hitting the wire*

Google's Android vs Apple's iPhone - an open and closed matter?

2008-09-25T22:24:26+02:00

Just spotted this one, courtesy of Bretton Vine.

If I had not sorted my mobile/mac synching problem, I'd have been tempted to take a harder look at the iPhone before now. "Android" though...? Not a very sexy name or look, but then this caught my eye:

But here’s the thing: Android, and the G1, are open. Open, open, open, in ways that would make Steve Jobs cringe. You can unlock this phone after 90 days—that is, use any SIM card from any carrier in it. The operating system is free and open-source, meaning that any company can make changes without consulting or paying Google. The App store is completely open, too; T-Mobile and Google say they won’t censor programs that they don’t approve of, as Apple does with the iPhone store. Yes, even if someone writes a Skype-like program that lets people avoid using up T-Mobile cellular voice minutes.

Android is not as beautiful or engaging as the iPhone’s software, but it’s infinitely superior to Windows Mobile—and it’s open. The G1 is only the first phone to use it, the first of many; it’s going to be an exciting ride.

synchronising your Nokia and your Mac.

2008-09-18T17:06:11+02:00

For some time now (in fact, since I switched to a Mac in Jan 2008) I have been trying to get reliable synch'ing happening between my MacBook Pro (iCal, Address Book, etc) and my Nokia E65.

The pain an suffering has been acute. I first tried some Nokia software - failed dismally. Then I paid for FoneLink from Nova Media - throught I'd got it right, but then began having issues with the bluetooth pairing, duplicated contacts on my phone (6 of each of half my contacts) - no pattern to give me a clue where the issue was. A few support mails later which really never got to the bottom of the problem, and I was losing contacts - off both phone and Mac. Frustration alley.

Then Ted from Bridges of Hope suggested Missing Synch. I downloaded the trial version, but never quite got it 100%. I'm not sure why I was convinced the full version was going to work, but I bought it online. I'm now as happy as a pig in that soft and smelly stuff they love to wallow in...? ;)

It has been flawlessly synch'ing contacts, calendar, sms', downloading pics and movies off the E65, uploading files I leave in the appropriate directory, each time I switch on bluetooth on the phone and hit the "synch" button.

If you are looking for a reliable tool to synch a Symbian based phone to a Mac - I'd endorse this piece of code!

At last. Now someone needs to tell me where I find and app the synch's Thunderbird's contacts with the Mac's address book? ;)

Some web apps I really like.

2008-09-02T23:07:27+02:00

I seem to be perpetually in search of a FTP server I can abuse, so when a JHB based consultant offered to send me a large video file via "yousendit", I thought this was some new Jozi slang I needed to wise up to.

http://www.yousendit.com allows you to register for a free account (as well as some funky paid ones with bells and whistles) and upload large files for others to download when it mails them a link. Free means files are wiped after a week, but hey, it beats finding other ways of sending 50MB files! I promptly introduced 2 people in the US to it and am downloading the data they were battling to get me as I type!

Then I was reminded of what Vinny Lingham has been up to since he succumbed to lure of the US West Coast. I stumbled across (manually, not using that highly addictive web app!) TechCrunch's 60 second elevator pitch site, where you can upload a short video of your talking head pitching your product or company. Very cool idea! There the rogue was large as life punting Synthasite! ;)

http://www.synthasite.com has to be the quickest, easiest, cheapest way to build and maintain a website! Can't wait for an excuse to use it!

PS.
One more : http://www.compete.com/
"track your rivals. then each their lunch" - love it. Wish I'd used this when we were running Storm!

that's me.

Paid R1.4b... now what you gonna do with it?

2008-06-25T22:36:38+02:00

I see in ITWeb today that MTN have announced that they are buying Verizon. More industry consolidation. We have yet to see any real signs of Vodacom's decision to build rather than acquire and ISP in order to address the lack of a data focused Service Provision arm (yeah, sure they'll be quick to tell you they offer 3G/HSDPA, but there is more to IP than basic connectivity). MTN, who have "had" MTNNS for years, have not really (imho) made the most of the hay while the sun was shining happily on them. They've functioned more or less as cousins who tolerate each other's presence in deference to a common lineage rather than as close family collaborating to mutual benefit.

So, what will MTN do with Verizon, a solid operation which has been hamstrung by bureaucracy forced on them by a large multinational parent? Will they end up another distant cousin, or will we see some innovative converged services appearing? Time will tell.

Big shoes to fill.

2008-06-25T22:24:19+02:00

Duncan McLeod's article in Financial Mail reminded me of something was aware of but had forgotten (easy to do when you're not quite so active in regulatory issues any more!): two of ICASA's councillors end their tenure at the end of June. And not just any two, but in my humble opinion two who have overshadowed the rest in engaging with the sector and making strides to move the industry forwarded. Albeit more slowly than mst of us would have liked, but forward nevertheless. Tracy Cohen and Zolisa Masiza. Hamba Kahle.

Now this guy had vision!

2008-06-17T20:42:01+02:00

This gem comes via Bretton Vine that electronic bloodhound of eclectic digital media trivia!
Dave

The Web Time Forgot (login required)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/science/17mund.html
By ALEX WRIGHT

MONS, Belgium — On a fog-drizzled Monday afternoon, this fading 
medieval city feels like a forgotten place. Apart from the 
obligatory Gothic cathedral, there is not much to see here except 
for a tiny storefront museum called the Mundaneum, tucked down a 
narrow street in the northeast corner of town. It feels like a 
fittingly secluded home  for the legacy of one of technology’s 
lost pioneers: Paul Otlet.View this photo


In 1934, Otlet sketched out plans for a global network of 
computers (or “electric telescopes,” as he called them) that would 
allow people to search and browse through millions of interlinked 
documents, images, audio and video files. He described how people 
would use the devices to send messages to one another, share files 
and even congregate in online social networks. He called the whole
thing a “réseau,” which might be translated as “network” 
— or arguably, “web.”

Historians typically trace the origins of the World Wide Web 
through a lineage of Anglo-American inventors like Vannevar Bush, 
Doug Engelbart and Ted Nelson. But more than half a century before 
Tim Berners-Lee released the first Web browser in 1991, Otlet 
(pronounced ot-LAY) described a networked world where “anyone in 
his armchair would be able to contemplate the whole of creation.”

Although Otlet’s proto-Web relied on a patchwork of analog  
technologies like index cards and telegraph machines, it 
nonetheless anticipated the hyperlinked structure of today’s Web. 
“This was a Steampunk version of hypertext,” said Kevin Kelly, 
former editor of  Wired, who is writing a book about the future 
of technology.
[...]

Shifting focus

2008-05-14T20:12:07+02:00

Exactly 84 days since I last posted. A lot longer since I wrote anything of any weight. Frightening to see that the number of visits per day have hardly slacked off. Someone somewhere explain that to me!?

I intend posting on this blog from now on more sporadically than before. I'm still involved in ISPA and in CITI and am in the market for short to medium term contracts in IT / telecoms. I am however, intending to start a new blog, focusing on Energy - renewable, sustainable, fuel cells, carbon footprints, solar, wind, wave, coal, oil, biofuel, the lot. So as you can imagine, there will be no specific focus to begin with. Not until I've zero'd in on an opportunity to pursue in earnest! ;)

I attended an "Energy Summit" at Spier today and was struck by the similarities between the Telecoms sector and the Energy sector... a seemingly inept regulator, an incompetent government department (I intend referring to them as the "Dept. of Minerals-and-oh-yes-Energy" from now on), private sector battling to make headway, lots of people talking, very few doing.

And I thought the ITC sector had a bunch of acronyms!??!..... the Energy sector appears to be worse! The only difference is that they go for 5 letter acronyms instead of 3. I mean who came up with REEEP?? And we won't talk about the salaries... there the numbers go the other way! :(

OK, so.... while I work up some enthusiasm, how about some suggestions for a name for the new blog?

"Running on Empty" is my favourite so far.
"The Oil Rag"?
"HyperEnergetic"?
....??

Oh yes, and anyone have any suggestions on a good blog authoring tool for a Mac? I'm purging myself of all Microsoft products (Neo Office for Mac is keeping me happy).

This is not an abandoned blog.

2008-02-20T13:14:09+02:00

No really. It has been touching to receive queries about my demise (as opposed to the blog's demise). I will be back. The focus is likely to either broaden or shift though.

I have no fixed plans at the moment. The 29th of Feb 2008 is my last day with Storm (a wholly owned Vox subsidiary at present) after 8+ years. I'll be available to consult in the telecoms sphere. I have declined some very kind and generous offers from large corporate-like outfits for permanent employment.

I've paid off debts. I have a few months salary in the bank. For a month or two, I'll be project managing some extensions to my house (including a stable which we may just build using Adobe bricks doing the green thing and all!). I have not bought an Aston Martin and do not intend to - a sea kayak will suffice.

Oh, and to follow on from a previous post I'm too lazy to link to, the 3rd replacement laptop since September is dying on me. I ordered a MacBook Pro on Monday. Prepare to be possibly inflicted with cult-like ravings about a new toy.

Eskom's next ad will be based on...

2008-01-30T09:58:23+02:00

Although I'm not sure that SA censors have as much of a sense of humour as the ones in the UK!

love it! ;)

Done deal!

2008-01-25T15:44:44+02:00

Today we received the final official unconditional approval from the Competition Commission for the Vox purchase of Storm.

From here, we wrap up retrenchment and redeployment processes and kick off integration processes and of course pay out monies owed for shares and options.

The long wait is over.

OK, so telecoms was fun... anyone for taking on Eskom? ;)