by cameron | Dec 27, 2006 | Uncategorized
I caved in late last week and picked up a new mobile phone: the Dopod 838 Pro aka the HTC Hermes and the HTC TyTN.
I dumped my previous carrier (Optus) in favour of 3. Here’s my quick review of the phone after 5 days of intense playing around.
LIKES:
it has wifi
I’m loving reading my email, checking Wikipedia, reading the news, my rss feeds, etc, from my phone at home.
the slide out keyboard
(see below) is pretty cool. I haven’t used it much but in the testing I’ve found it to have a nice action. It is backlit with a blue light in the dark which is very cool.
the 2 MP camera
has two settings – normal and “macro” which is for close up shots. Takes a bit of getting used to (I was trying to take photos at Father Bob’s Xmas sermon on Sunday evening and wondered why the shots were blurry… took me a while to remember to macro setting was on). The camera also has a flash which is a new thing for my mobile camera experience. The quality of the images is good enough. See the photo of Superman below.
lots of buttons. Previous Pocket PCs I’ve had didn’t have nearly enough hard buttons. The Dopod has 14 plus the direction pad plus the scroll wheel.
Quadband, Bluetooth, Wifi, 3G – all the bases covered (except GPS).
DISLIKES:
Very low on memory. As soon as I installed a couple of additional applications I started getting “low on memory” messages. It’s got a measly 56Mb of on-board storage memory. What the HELL am I supposed to do with 56 Mb???? I’ve got blog posts bigger than that.
microSD slot. All those SD cards I’ve bought in the past are now defunct as the Dopod only takes microSD. I guess I’ll be selling the old ones on Ebay this week while I wait for my new microSD card to arrive.
It’s another damn Windows device. I’ve been trying to wean myself away from using Windows and Pocket Outlook but I guess I’m going to have to wait another generation. Apart from Outlook, the other thing I don’t like about Pocket PC’s (and this will be by 6th since 1998) is that they flake out fairly quickly. I barely get a year out of them before they start to give me problems.
USB headphone jack. Forget about sticking your iPod headphones into this baby – it has some weird-ass USB headphone jack. That’s right kids – now you’ll have to buy ANOTHER set of headphones if you want to use your mobile phone as your media player.
THE COOLNESS APPS:
Here are some of the apps I’ve got installed which I’m pretty excited about.
QuickMark. I hadn’t even HEARD of QuickMark before I got this phone. Jacek has a great overview here. Essentially it’s a like a new form of barcode which your phone can read and parse. On the Dopod where is a QuickMark application which allows you to scan a QuickMark that looks like this:
The software will then translate that into information – in this case, the Quickmark above is the URL for TPN – and take you to the URL. You can generate your own QuickMarks here. I guess the vision is that all clothing and websites will have these QuickMarks built into them, allowing you to scan them for more information. I love it even though it’s kind of worthless until it reaches critical mass.
WorldCard Mobile. This is a business card OTR program for the PDA. It lets you take a photo of a business card and then translates it into text and inserts it into your address book. Cool!
Skype for the Pocket PC. I’ve only tried using this once so far and the quality of the call sucked. So I’ll be testing it more this week.
GMobileSync. This app just came out a couple of weeks ago and I haven’t played with it yet but it looks like it might be the missing link to get your Google Calendar info onto your Pocket PC without having to use Outlook and ActiveSync in the middle. I’m tempted to try it but now that I’ve finally got Funambol working I don’t want to screw with my set-up. I’d be interested to hear other reviews though.
ShoZu: Rich Giles told me about this app ages ago but as this is my first camera with in-built wifi, I’m just getting to test it now. ShoZu will automatically upload photos you take to Flickr or any other destination of your choice. Very cool, except I’m having trouble getting the settings right. I obviously don’t want it to upload EVERYTHING automatically and instantly which is what it’s doing at the moment. I just had to delete about 30 photos from Flickr which ShoZu had uploaded without me even realizing.
SUMMARY: I’ve only had it for 5 days but overall I’m pretty pleased with it. My key purchasing decision was the inclusion of wifi, mostly so I can Skype from it. The $4/Mb data plan that 3 have is a joke but I’ve already for a flat rate data plan with 3 on my NetConnect card, so if I’m out, not near a free wifi hotspot and I desperately need data, I’ll just throw the SIM card from my NetConnect Card into this phone and use it for data.
by cameron | Dec 26, 2006 | Uncategorized
Maybe he couldn’t find Clive Owen when he needed him.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ukgB2_AhkQ]
Speaking of deals with the devil… Happy Festivus. By the way, here’s the background on why we have celebrations this time of year, just in case some of you out there still think it has something to do with a little Jewish baby whose followers managed to do a deal with the devil (in the form of the Roman Emperor Constantine) 300 years later, getting themselves a massive army and the power to wipe out their enemies… not to mention almost all trace of rational thinking and humour for the next 1500 years.
Ok, back to watching the Frontline series I got for Festivus, easily the best Aussie TV ever. WAY ahead of its time.
by cameron | Dec 22, 2006 | Podcast
Dec 20, 2006, was Carl Sagan Day, the 10th anniversary of the death of one of history’s great scientists and communicators. He touched hundreds of millions of people with his work, his books and his TV series “Cosmos”. Joel Schlosberg organised the Sagan Blogathon and many people wrote about the impact Sagan had on their lives. On this podcast my co-host Hugo Sharp and I discuss Sagan’s life, work and read out some of the blog posts, from his widow, his son and bloggers whose lives he touched.
http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thepodcastnet-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0679438416&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr
Wikipedia entry on Carl Sagan
Ann Druyan’s blog
Fermi’s Paradox
The Drake Equation aka The Green Bank Equation
Nick Sagan’s blog
Halfway There’s blog
The Whatever blog
National Geographic article “Was Darwin Wrong?”
Richard Dawkins video:
The Root of All Evil
Sam Harris: (a younger Dawkins)
A great email debate he had with a christian. Well worth reading each of the emails.
If you enjoyed this podcast, make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing to our feed.
The G’Day World Theme Song is “Save Me†by The Napoleon Blown Aparts.
by cameron | Dec 21, 2006 | Uncategorized
As yesterday (Dec 20) was the anniversary of Carl Sagan‘s death, I think it’s fitting that tonight we discuss his life and contributions to humanity. If you want to join me on the show, then let me know in the comments section below. We’ll kick-off about 9.30pm AEDT. Check out the shownotes here. I remember visiting Ithaca, NY, a few years ago and doing the tour of the “Pace The Space” monument.
I was ten when Sagan’s TV show “Cosmos” came out in 1980 and I remember watching it in awe. His ability to communicate how mind-boggling yet logical the processes of evolution and the creation of the universe were/are, helped destroy the last vestiges of my Catholic upbringing, far more than anything I was taught at school. Ah, the power of television used for good and not evil!
Watch Carl explain 4 Billion years of evolution.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMHNnhAEDN4]
And remember Fat Boy Slim’s version?
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLKH-t7HBkY]
by cameron | Dec 20, 2006 | Podcast
Ewan has the news:
A massive big congrats to Thom Allen, host of The Podcast Network’s Jazz Show. It’s just been listed as one of the Best Podcasts of 2006 by the Staff at iTunes:
Just glancing at the other nominated podcasts, the list includes This American Life (NPR), The South Bank Show podcast and The National Geographics World Music Profiles. That’s a great list to be in, and it’s notable that a lot of the picks are from media such as the BBC, the Guardian and other established printed media going audio.
Want to know what you’re missing? Well you could visit The Jazz Show in iTunes, or just hit play for the latest show.
Congrats Thom! I think it’s a great show as well. In fact I’m listening to it right now. Very smooth. I guess that makes it my TPN Random Feed of the Day!
[audio:http://jazz.thepodcastnetwork.com/audio/tpn_thejazzshow_20061104_15.mp3]
by cameron | Dec 20, 2006 | Uncategorized
I’m introducing my kids to Season One of Get Smart this morning before school because I figured it’s about time they understood why I always say “Good thinking 99”. Reading up on this history of the series on Wikipedia I learned about a new movie version due to go into production in early 2007 which will star Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway. Carl Birkmeyer from the WouldYouBelieve.com Get Smart site has written a pretty disparaging review of the movie script and his criticisms sound valid. I can imagine Carell playing Max but, as Carl says, they need to get the character right. And to do that the producers need to get Mel Brooks involved. How can you possibly make Get Smart without Mel Brooks? Unfortunately Don Adams passed away last year so he won’t be providing a cameo. Here’s an interesting obituary about him.
by cameron | Dec 18, 2006 | Podcast
Ross Dawson is a strategy consultant, keynote speaker, and bestselling author. He runs a company called Future Exploration Network, a global events and consulting firm specializing in the future of business.
Earlier in 2006 he ran the The Future Of Media Summit and we chatted for a while last week about the future of media and the future of innovation in business.
You can read his Future Of Media report here.
Keep up to date with his views of the world from his blog.
If you enjoyed this podcast, make sure you don’t miss future episodes by subscribing to our feed.
The G’Day World Theme Song is “Save Me†by The Napoleon Blown Aparts.
by cameron | Dec 18, 2006 | Podcast, Uncategorized
I’ve been using iArt for a few months to get missing mp3 art. But I have found something better. Dave and Knightwise talked about it on Global Geek Podcast #30. It’s called TuneSleeve and I’ll tell you a few of the reasons why I like it.
1. It has an option to delete the current art and replace it with new art – this is important because iTunes has been flaking out on the art side of things for the last couple of revs and my art is more screwed up than a Muslim working in the White House.
2. Even while it is download art automatically, it shows you the art is has pulled up for each album as well as any art that it couldn’t find (because, for example, your tags aren’t complete). But this is the coolest bit – it has a little search tool built into each missing art box. You can click on that and it will automatically bring up a search page with a list of artwork options. You can drag the one you want into TuneSleeve and it attaches it! Very slick.
For bringing me this piece of album art goodness, I am declaring The Global Geek Podcast my random feed of the day.
by cameron | Dec 16, 2006 | Podcast
How many TPN shows do you listen to? Just G’Day World? Then you are missing out on some great ear juice.
Here’s one you should have, especially if you’re the kind of person who likes to go to work and spout of random bits of trivia to impress your colleagues.
Brian Ibbott’s “Today in Music History†podcast comes out every week day and takes a look at significant events from the history of popular music. Brian is, of course, one of the most famous podcasters on the planet. He’s been producing “Coverville” since, oh about 1964, and has millions of listeners.
[audio:http://todayinmusichistory.thepodcastnetwork.com/audio/tpn_todayinmusichistory_20061215.mp3]
by cameron | Dec 15, 2006 | Uncategorized
Reading up on Lord Stevens’ report on the death of Diana and Dodi this morning and it lead me to searching for Mohammed Al Fayed’s response. This is turn lead me his blog which looks pretty new. I’ve invited him to come on the show to discuss the report in depth. I personally expect the British establishment to cover up any wrongdoings in such a case, so Lord Steven’s report means little. The only way to get the truth on this affair would be to have a wholly independent inquiry and I don’t know how you make something like that happen, especially so long after the event. So much of the evidence and witnesses have been “misplaced” by now.
