Just Too Techy - Half Man/Half Geek

Quick! Free TV shows on iTunes

2008-06-11T09:28:00.005+01:00

Most iTunes users are probably aware that there is a free single of the week that you download (you know - for free!). Well, every now and then they have a free TV Show as well. I've so far got hold of the first episode of Peep Show Season 6 (or something).

But today I've just downloaded the Pilots of the 70's TV shows Starsky & Hutch and Charlie's Angels. You know, for free!

Really cool idea - but only available for a few days. So get a wriggle on if you're interested.

More and more TV programs are available on iTunes. These recent items are made available from the arrival of Sony Pictures on the iTunes beaches. Great way for TV companies to exploit their back catalog.

Film rental and purchase is also now available through iTunes. Though I can't really see the point as owning the DVD these days is just as cheap. You can easily import it to iTunes and thus iPod using something like HandBrake.

But, you know... whatever.

Update: iTunes links made available via the iTunes Links Maker [via 90% Crud blog]

Geek shot: Google Mobile on the iPod Touch

2008-06-06T09:26:00.004+01:00

Quick shot of Googles Mobile interface on my iPod Touch (not iPhone as I marked the photo).

Really like the interface and quick skipping between the Mail, Calendar and Reader Apps. Nice clean and responsive interface.

Actually, I haven't tried Google Docs on the iTouch yet...

Chow.com loves Geeks!

2008-05-17T19:39:00.005+01:00

Wii Night! : One-handed, energy-charged bites for a marathon session - CHOW [www_chow_com]

We've all been there: The Queen pops around. You're chatting away and she see the Wii sitting by the TV. HRH mentions she's never had ago and you immediately pop in Wii Sports and key up a bowling match. Next thing you know it's 3 hours later and Ma'am is dealing you a Right Royal Whooping on Tiger Woods PGA.

The game is paused and everyone including the bodyguards looks at you expectantly. You rush to the fridge only to find a tin of condensed milk and other assorted ingredients, but no ready food.

She may not have the power to cut your head off (officially) but it's not a good idea to leave a Regent hungry with the news years honours coming up. What do you do?

Chow.com are concerned about your future knighthood, but more importantly, that your Wii nights stayed energy fueled. So they've come up with a Wii One-handed Food article that I advise you to checkout immediately.

And good luck, "My lord"!

An Anyone Can Edit Google Spreadsheet

2008-05-15T14:01:00.005+01:00

And you thought networked Doom was cool? How about editing a document live with, like, the whole of the interweb?!!!

Sooo cool!

Google Operating System blog has noticed a feature in the sharing options of Google Spreadsheets that allows anyone to edit - WITHOUT LOGGING ON! (Capitals theirs) and as such has set up an experimental comparing of Office Suites spreadsheet.

The result is - I've found - incredibly fun! Seeing the cells light up next to the one you're editing is so exciting. Check out the 'Jedi mind control' column and comment on whether is supports RSS feeds.

Brings a new level of playability to what is - let's face it - a boring, yet necessary, tool.

I know, I know... small things please small minds. But let me have my moment will you?

Thanks to Techmeme for the pointer

Google doesn't like itself

2008-05-13T11:13:00.003+01:00

I set up a Google Mail account for a job recently and forwarded everything from the company email server to the GMail account.

Had some interesting issues with having two GMail accounts on the same machine running that I'll go into later. But the one thing that amused me today was that I noticed that I had an item in my Spam folder.

Now Spam is a fact of life for me along with the majority of my hair migrating from my head to the rest of my body. But, this GMail account was used for internal mail for an email address that has only existed for a matter of weeks. Where is it going to get spammed from?

Intrigued, I opened the Spam folder and found an email alert for an appointment I had set in Google Calendar.

!!!

So my GMail account had concluded that an email from it's sister app was Spam. Is this sibling rivalry? What's wid' dat?

Not seen that before.. anyone else?

iMac noisey fan adventure

2008-05-11T16:21:00.004+01:00

My month old iMac is the apple of my eye (Did you get it? 'apple'... do you see? 'cos of the Apple the maker of the iMac... yeah, right...?)

Anyway, this afternon is the first time is ages I've had to spend some quality time with it. But what should happen? I turn it on and fan is really loud. What? But, it's a month old. I never even heard the thing make a noise before and now this!

Well after a little research I found this link:
Macworld: New iMac loud fan noise ...

So cool!

Turn the iMac off.
Pull the power cable out for 15 seconds (I played it safe and did 20)
Pug back in and start up.
No noise!

Fandabbidozy!

Sweet!

凉快!

Just call me 'Mac New boy'.

MediaCampBucks08 - May 17

2008-05-08T15:32:00.002+01:00

I'll be at MediaCampBucks08 on May 17th.

Be you too?

Fry's Gutenberg journey

2008-04-22T21:30:00.001+01:00

This is just a fantastic program on BBC where Stephen Fry tracks the history of Gutenberg (inventor of the printing press) whilst building what they consider to be the closest replication of the original press.

This is an amazing show that throws great light on an often little thought of technical revolution. Fry's passion and enjoyment is infectious.

Only five more days on BBC iPlayer as of this post. Do watch it if you're able.

BBC iplayer link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/page/item/b009wynj.shtml

Loic @ Davos

2008-01-23T09:27:00.001Z

The World Economic Forum wouldn't perhaps usually capture most peoples attention. But this year a lot more people seem to be taking an interest. Presumably because of the much reported economic downturn.

Notably for me Loic Le Meur is there vidblogging his way through the conference. I've enjoyed watching Loic's video memoirs as he started Seesmic (to which I now have an invite and thus an account!). I'll be watching his daily reports with interest. Here's his latest:

New Years Resolutions (Tech)

2008-01-04T11:33:00.001Z

Blog only when I want to.
Dev the 2 ideas I had last year.
Set up a Rails site.
FB-ize #2.
Learn the following (maybe): Ruby, C#, Agile...

More maybe?

Update #1:

Get a new laptop.
Get a Mac Book Pro.

Update #2:

Figure out if Facebook is worth the trouble.
Figure out if I want to bother with Personal Branding and growing my Social Network Influence...

New Years Resolutions (Biz)

2008-01-04T11:24:00.000Z

Pitch at least 3 business ideas this year.
Blog only when I want to.
Learn to enjoy my work.
Figure out how to handle conflict.
Engage in some conflict.

More to come, maybe...

Best "What is a Blog?" video ever

2007-12-14T16:53:00.001Z

Embedded Video

Beautifully simple production on the question of "What is a blog?" from Common Craft.

Inspiring in it great script, analogue presentation and low production values. As it says on their post "Tools of our trade":

"We're very big believers that we don't need big investments in production to make our videos. We'd rather invest our time in developing what matters most - the script."

These guys are gooood. Keep an eye on their blog/site.

Found through Thoughts of Resurection.

Blogged with Flock

Digital Urban: Build a Virtual City - Shelter Buy a House Rebuild A Life

2007-11-29T16:14:00.001Z

Digital Urban: Build a Virtual City - Shelter Buy a House Rebuild A Life

Really love this idea!! A virtual city that raises money directly for the charity hosting it! Brilliant!

See Stephen Fry's windmill next to the Digital Urban plot.

Blogged with Flock

1000 * 1000

2007-11-20T10:24:00.001Z

I recently met up with Patrick McDonald from Viva Network and had a chat about fundraising, web strategy and video production.

Viva Network is an organisation that helps Children at Risk in some of the poorest areas of the world. Viva's main Modus Operandi is to 'network' together churches in a particular area to help each other help some of the poorest and 'at risk' street children in the world. And these are not all rich churches with big buildings - many are tin shacks in what most people would call slums.

An example Patrick gave was that one church in the city may be able to school older street children to read and write; another in the same city but in the slums would be able to provide kindergartens for the small children so they wouldn't end up on the street in the first place. And, of course, Churches and other people in 'richer' countries could contribute money and assistance.

The idea is it's easier to help when other people are helping.

I was amazed at the sheer logistical issues that are involved in running a charity.

One of the main issue they have - as with most charities - is funding. But, not so much in the sense that they don't get any. They do - millions of pounds of grants, etc come in. But, these are poured into particular project and plans that the funding was originally aimed at. Also, these are usually one off payments. Running a charity - especially a worldwide one - takes committed staff and a consistent income.

The ridiculous state of affairs is that Patrick has to let go people who are doing a great job and ask them if they can come back in 3 months when Viva will have the money to employ them again.

So Patrick has an idea that he has entitled '1000 * 1000'.

He wants to get a thousand people to commit to annual giving of £1000 a year.

The thing I like about this is that it has the potential of a viral appeal - something that social network is just set up to do. All it takes is a for 2 or 3 people to commit and 2 or 3 more people to do the same and in no time Viva will have their funding.

Facebook has apps for this such as the Causes App - and I am researching these and other online and social networking methods of fund raising.

I'm no fundraiser - but I know for a fact that we need the needy as much as they need us. It's a two way exchange and not a casting down of coins, but a human interaction that feeds both parties - the giver and receiver. We will all be both at some stage in our lives. Don't let the chance to give slip away again and again.

If you have any ideas or experience, or would like to contribute, please contact me (blog@rjjm.net) or contact Viva.

Facebook Apps for FB Business users

2007-11-15T18:56:00.001Z

Have to say I was getting a little skeptical about the use of Facebook for business. Oh, sure I could see the use - networking, events organising - but it all seemed a little bit of a glorified CRM to me.

After a little search around on the interwub I found this article from Web Worker Daily (not a bad site at all) which gives a set of general hints and tips if your going to use FB as a business tool.

But that didn't really satisfy me until I caught a Neville Hobson tweet today about a CIO.com article entitled 'Five Favorite Facebook Widgets for Business Users'.

I don't want to spoil the article for you so I'll just mention the apps that gave me hope!

WikiMono - a Wiki in FB? No way! Yes way. It's true and it works. I like the events and the Groups capabilities in FB but I understand Wiki's a bit more. I can't wait to think of a few uses for this - but as a biz tool it's a killer app. (A wiki is a website that anyone can edit and create new pages. A truly interactive website - arguably the origins of social media.)

Marco Polo - this is a business travel tracking tool. You can add a network of friends and see where everyone is. Actually this seems the same as Dopplr. When I installed it I found myself just wondering why I hadn't set up Dopplr in FB. So I looked for a FB app and there it was. So thanks Marco Polo, but I'm afraid I'm sticking with Dopplr.

Anyway, I can see the potential for these apps a business tools better than I could with anything else before. But, I guess we'll wait and see what they are implemented for.

Vidblog: Madrid airport

2007-11-14T08:26:00.001Z

Couple of days old but here's me at Madrid airport. Watch out for the Daleks!

Nerd Score

2007-11-14T08:22:00.001Z

I usually type 'test' into Google after establishing a connection. This time I noticed this site: http://www.nerdtests.com/ and dutifully took the test. You can see my results below.

I know it's an old one, but hey, I'd never done it before.

Gary Vee's (from WineLibrary.tv) stonking viddle

2007-11-13T08:18:00.001Z

I love Viddler. Rob Sandie (do you have a blog Rob?) Tweeted this video from Miss Rogue's Viddles (Tara Hunt) with Gary Vee (of WineLibrary.tv) giving a passionate and detailed, entrepreneurial, visionary... etc - response to Miss Rogue's questions (transcript available soon - would like to see those questions.)

Will certainly be scouring the HorsePigCow blog and WineLibrary.tv in the near future.

Watch this vid - it's excellent!

Oh and as it's a Viddler vid you can COMMENT IN-LINE! Let's see some discussion people...

(Am in Madrid - more vidposts and comments later - see my Viddler page for previews)

24 - 1994 style

2007-11-09T09:14:00.001Z

Just saw this on PopURLs.com/del.icio.us. Had to share it. Fairly impressed with the quality of production for what is essentially a spoof.

Brand You World TeleConference today

2007-11-08T13:58:00.000Z

Is anyone attending the A Brand You World TeleConference today?

All about Personal Branding and looks to be very interesting.

Sounds facinating. I intend to be at least listening on the Guy Kawasaki session (3pm GMT) and Neville Hobson's (8pm GMT).

See a full side-by-side Schedule at Jason Alba's blog and you can sign up for the podcasts after the event on the ABYW front page.

Let me know how you find it? Does the call in format work?

Fame at last! (A mention on FIR #289)

2007-11-03T08:08:00.001Z

Really chuffed to hear my words coming from Neville Hobson's lips at the end of Thursday's For Immediate Release podcast (#289) as I listened on the way home from work last night. My post of praise for their show was well received, it seems.

Shel's exhortation for people to subscribe to my feed and push up my subscriptions is gratefully received (though, as of this post, unheeded!)

Keep up the good work, guys.

Chumby is now available! (If your in the USA...)

2007-11-03T07:50:00.001Z

I awoke this morning to find an email from Chumby (Wikipedia entry) in my Inbox with the Subject line "Chumby is here!". (Though apparently, some people got these a few weeks ago!)

I had pre-registered with my email address to receive news of when these little blighters would be available after reading about them on Engadget. (You know, one of those multi-photo, watch-us-[unwrap|play]-with-[insert gadget here] posts.)

Really intrigued by wireless technology anyway and love the idea of a cuddly computer. So was very happy to receive this email saying I could now buy one. I had to use a password providing in the email to login and when I did so I could choose from a selection of three Chumby's to purchase.

Colours that is. Not feature set.

Chumby, is as the blurb on the site says,

chumby is a compact device that displays useful and entertaining information from the web: news, photos, music, celebrity gossip, weather, box scores, blogs — using your wireless internet connection. Always on, it shows — nonstop — what's online that matters to you.

Great, so let's get one. How much? $179? Well, that's nothing with today's exchange rate. (Oh, how naive I was...) I'll get three!

Oh. Only allowed one. Fine let's just get one. Off to the Check Out with my Credit Card.

But, what's this:

Surely, there must be a mistake... >Click<

Legal restrictions? What? Is Chumby considered munitions or something?

Excuse me whilst I express my inner Pirate: Wharrr! Yer, landlubbers! Why, I'll afix ye to the tail hook! Keel haul yer salt swayed fins I will!

Guess I'll have to wait until I'm over in the US. Next year sometime, I think. Maybe they'll be available for international shipping by that time.

In search of Boston Podcamp

2007-11-01T12:34:00.001Z

From Chris Brogan and others I have found the following couple of podcasts with episodes based on the Boston Podcamp that sounded really cool.

C. C. Chapman - not really picked up Chapman's pod before, but the guy is just so passionate and the Managing the Gray cast I've just listened to is just fantastic.

Six Pixels of Separation - Mitch Joel's podcast (mention in the CC Chapman cast above) is just jam packed with goodies and names. This episode includes a chat with a group from the Boston Podcamp. More please Mitch! Oh, and can we get that session on Personal Branding that you and CC mentioned?

Lastly, here's a neat little video of a discussion that took place there from Bob Goyetche's blog.

Please let me know of any other podcasts or recordings from the event.

Three/Skype phone released in the UK

2007-10-31T22:44:00.001Z

Updated: Dan York has some pictures of the Three Skype phone.

Really exciting news about the Skype enabled phone from Three.

Neville Hobson has a post on the Bloggers Junkett. As does TechCrunch UK.

Neville wins it with an interview with John Penberthy-Smith, Marketing Director at Hutchison 3G UK Ltd.

John says there are two ways to get your free Skype calls:
Pay-As-You-Go - you pay £49 for the phone and then have to keep topping up every month for a minimum of £10.
Monthly Contract - you pay a minumum of £12 a month and get the phone for free. ~Contract lasts 18 months.

I use Skype extensively and think I may well get one of these as it will be a lot easier for my Skype contacts to get me.

I have heard that it does allow you to do SkypeOut calls (that allow you to call landlines from Skype), but I haven't found out if that extends to SkypeIn (gives you a number for landlines to call). If so this could be a really useful item.

Viddler: N95 Vidblog Test

2007-10-31T22:32:00.001Z

Joined Viddler today and uploaded a test from my N95 phone.

Nice that I could use the existing file to upload and didn't need to re-encode it beforehand.

Also liked the Advanced Properties setting once the file was uploaded.

Not sure about the upload and encoding time. Seemed to be quite long. But, hey - it worked. At least, the second time it did.

Here's the inspiring video. The Steve I am talking about in the video is Steve Garfield. The Video I saw him using his N95 on was Day 4 of Seesmic video.