Archive for the 'Tech' Category

Can Google do everything?

Published on May 23, 2007 in Google, Internet, Tech, Web2.0 and Websites. 0 Comments

I am slowly making my way through the ever-growing list of Google Apps available on their website and have just had my first dabble with Google Notebook. From my early observations it seems to be a reasonable (but not ultimate) alternative to del.icio.us for all your online bookmarking needs.

Similarities

  • Both enable to to quickly add a bookmark/reference of a website to a central online location.
  • Both use a nifty Firefox plugin to get the job done.
  • Both are searchable.
  • Both use labels, but while del.icio.us can assign many labels to one link, Notebook allows a link to belong to only one label (or notebook).
  • Both allow you to share your bookmarks with others.

Differences

  • del.icio.us user pages are visible to everyone, Notebook pages have to specifically shared.
  • del.icio.us allows you to save a single link for a friend, which will appear in a special list on the recipient’s page, but Notebook only allows the sharing of a whole notebook.
  • You can use Notebook as a simple note-taking tool without having a link to the original source.

Conclusions

I like the idea of having all the online services that I use in a central location. Google is making a good go of making this a reality. But for the time being I think del.icio.us will continue to be my online bookmarker of choice, just because of the multi-label and networking functions.

I’m sure these two applications were not designed to be in direct competition – which makes a direct comparison a bit unfair – I couldn’t help but notice that they both provide a similar service.

My Google usage

Daily use:

  • Search
  • Gmail
  • Calendar
  • Reader

Weekly use:

  • Maps

Less frequent use:

  • News
  • Images
  • Docs and Spreadsheets
  • Groups

The last word

While Google may not be catering perfectly to everything I do on the internet, they’re making a damn good go of it. Here’s hoping they don’t get all nasty and start charging for all their services.

What water restrictions?

Published on August 10, 2006 in Our House, Tech and Television. 0 Comments

Since moving into the new house and setting up the nice, new, low-line entertainment unit recently purchased from Dare Gallery, Jane and I have decided that the 51cm CRT TV isn’t quite big enough to take centre stage amongst the surround speakers – which, after purchasing them 4 years ago, I’m finally going to be able to set up properly, without having to worry about parents and landlord objections about ceiling mounts or too much noise when watching The Matrix.

So, with no money in the bank and lots of wild ideas bouncning around my head, I have started doing some reading on the pros and cons of flat panel display units. What’s the difference between LCD and Plasma? Which is better? Which will last longer? Which gives the best picture? How much to spend? How big to go? The mind boggles.

In my research I came accross a company that is selling fully waterproof LCD TVs for use in wet environments including “spas, poolside, or even the shower”. This begs the question: Is anyone really surprised that we aren’t going to be allowed to wash our cars this summer because too many people are watching Mel and Kochie on Sunrise while in the shower, instead of washing under their armpits?

Nano-gear set to ride into the future

Published on July 7, 2006 in Bikes and Tech. 0 Comments

The future is small, bright and weighs next to nothing.

Nanotechnology, the manipulation of materials at the atomic or molecular stage, is still an emerging science but developers are throwing millions of dollars into discovering ways to harness its many applications.

As part of the Melbourne Design Festival’s Fabric of the Future showcase, RMIT University textile student Jaqui Valdman developed a concept to use luminescent nano polymers and integrate them into safety gear for cyclists. “I cycle and I just find that the safety gear around at the moment is pretty naff and a lot of women don’t wear it because it’s pretty ugly, so I tried to think of an idea where you could have something really cool but be safe at the same time,” Ms Valdman said.

NanoVic, a joint venture between three Melbourne universities and the CSIRO, provided the nanotechnology for the exhibition of 23 student works.

Ms Valdman’s project is a prototype jacket with glowing plastic-coated currents running across the seams. Melbourne bag designers Crumpler produced one of their courier bags with glowing stripes sewn to the front. The light is powered by a small battery pack.

Ms Valdman, a final-year textile student, hit on the idea for the “Commuter” when considering a future where the availability and cost of petrol causes people to turn to man-powered transport, such as bicycles.

Fabric of the Future is at the RMIT Brunswick campus from July 12 to 14.

Source: The Age, By Dewi Cooke.