photography | mac | lego | open source | sap | gadgets
Archive for April, 2009
Marketing: a scream!
3 years ago
by manfred
in Life in South Africa
Here I am, sitting down to write about last night’s Monsters and Aliens, when a real Screamer lands up in the comments section of these here pages. I love comments: interaction with readers is probably the best thing about the blogosphere. A lot of the stuff I get in the comments section is spam, so a meaty comment (pardon the pun) is worth sitting down to read.
On 1 April, I blogged about my trials of trying to get an answer out of Screamer for service in my area. On 2 April, a response indicating non-availability of Wimax was sent to me, but that was only after I had sent two more mails directly to the info mail address at Screamer. For about two weeks before that I had attempted to reach them by way of their website’s contact form and had no joy. Little wonder then that I indicated my disgust with their lack of service delivery in my post.
The comment on my post by Screamer marketing employee Bianca received today is simply too good to pass up and once again indicates Screamer‘s lack of finesse when it comes to dealing with the public and its potential customers. Here’s what she has to say:
I Dream Pure-Fi
And sometimes of electric sheep. The Logitech Pure-Fi Dream is a rather fancy bedside alarm clock that includes an AM and FM radio as well as a docking station for an iPod. The iPhone keeps its charge for most of the day, but like the Nokia E90 won’t last too long when not provided with overnight power. So, one has the option of the boring, supplied AC power adapter to recharge the iPhone on the bedside table or opt for a more expensive, but certainly more useful docking solution. The Pure-Fi Dream is one of many docking solutions available for iPods and the iPhone and provides a variety of decent features in addition to the obvious ability to charge the docked device.
The shape is interesting, and the ambient orange lighting pleasant on the eye. The lighting dims and brightens based on available light and isn’t obtrusive when it’s time for shut-eye. The wrap-around stereo speaker deliver decent sound – more than enough to wake from a pleasant slumber and ample to make the iPod, integrated tuner or AUX device heard on the patio.
As with all dock-related iPod accessories, a slew of plastic inserts is provided. As usual, the moulded numbering on the inserts or adapters makes them difficult to identify, but Logitech have opted for a simple numbering scheme that needs to be matched to the user guide to determine which iPod requires which adapter. The adapter slots into the cradle above the LCD display and securely holds the iPod.
Two alarms may be set, each with its own alarm time (obviously) and sound source. A playlist may be selected and played, or any preset radio station. When the alarm sounds, a simple wave of the hand over the Pure-Fi Dream is sufficient to activate snooze mode. It’s generally better just to get out of bed when the first alarm sounds…
A basic graphic equalizer display is available, though only treble and bass may be set. One thing that annoys me slightly is the inability of the built-in RDS tuner to display station identification information. That should work, according to the manual…
The remote control unit is another feature bound to encourage laziness. Why bother attempting a stretch to wave at the Pure-Fi Dream to switch to snooze mode? Simply haul the remote from under the pillow, point in the general direction of the noise and click the Off button. Problem solved!
The remote provides all necessary functions, including setting the alarm times and sound settings, as well as selecting a preset radion station. The unit is AC powered, with a rather large power adapter that assists reception of AM and FM radion signals. You’re sure to awake on time even if Eskom decides to cut the power: a 9V battery in the unit keeps the clock running.
The Logitech Pure-Fi Dream is a very decent bedside alarm unit, with two alarms and full support for an iPod. With the exception of the RDS information not displaying, I’m quite happy with this gadget. And the wife likes it too 
Google Tasks on the move
3 years ago
by manfred
in Connectivity
The first use I find most appropriate for a mobile device is the maintenance of lists. Such lists must be updated either from a desktop or the mobile device itself, ideally by synchronization or the like. My lists are used for current interests or things to do, and the dreaded grocery shopping list. On the Windows Mobile and Nokia devices I’ve used up until now, I’ve generally relied on a synchronization of tasks from the mobile calendaring application to Outlook. That works well, but the biggest disadvantage is the inability to get to the task list unless Outlook for the web is opened on a system not supporting Outlook directly, or having to be in front of the Windows system I use at the office.
The iPhone is well-suited to web application integration. Most of the applications I use, other than games, rely on some form of backend system. And generally, that backend system is a web server whose content can be accessed from any web browser on any platform. The inclusion of Tasks by the Google team in the Labs section of GMail has made management of lists an absolute pleasure and provides access by any web browser regardless of operating system.
First off, activate Tasks in the Labs section of your GMail‘s Settings tab.
The Tasks pane is minimized and floats around at the bottom of the browser screen when the GMail tab is open. Adding items is really easy, as is marking them as complete or deleting items from the list. For those relying on due dates and the like Google‘s Tasks will probably be too basic, but for generic list management it’s all you will need.
More than one list may be created and it’s easy to switch among the various lists.
Dan Ariely – Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
Dan Ariely provides a very interesting mix of experimentation, anecdote and personal experience in his book paradoxically titled Predictably Irrational.
Why should a more expensive drug make us feel better if we’re ill than a cheaper variant? Why does it matter whether or not we have Coke or Pepsi? Are people really honest, or can their degree of dishonesty be predicted? Many more questions such as these have been posed by Ariely, professor of behavioural economics at Duke University. His delightful explanations and ability to poke fun at himself made this book a joy to read. The subject matter is interesting and a bit worrisome: human beings may believe themselves to manage their lives and everyday situations in very rational ways.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. We tend to procrastinate, tend to be dishonest when the situation provides the opportunity and behave very differently when money or social norms are in force. By taking Ariely‘s research into account, we may be able to better ourselves, or at least understand our failings. How we are able to shield ourselves from the subtle suggestions employed by marketing companies is a totally different question, however.
Of the many books I’ve read in the past six months, Predictably Irrational is one of the most useful and most practical. It’s an easy read, but certainly doesn’t skimp on detail. See Ariely‘s website for some more fascinating insights.
Kreepy for the Mac
The APC was deployed on schedule with a minimum of fuss at sometime just before sunset. A few hoses to connect, a backwash and filter run, then a brief pressure adjustment and in she went. I’m talking of course about the insertion of a Kreepy Krauly, that most favourite of South African domestic servants requiring very little in the way of contracts or daily care, not even air. APC = Automatic Pool Cleaner. I couldn’t figure that one out at first, either.
I was amused by the CD enclosed in the box. Other than the reply mail warranty card there is no other paperwork to be found. But fear not: the 19 page manual is handily stowed away electronically, sure to be safe from water and related dangers.
Naturally my PC isn’t anywhere near the swimming pool and, after drying my hands carefully, I slotted the CD into katana. Lo and behold, the makers of Kreepy Krauly are aware of the multi-platform issues facing modern computer use: a Mac version of the manual is included!
Everything has been considered, down to the Printer friendly PDF manuals. Don’t be too surprised when your pool specialist next shows up with laptop in hand; for northern suburbs folks it’ll be a Mac, of course.
In both cases, you’ll need to spring for the ink and paper if you want to refer to the installation instructions where it matters most, however. And that would be somewhere near the pool…
Lego Battleship Yamato
Another fantastic scale Lego model has been completed, this time by a Japanese brick fanatic calling himself Jun Brick. The 1:40 scale model of the Battleship Yamato boasts some unbelievable detail and took almost two years to complete. The model comprises more than 100000 Lego blocks
and an army of Japanese minifigs.
Jun Brick‘s full stream of photos can be admired here.
Nikon D5000 announced
3 years ago
by manfred
in Photography
The newly announced Nikon D5000 brings yet more innovation to the field of DLSR photography. It’s a prosumer DLSR with a 12MP sensor and the now-obligatory HD video capture. From the front, the camera looks like a run-of-the-mill Nikon.
But the new variable-angle LCD screen on the back of the camera should make it easier to capture those shots that require the camera to be lifted or lowered. When not in use, the 2.7″ screen fits into the recess on the backplate, or can be moved to cater for most any viewing angle.
The ISO sensitivity reaches up to 6400 in a special mode and other than that, the camera features all the bells and whistles one would expect to see in a USD 800 toy. The D5000 is set to be on sale at the end of April.
Lego Jesus sculpture
A church in Stockholm unveiled a 30000 piece sculpture of Jesus during its Easter service over the weekend.
The sculpture is a replica of a Danish sculptor’s statue and took almost 18 months to complete. The Lego bricks used for the 1.8m high statue were donated to the church. Only the white bricks made it to the outside of the statue – coloured bricks were used to fill out the core.
via 
Aiken Standard
A business card for the Internet era
3 years ago
by manfred
in Moblogging
Ji Lee has designed a very simple, yet effective business card for the Internet era. Little else is required, really: here’s my Google me business card:
Download the template and make your own from here.
MacBook RAM doubler
A special on 2GB RAM DIMM‘s made the decision to upgrade the MacBook from 2GB to 4GB an easy one. A total of ZAR 440 for two 2GB chips cannot be sniffed at – the only thing to ensure was that I matched the RAM to the MacBook. It requires PC-5300 DDR2 667 MHz DIMM’s and based on my past experience the Super Talent RAM is good enough. Just a check before starting…
Some other things to gather prior to starting: the Apple DIY guide, the two new DIMM‘s, small screwdriver, plastic card and a coin. The pliers appear in the picture just for effect…or in case of an emergency
The upgrade is really very easy to perform. The most complex part is the removal of the oddly-named RAM door, a piece of L-shaped aluminium that is attached to the chassis with three tiny screws and links into the MacBook‘s chassis with a small notch.
Bending this is not a great idea and a bit of dexterity is required to gently remove it without causing it any damage. Removing the existing RAM is easy by simply pulling at the levers that pop out once the RAM door has been lifted out. Pushed the new DIMM‘s in with the notch to the left and that’s all there is to it. The verification after closing everything up and starting the machine:
It makes quite a difference. Boot-up times are slightly shorter and once all startups have been completed, the overall performance of the MacBook is a lot better. Sometime soon, I intend replacing the hard drive with something a bit more spacious and more performant.
Recent Comments