• uncyclopedia.org - the opposite of wikipedia
• 12 Predictions for Enterprise Web 2.0 in 2008
• Publish Presentations Online and Share via Google Docs Presentation - This new feature allows you to import a presentation file, and then share it in a similar way to SlideShare, embedded in your website or blog. You could make this available to only certain users, the same as with other Google Docs. What is quite cool, is that this doesn’t use Flash at all.
• Build your own laptop stand
• Live Mobile Video Blogging from the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas - cool concept
• Internet Radio on your iPhone

I have been looking for a decent aggregated instant messaging application for Mac for a long time. Microsoft’s MSN Messenger for Mac is hopeless, so I stopped using it a long time ago. I also struggle with iChat even though it supports Google Talk, I haven’t found it that reliable or easy to use.

Adium is definitely the answer, it supports everything I need. It even has an early plug-in which supports Skype.

Technorati Tags: adium

It is not often you would think of buying a Dell product over Apple for the design and looks, but the new Dell Crystal 22 inch display is just that. I’m looking at my 20 inch Apple Cinema display and thinking I would much rather have the Crystal.

I would especially like the built-in speakers, my MacBook Pro speakers don’t really cut it, but I don’t like the idea of external speakers cluttering up my desk. It also has integrated web cam and mic.

It has just picked up Best of CES Innovations Award 2008. What a great start to 2008 for Dell.

Technorati Tags: dell, dellcrystal

Last year rumours surfaced that Apple intend to release an ultra-thin lightweight solid state drive MacBook laptop.

Now, a patent application from Apple describes what looks like at a docking station for the same MacBook that would be integrated into a widescreen LCD monitor. You could have all the portability but then just slide your new ultra-thin MacBook into the screen to have a full desktop set up.

If this is true, it would be amazing.

Mobilewhack got the scoop on this one.

Technorati Tags: apple

I have had a bit of lull in installing anything new on my iPhone as I have been so busy before Xmas, however, having had a bit of time now, I’ve found some excellent new apps.

telekinesis

telekinesis is a remote control app for your Mac. It allows you access your computer from your iPhone and

• Stream music and videos from your computer learn how
• Screen capture with mouse click and basic typing support
• Simple iTunes Remote control
• Browse your files
• Run applescript remotely
• iSight image capture
• Basic Spotlight search

This is a very early release and considered a prototype only and there would be some major security considerations to take into account. It does however provide a framework to easily create and add more apps, so if this is picked up we could so a lot more remote control functionality added quite quickly.

Read more on teleinesis at MobileWhack.com.

Camera Pro for iPhone

Camera Pro supplements the very, very basic functionality you get with the Apple Camera application.

The Free version gives you:

• Digital Zoom
• Black & White
• Image Size
• Auto-orientation

Or if you are prepared to pay USD$19.95 you will also get:

• Self-Timer
• Burst Mode
• Burst Speed
• Silent Shutter

They are also working on Flickr integration, although there are already some good free apps that do this (iFlickr and iPushr). This is a great app especially for the ability to zoom, although I’m not sure I need the paid version.

iPhoneSender

iPhoneSender is not strictly speaking an iPhone app, but it is very handy all the same. I love the Google Maps app and use it frequently. All iPhoneSender do is allow you to look on Google Maps in your desktop browser and then with one click email a link to your iPhone that will then open up directly in Google Maps on the iPhone.

WiSync

WiSync is something that Apple should support right out of the box. As the name suggests, this let’s you sync files between your computer and your iPhone over a wireless network rather than using the cable. It does not replicate the sync that you get in iTunes, but is useful nonetheless.

Apple must be working on a bluetooth and/or WiFi sync for iTunes, this functionality exists in Windows Mobile devices.

VoiceNotes

This functionality is available from Apple’s 1.1.3 software update, but if you don’t want to brick your hacked iPhone (like me) then this app will do the same thing. Get this via the Installer app.

I’m at the Barcamp event in Auckland today. This is a meet up for web developers where you turn up, and put your name and presentation topic forward and it goes up on the board in the available time slots.

There is a broad group of people from the industry here, including web dev/design shops, independent contractors, and guys/girls who work for corporates.

There is also a guy here from Mozilla, who are the organisation behind Firefox, who is presenting after lunch on what will be in Firefox 3. I’ll definitely attend that one.

My posts will be over on the Marker Blog, check out the photos on Flickr.

Technorati Tags: barcamp, barcampauck07

Google have kindly sent me a gift. I can’t say it is a Christmas gift as the card was deliberately neutral and wished me the best for 2008. My guess is they sent the gift to many different countries and were wanting to keep religion well out of it.

Anyway, what they sent me was something I had not seen before, a credit card size flash memory device that plugs into a normal USB port. What is astounding is that the capacity is 2GB!

Very cool. Thanks Google, happy 2008 to you to. May it bring you many billions in profit and fewer lawsuits.

I have recommended brightcove.tv to a number of people as an additional option to YouTube because they tend to produce better quality videos once encoded into Flash.

It seems they are going to end consumer uploads (the free option) this month.

I can understand that this is obviously not profitable. I would say then that you should stay with YouTube for the best free option.

Dear Brightcove.TV member,

Beginning December 18, 2007, we plan to end support of direct consumer uploads to Brightcove.TV. As a result, you will not be able to upload new videos to Brightcove.TV after December 17, 2007. But videos you have already uploaded to Brightcove.TV will remain available on the site and through your Brightcove.TV channel. Videos you have embedded in other sites and blogs will also continue to play.

If you have a Brightcove Platform or Network account, which means you use the Brightcove Console, then you will still have the option to promote videos on Brightcove.TV.

Brightcove.TV will continue to be a guide to great video from Brightcove media and business partners. The site will have new videos added to it daily from these partners and these videos can be saved as favorite videos in your channel.

If you work for a media company, marketer, non-profit, or business and are looking to purchase the Brightcove platform to publish and distribute video on your own site, please visit the Brightcove Products Overview section of our website.

We appreciate your interest in Brightcove and apologize for any disruption this change may cause you.

Sincerely,

The Brightcove Team

In a meeting last month Katie accused me of having a Crackberry addiction as she watched my eyes flick to my Blackberry when the little red light started blinking to tell me there was a new email message.

She was absolutely right, I loved my Blackberry. So when I got my new iPhone I wasn’t sure I would actually switch to it, as I had played with one the week it was launched and wasn’t sure about the email functionality, which is really my key requirement in a phone.

I could not have been more wrong. I am cured of my Crackberry habit, but it has been substituted with a serious addition to the iPhone. Here are 5 signs you may be addicted to your iPhone.

1. You check the weather on your iPhone rather instead of looking out the window.
2. You choose where you get your coffee based on their WiFi availability. You are even considering drinking Starbucks for this reason.
3. Your index finger is starting to get sore from the touch screen.
4. You nearly drive into the car in front of you because you were too busy checking Facebook on your iPhone.
5. Your data usage costs more than your voice calls on your cell phone bill from all the web browsing.

Technorati Tags: blackberry, crackberry, iphone

No I’m not talking about trophy wives, but how you can use web 2.0 technology to help with marital harmony.

Now my wife is okay with some things web 2.0 but certainly not all. When I first set up Twitter she thought it was the most disturbing, crazy thing that she had ever seen. We use Skype video calling when I’m away on business, which is great. I haven’t managed to get this used as a replacement for toll calls when calling her parents, but I think I need to get one of those Skype handsets for that to happen. She finally got into Facebook last month, but that was essentially so she could show that she had more friends than me.

However, nothing has generated quite such an enthusiastic response as when I set up an online to-do list at Backpack. We both work and sometimes co-ordinating personal stuff is difficult. The idea was that we could share a list of household tasks, shopping lists, reminders, the cooking plans for the week, etc. You can set up automated reminder emails to go out for specific tasks.

So wife is happy, me not so happy as now have very long to do list to work through over the weekend.