Friendly Technology.........

So far at Massive 2005 Tech Conference...

At Massive 2005 Tech Conference...

Well, ain't this interesting. Its 12:20, really only the start of this conference, and I have sat two quite interesting presentations. I  have made the rounds of some of the exhibit hall. It would help if they had a map of the exhibit halls. They snake all over the place in this unique venue - Vancouver's science world.

To kick things off, a bit of an unfortunate choice, they gave a politician the floor - Joyce Murray to be exact, some minister mucky muck. Now there is time for politicians to speak, but I am not exactly sure this was it.

I saw Roman Bondarchuk talk about web marketing through increased interactivity on web sites and through innovative emails that people actually want. Full details of his talk to follow; I even recorded an mp3.  Visit Roman's web site for an idea of how makes the site much more visually interesting. Main takeways from Roman's talk today: need to give people real value in exchange for them allowing you to email them. Personalized marketing, even to huge groups with millions of people, is now possible through the Internet.

After Roman, saw a great presentation by Dave Chalk and Mike Agerbo. Dave talked about how how we all got to learn to adapt to more furious change. He talked about very large companies battling over competing technologies and that these battles get the consumer no further ahead. People just want things to work, and they want all their electronics to work together seamlessly, if needed. Mike then showed off some new technology for the house which basically centralizes storage of all people's music, photos, recorded video in one piece of electronics - which then can send entertainment anywhere in the house. Notable was a universal remote control that actually works - the logitech harmony remote control.

Back to the exhibits now...

Next up

AOL creates teen blog service. Only for AOL members?

I like the concept behind AOL's new Red Blog service for teenagers, especially younger teenagers. With red blogs, parents and teens can set up their blogs as being private or for invited friends only. Seems a great way to allow young folks to explore blogging without having all their thoughts and feelings indexed for all the world to see on Google or Yahoo or (insert you favourite search engine).

Seems though that you have to be a paid member of AOL to set up a Red blog. I guess you have to be a paid member of Typepad to blog here - so no harm no foul.

I am back in love with my Tablet PC!

Thanks to the good folks (and especially the service dept) at Voda Computers, my Tablet PC works again. Oh joy! Oh bliss!

   

 

 

My Acer Travelmate C110 is simply the most compact, most elegant laptop I have ever used. It weighs about as much as a hardcover book.  It is got the most amazing shiny screen. I love tapping and writing on the screen.

Almost 9 months ago, my Tablet screen started to go screwy. The pen recognition functions stopped working. Then, six months ago, the screen started going really funky - could not read it at all.

I tried to get it fixed. And the first diagnosis I received said "$800 for a new motherboard". And the tablet sat orphaned on my filing cabinet. I reactivated my "tank" laptop - which weighs a ton compared to the tablet.

Second opinion time. The folks at Voda poked around and found the 2 cords going from to the computer to the screen were frayed. $150 and a short wait for parts later and it was all fixed.

I don't blame the first folks I had diagnose the machine. Tablets are still relatively new and they must be a little intimidating to service. I think all who looked at the Tablet were good techs - just not too versed in the new world of pen computing.

So, now, I am handwriting this last paragraph on my tablet screen. I am of an age where typing comes at least as easy to me as handwriting-but handwriting still feels  much more natural.  It is awesome to be able to  handwrite on my computer.

Free Blackberry from Alaska Airlines Airlines and Horizon Air?

If you are looking at a blackberry mobile email plan from Cingular wireless in the States, and you are intending to fly somewher in the next month, you might want to check out this deal from Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines.

Can Non Geeks Love Flickr?

The folks at Flickr, one of the hottest new photo album sites online, don't make any bones about the fact that their service is squarely focused on attracting geeks and techies. If you ask many non geeky and non techie people, I am not sure how many would know about Flickr. When you visit the Flickr's home page, it sometimes proudly states "Not your Grandfather's photo sharing site" or something to that effect.

Now, Internet giant Yahoo has bought Flickr. Apart from the amazing feat of the Flickr founders (hardly 15 months from their launch to this major acquisition), I gotta also wonder how Yahoo will change Flickr.

Yahoo users are, as a group, much less geeky than Flickr users. Will they take to Flickr features like tagging and user discussion forums? I am not sure.

The best thing about Flickr for non geeks is the photo annotation feature (run your mouse over the photos). That is what attracted me to the service to begin with, although I don't use it all that often. It is great to know you can do this.

Tips for Overcoming Email Overload

Great article by Stever Jones...

Arjun's Tech Buying Guide - Tips and Tricks

I am one of those people who can spend hours walking the rows in a computer or electronic store.

I don't mind scouring the Internet for detailed information on new gadgets, gizmos, and that program that's going to make my life soooo much better.

I also realize that many people do not enjoy these things.  You might spend hours gardening, skiing, or playing scrabble.

But, most people, one day, have to make a buying decision about a technology product. Maybe, you have had to make lots of decisions.  I offer you the following thoughts:

First, decide what you want to do with what you want to buy. For example, a lot of people who are looking to buy a new computer focus on the specs of the computer – how much memory, what processor speed, etc.

But, more important is deciding what software programs you want to run on the computer.

These software programs will outline mininimum recommended computerspecs. For basic email and web browsing, you don't need to spend a lot
of money.

Second, even money is not an object, buying the latest is not always going to be the greatest. The technology industry is notorious for unleashing products that have not been completely tested.

So, if you have the budget, buy the product that was the latest three to six months ago.

Third, touch and feel before you buy. My current MP3 player has a really annoying joystick control.

Instead of pushing it up, I often end up pushing it down – it does something I don't want it to do.

Now, I love everything else about my MP3 player, but if I had taken time in the store to take it through it's paces, the joystick would probably annoy me less.

I think if you can get a chance to in store demo a product before you buy it, you can only benefit. Many software programs offer a free trial download off the Internet.

Fourth, any product you buy is only as good as the people backing it up. Are the questions you have before you buy answered to your complete satisfaction? Are good manuals and help files included?

Computer bafflegab from salespeople does not cut it anymore.

I have found the following web sites helpful in making technology purchases:
reviews.cnet.com
www.activebuyersguide.com

Cancel the post below: AOL fixes its Instant Messenger Terms of Service...

How fast things move when people discover the power we all now have. The below post talked about AOL changing its terms of service to perhaps say that absolutely everything you say on AOL Instant Messenger is owned by AOL to use anyway they want - marketing, etc.

According to Boing Boing, AOL has now totally clarified that it will keep IM conversations private:

"Now, though, AOL has done the right and substantive thing in response: it has rewritten its terms of service so that they clearly distinguish between the messages you post to public areas and the private messages you send to your friends. This is absolutely the way that AOL should be handling this, and they deserve to be congratulated for it."

Way to go AOL!

Private Instant Messaging...

Just recieved the latest issue of Jake Ludington's Digital Lifestyle email newsletter. Today, Jake pointed to an article by Ben Stanfield where Ben points to AOL Instant Messenger's new terms of service. These now state that AOL reserves the right to do whatever it wants with Instant Messenger conversations with it's product. Ben writes:

Millions of people use AIM as a tool to share incredibly personal stories and don't assume that their personal conversations will show up in AOL's marketing materials or other places, especially without their consent.

I think that there would be such a tremendous backlash if AOL did start using people's personal conversations in marketing materials. I don't think, in this day and age, they could get away with it. But, I also think people should know where they might be able to get secure and private instant messaging programs where the chance of being monitored is very slight. GAIM seems like an interesting free program. You also need to install an GAIM encryption add on. GAIM does seem a little geeeeky so other suggestions are more than welcome.

New Domain Name for this blog...

This blog is now accessible through www.friendlytechnology.net.

Easier.

Feel free to tell your friends.