Simien http://www.simien.co.uk/ en Copyright 2008 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:19:56 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.1 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Google Terms of Service I use Google for a lot more than search, mail, calendar, file storage etc and Gmail in common with most Google apps has in its terms the right for Google to just turn it off at any time without any reason other than innovation:

4.2 Google is constantly innovating in order to provide the best possible experience for its users. You acknowledge and agree that the form and nature of the Services which Google provides may change from time to time without prior notice to you.
4.3 As part of this continuing innovation, you acknowledge and agree that Google may stop (permanently or temporarily) providing the Services (or any features within the Services) to you or to users generally at Google's sole discretion, without prior notice to you . You may stop using the Services at any time. You do not need to specifically inform Google when you stop using the Services.

Fingers crossed then

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2008/04/google_terms_of.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2008/04/google_terms_of.html Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:19:56 +0000 User-Centred Design Is Dead? According to Digital Design Blog UCD has been pronounced dead, well more like questioned as to how valid linear design methodologies are versus more agile iterative approaches favoured by 37Signals et al.

Guess there's an argument for both and so much will depend on the design environment, SG was built straight off the bat, wireframes to HTML prototypes and then live. Looking back we got loads wrong and at the same time lots right and did in a fraction of the time we would have wanted had a) money been no object and b) we had started design the previous year.

Small agile development teams don't work well with linear, restrictive processes. But if you're an agency and you need to show process, due diligence and an audit trail to make sure your arse is covered if it all fucks up linear, UCD must have a lot of attraction.

Run at it shouting, that's the best way.

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2008/04/usercentred_des.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2008/04/usercentred_des.html Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:05:49 +0000 Bingo is back Buzzword bingo that it is. David Armano of Critical Mass has put together a list of the Top 10 buzzwords emerging for Web 3.0 (which should probably on there itself).

Top of the list is socialstainable, a Frankenstein like amalgamation of "socially conscious and sustainable" conversations. Starbucks would love it.

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2008/04/bingo_is_back.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2008/04/bingo_is_back.html Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:15:10 +0000 MT 4 Upgrade Done it. Upgraded to Movable Type 4, for some reason half way through 2 files won't copy across. Code and trial version of Flow get stuck but good old cyber duck comes to the rescue.... seems to have worked anyhoo.

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2008/04/mt_4.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2008/04/mt_4.html Bits Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:18:24 +0000 Apple to launch own networkfor iPhone? I have an o2 contract so news that they had won the iphone contract was good for me, especially as they are currently making me lots of nice offers to renew my contract with them for next year.

So was a bit surprised when phoning them up the other day and asking when i could upgrade the crackberry for an iphone to be told by the o2 nerk that Apple are setting up their own network? Are they doing a Virgin mobile, are they using o2's network to put it on? Either way o2 were implying it means a new contract, which doesn't seem to tally with all the fuss the other day about them winning the contract etc?

A search on google doesn't reveal much other than the news stories in July saying they'd won it. Anyhow I reckon wait and see is best option. Apple's early adopters rarely get rewarded if I remember my early iPod fun and games, 2 min of battery life and it self destructs on day 366.

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/09/apple_to_launch.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/09/apple_to_launch.html Sat, 01 Sep 2007 10:34:24 +0000 Schkypenfreud Sad really but am actually quite happy it's not working, if someone the size of Skype can get it wrong then it makes it a bit less sore when we drop the ball a little more than I'd like.

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/08/schkypenfreud.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/08/schkypenfreud.html Bits Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:15:32 +0000 ThinkFold Collab App ThinkFold

Really nice looking app coming out from what looks like a Brit team, could be a good alternative to Basecamp , 'bout time as still can't fathom Huddle.

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/08/thinkfold_colla.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/08/thinkfold_colla.html Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:04:30 +0000 Feed in waiting Like the way Feedburner do this, keeps interest without giving anything away just yet.


Feed in waiting

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/08/_feed_in_waitin_1.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/08/_feed_in_waitin_1.html Fri, 10 Aug 2007 22:11:20 +0000 Flickr as a Customer Service Tool Began playing around with using flickr as a customer service/ help tool today. Basically this involved uploading screen shots of the site, or components of key screens and using flickr's notes facility to tag parts of the UI and explain what they do/how they work, need to do some more on integrating with help.

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/08/flickr_as_a_cus_1.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/08/flickr_as_a_cus_1.html Notes Fri, 10 Aug 2007 21:21:00 +0000 I'll shut up then There was me thinking Google Anal wasn't reporting properly and it turns out it was my mistake all along.

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/07/ill_shut_up_the.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/07/ill_shut_up_the.html Bits Mon, 30 Jul 2007 19:58:57 +0000 Are we there yet? One of the weird things about finally getting SquadGod out there was finding it hard to get to a point to celebrate. The site was meant to launch on the Tuesday, the way things turned out it launched on the Friday. We had planned to go out Thursday night (after it was meant to launch Thursday of course) and have dinner etc. When it finally went live on Friday we were too tired to do much than go home.

Coming in Monday, after a weekend of thinking about all the things we could have done differently and all the things we wanted to work better just kind of sat down and got on with it. So having focused for so long on the launch when we got there all i could think about was the next release.

Sometimes you need to stop and look back down the mountain to see how far you've climbed. If you always keep looking up you get a sore neck.

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/07/are_we_there_ye.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/07/are_we_there_ye.html Notes Mon, 30 Jul 2007 19:43:31 +0000 VC's and dolphins Felix Dennis, in his seminal work How To Get Rich, describes VC's as dolphins, maybe he'd been reading this article which brings to light the darker side of flipper.

The following dolphin-perpetrated atrocities have been widely documented:
  • gang rape of dolphin females
  • prostitution of same
  • porpoise holocausts
  • adults grabbing adorable baby dolphins in their beaks and whacking them to death

Have to say am rather curious about a "porpoise holocaust", it's got Disney's name all over it.

UPDATE : Porpoise Holocaust has such a good ring I've adopted it as a team name for one of my groups on SquadGod

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/07/why_vcs_a_like.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/07/why_vcs_a_like.html Bits Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:13:39 +0000 10 months (just short of) My contribution to the Squadliness in the last 10 months.

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/07/10_months_just.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/07/10_months_just.html Bits Thu, 12 Jul 2007 18:34:59 +0000 Seven steps to remarkable customer service Excellent post from Joel Spolsky for anyone in the web application business, mind you pretty good for any business.

Joel on Software

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/02/seven_steps_to.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/02/seven_steps_to.html Bits Wed, 21 Feb 2007 09:00:27 +0000 Out with the old... Life as we've come to know it at Simien is at an end.

After several great years pootling about and tinkering with the web, happily with some great clients, Simien is shutting its doors, the last of our client work is coming to an end and once completed that will be the last work taken on for the foreseeable.

The reason for this shift is that I'm now full time on developing SquadGod, something I've been involved with for over a year now. More to come on this later. Simien is going to stay online, and from time to time I'll be updating with the trials and tribulations of developing a web business.

So I'd like to say thank you to all Simien's clients, and everyone who's worked on their projects, with me.

More on on SquadGod to follow soon.

]]> http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/01/out_with_the_ol.html http://www.simien.co.uk/notes/2007/01/out_with_the_ol.html News Mon, 22 Jan 2007 22:47:35 +0000