Spiceworks – The Free IT Desktop July 25, 2006
Posted by chameeleon in Advertising, Google, Tech.add a comment
In my last job (and to a lesser extent, in my current job) I was working with a limited budget and resources. Therefore I was always on the lookout for good quality, low cost (i.e. free!) software tools. I found quite a few (and occassionally use them for testing in certain circumstances) and I may post a list on here if there is enough demand. Today I’m just spreading the word about Spiceworks. Its curious not only because its a browser-based, network admin tool but because it displays Google ads alongside the application in the browser – and this is how its funded. I can see larger companies disregarding Spiceworks because they already use Microsoft’s Systems Management Server, or another third party tool, but for SMEs, organisations and charities with smaller budgets I can see a home. I’m hoping Spiceworks is the first of many Google ad-supported apps we will see (if you’re reading this guys then an easy-install-and-use Intranet would be great!), especially with Ajax and other web2.0 technologies extending what is practical and achievable in a web browser.
Follow up being made to Bravia Balls July 21, 2006
Posted by chameeleon in Advertising, TV.add a comment
I just found out that Sony are making a follow up to the amazing Bravia Balls advert. They are keeping a blog about its progress which you can read here. I think its something to do with paint!
What’s So Good About Hot Weather? July 21, 2006
Posted by chameeleon in Question.2 comments
I’ve decided to run a Friday question (I do the same on my other blog) and this week I want to know what’s so good about the hot weather. In the UK at the moment we’re having a major heatwave (prediction of 38°C are being made but the highest so far is 36.3°C I think) and although I like hot weather, there are major downsides. So I would like everyone (whoever they may be) to post one good thing and one bad thing about the weather.
I just like the fact that it is still 20°C+ at 11pm (which is especially good for going to a party this Saturday!) and it feels like Spain or Florida or somewhere. I hate the fact that I seem to be attracting every insect within a 5-mile radius and they all wanna take a chunk out of me! I mean how can I get bitten on my stomach when its covered up!
Right, your turn!
McDonalds Sundial Billboard July 20, 2006
Posted by chameeleon in Advertising, Food.add a comment
I’ve been to the States three times (Florida each time I’m afraid – I’m a sucker for theme parks) and their billboards are much more exciting than ours. McDonald’s new billboard in Chicago features a sundial which points to a different breakfast item every hour until lunchtime when it points to a burger. Why cant we have boards like this in the UK?
Nintendo Wii – GAME playtest July 10, 2006
Posted by chameeleon in Games, Nintendo.add a comment
Last week high street store GAME attended a playtest of the new Nintento Wii – their next-gen, wireless, motion sensitive console. And the verdict – bloody good! It looks like Nintendo’s gamble could pay off.
GAME played a handful of games and a couple of technical demos, although the really big name games weren’t present. I expect though we will see more info on the console and games trickled out as the year goes on and Nintendo get closer to launch date.
Cheap as chips – low cost microprocessors? June 30, 2006
Posted by chameeleon in BBC, Tech.add a comment
BBC News is reporting that a new method of creating silicon dioxide, which is prominently used in the manufacture of microchips, has been discovered. This method uses UV light and operates at room temperatures, which contrasts to the current methods which uses temperatures that run at over 1000°C. It is predicted that the savings in energy costs could lead to cheaper chips.
MySpace used for US mugging June 30, 2006
Posted by chameeleon in Tech.add a comment
Just found this incredible story about two girls in the US (only 13 and 14 years old!) using MySpace to lure men to meet up and then mugging them!
Wow! 50x speed Internet cafe – but why? June 28, 2006
Posted by chameeleon in Tech.add a comment
The BBC news website reports that in Cornwall an Internet cafe can offer download speeds up to 50 times faster than a standards internet connection. These are speeds similar to that of a standard network card on a local area network, 100Mbps.
Adrian Hosford of BT said: “It would be possible to use the cafe’s computers to download in less than 15 minutes a file the equivalent size of the DVD version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, with its 19,000 illustrations, 629 audio and video clips and 100,000 articles.
“A standard broadband connection would typically take in excess of five hours.”
Great! But I dont understand the market for these sorts of speeds in an internet cafe. Surely the majority of patrons are there because they dont have an internet connection and computer available. Maybe they’re from out of the area, or just want to check an email while in town, or they simply dont own a computer. These casual browsers are only looking at news website, webmail, possibly social networking site, which generally dont need a great deal of bandwidth – a 1-2Mbps connection would suffice.
The services that would benefit the most from high bandwidth availability are things like high-quality VOIP/video calls, TV/video over the Internet and, as suggested by the article, downloading of large files. Once you download a file you need to move it somewhere (perhaps on a DVD-R or USB memory stick/drive), but this leads to problems with downloading illegal content.
I welcome speed increases for any Internet connection, after all the Internet as a whole is only as fast as its slowest connection, so as the average connection gets faster, the Internet experience should improve for all of us. I just question the reasoning behind putting a very fast connection into a public Internet cafe?
Google to challenge PayPal June 27, 2006
Posted by chameeleon in Google, Tech.add a comment
CNN are reporting that Google are about to launch their own system of making online payments. Purported to be similar to PayPal, gBuy will offer customers rebates for purchases.
Now, I’m not sure if this is going to be a PayPal killer, but its going to be another stream of revenue for Google. No details have been announced on which vendors will support this directly, but I assume payments between two individuals will also be supported (having a Google account is becoming a must nowadays!) It will be interesting to see if they will tie gBuy up with Froogle and even Google Calendar to show when payments are scheduled.
Two Harry Potter characters will die! June 27, 2006
Posted by chameeleon in Books, Harry Potter, Movies.add a comment
J K Rowling has said that two characters will die in her final book, which she is completing at the moment. She did not give any more clues but says she understands why some authors kill main characters off to end a series. Does this mean Harry is going to be killed off? With Dumbledore and Sirius Black already gone, the favourites have got to be Harry, Hermione, Ron, Hagrid and Voldemort. But even Snape or one of the Malfoys could be in the firing line. Any ideas?
