware becomes stable so I won’t include it in the ones to worry about updating as they are rarely released.

CyanogenMod 7 firmware downloads for the encore (Stable)
CyanogenMod 7 firmware downloads for the encore (Release Candidate)
CyanogenMod 7 firmware downloads for the encore (Nightly)

CyanogenMod has a wiki site with more information – Barnes & Noble Nook Color

Error establishing a database connection.

Checking the server logs showed memory errors

A reboot of the VPS cleared the memory error however this error appeared in it’s place

Fatal error: Call to undefined function get_userdata() …… /wp-includes/capabilities.php on line 488

A repair of the mysql database didn’t fix this problem. Googling the error didn’t come back with anything useful either.

Testing with another browser allowed most pages to come up without this error so it appeared to be something to do with the other browser having a cookie for the admin user which corresponds to the error about get_userdata.

Deleting the admin user (the only one) from the wp_users table allowed both browsers to view the site.

Recreating the user with the same user_pass and other details allowed both browsers to view the site so there was a problem with the wp_users table preventing the site from operating.

Gingerbread 2.3 (GRI40) from Froyo 2.2 (FRG83G)

More details to follow

*#*#2432546#*#*

The number translates to

*#*#checkin#*#*

This will contact Google and check for updates and respond with a “checkin succeeded”

1. Download the 1828kb update file from Google
   (filename:  signed-passion-FRF83-from-FRF50.38d66b26.zip)
2. Follow the instructions here – Upgrading the Google Nexus One Eclair 2.1 to Froyo 2.2 – unrooted stock
   (note that step 9 may require you to press reboot )

The update is similar to the Eclair 2.1 to Froyo 2.2 with one change.

1. Download the 1.9mb update file from Google
   (signed-passion-FRF72-from-FRF50.bc033f9e.zip)
2. Follow instructions here –  Upgrading the Google Nexus One Eclair 2.1 to Froyo 2.2 – unrooted stock – starting with step 2 and returning her after step 9.
3. The phone when complete will sit there with the same menu seen in step 8. Press the trackball to reboot.

1. Download the 44.4mb update file from Google
   (filename: signed-passion-FRF50-from-ERE27.1e519a24.zip)
2. Rename the file to update.zip
3. Copy to the root of the SD card as shown
   
4. Turn the Nexus One off
   
5. Hold down the trackball button and turn on the Nexus One
   
6. Scroll down using the “volume down” button to the recovery option and press the “power” button to select.
   
7. The phone will reboot and allow you to select the firmware to upgrade.
   
8. Scroll down using the trackball and press it to select.
   
   
   
9. The firmware upgrade will begin immediately, allow 5 minutes for the flashing stage.
   
   
10. After the firmware is flashed the Nexus One will reboot.
    
    
    
11. Startup shows the upgrade was successful.
    

Automatic Updating of Applications

New Car Screens

New Car Screens

Tethering and Portable Hotspot