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Ping!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

If you have downloaded Release 6 you would have grasped at just how busy I am at present. This is why I wanted to write about a fab new service from ping.fm. What does it do? Well it enables you to update many web sites (social sites and blogs) from one location, all at the same time. I know I could just as easily not update all these sites but when running a blog or a pod cast, it's a good idea to promote what's going on.

Ping.fm allows me to enter blog entries and status updates (the kind of things you put into Twitter or Facebook) without having to open all the services to do them individually. I think this is a fantastic idea and am lucky enough to be part of the public beta.

If you seem to spend your time updating various online profiles then I suggest you check it out.

Again if you have downloaded Release 6 (see what I did there!), you will know I talked about the recently announced iPhone 3G.

I have been looking into all the press and all the online chat regarding the iPhone 3G and I still want one but even I can note a couple of failings:

No Flash - doesn't sound like a big problem and it probably isn't, just a surprise there isn't one as it appears to be standard nowadays
Stereo Bluetooth - Believe me as a commuter with bags and jackets to carry being free of headphone leads would be wonderful. Stereo Bluetooth has neither been confirmed or denied but it'd be great if it were included.
Video Recording - Now I stick by my comments in Release 6 that I really don't feel video recording is crucial so I don't see this as a flaw. What I do see however is a positive that certain developers such as Qik and Flixwagon have already achieved online video streaming from a standard iPhone.

I see lots more positives on top of these few minor negatives:

Extended Battery life - Best available for 3G use and great as a standard iPod and Phone.
Apps! - Never have I known there to be so much enthusiasm and support for applications on a mobile device. Sure you can add applications to other mobiles but they never seem to live up to their promises. The apps for iPhone look amazing and if the recently announced winners/runners up from the Apple Design Awards are anything to go by, we're in for a treat! To me this seals the iPhone 3G as a device which will not only increase productivity but will also enable me to have more fun - especially during periods when I am commuting or travelling...
GPS - Regardless of whether Tom Tom are allowed to install their software on an iPhone, the Google system that currently works has already helped me out of a few jams over wi-fi in the city (my sense of direction is shocking) - with the new GPS system and the extended wi-fi network - how can it loose?
Extended Wi-Fi Coverage - Not only do us UK benefit from the excellent 3G services here but we also get extended wi-fi coverage thanks to a deal 02 have done with BT which adds their OpenZone wifi areas to the already hefty list of wi-fi spots offered by The Cloud

Honestly I could go on and on about this top but I guess the litmus test will be when I have mine in my hand... How many days to go?

Labels: Apple, Facebook, iPhone 3G, Web

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Touched Up!

Saturday, April 05, 2008

I decided to update the Trunkguy Touch/iPhone home screen icon today.

I felt the old one was a little cumbersome as it was a bit difficult to read the text.

As I have updated the show graphic for Trunk Cast (has anyone noticed?), I thought I'd use this new element.

Save TrunkGuy.com to your iPhone/Touch home screen to see the new icon in full affect ;0)

Labels: Apple, Trunk Cast, Web

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BBBig Mistake?

As you know I have been in the web and design business for some years now and have had a lot of experience in usability and design online.

I have to say that I usually find myself defending the BBC as they are a world leader in news coverage and web production but I really have to balk at the new BBC News web site.

The BBC always get it right and yet this latest incarnation of the trusted popular news site is truly awful.

I have read the editors comments and justification as to why they decided to update the site but I don't believe any of it to be honest. I agree it's good to refresh a web site every once in a while (ahem). But this new incarnation is awful. There's too much white space, the fonts look horrible and worst of all the content has suffered.

You used to see three or four stories in a category, now you only see the one. I could understand if the BBC needed to justify the sites existence through click through as this would force you to open more pages.

Truly this cannot be the reason for such an over-site?

The site now looks like its missing content, you have to think before you can access any information and the gaps make it look like something is missing.

Coming on Auntie - get your act together!

(I also must say I find it odd that the BBC has asked for nay feedback...)

Labels: News, Web

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