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September 2008

25 September 2008

Google's Android vs Apple's iPhone - an open and closed matter?

Just spotted this one, courtesy of Bretton Vine.

If I had not sorted my mobile/mac synching problem, I'd have been tempted to take a harder look at the iPhone before now.  "Android" though...?  Not a very sexy name or look, but then this caught my eye:

But here’s the thing: Android, and the G1, are open. Open, open, open, in waysPicture_14 that would make Steve Jobs cringe. You can unlock this phone after 90 days—that is, use any SIM card from any carrier in it. The operating system is free and open-source, meaning that any company can make changes without consulting or paying Google. The App store is completely open, too; T-Mobile and Google say they won’t censor programs that they don’t approve of, as Apple does with the iPhone store. Yes, even if someone writes a Skype-like program that lets people avoid using up T-Mobile cellular voice minutes.

Android is not as beautiful or engaging as the iPhone’s software, but it’s infinitely superior to Windows Mobile—and it’s open. The G1 is only the first phone to use it, the first of many; it’s going to be an exciting ride.

18 September 2008

synchronising your Nokia and your Mac.

For some time now (in fact, since I switched to a Mac in Jan 2008) I have been trying to get reliable synch'ing happening between my MacBook Pro (iCal, Address Book, etc) and my Nokia E65.

The pain an suffering has been acute.  I first tried some Nokia software - failed dismally.  Then I paid for FoneLink from Nova Media - throught I'd got it right, but then began having issues with the bluetooth pairing, duplicated contacts on my phone (6 of each of half my contacts) - no pattern to give me a clue where the issue was.  A few support mails later which really never got to the bottom of the problem, and I was losing contacts - off both phone and Mac.  Frustration alley.

Then Ted from Bridges of Hope suggested Missing Synch.  I downloaded the trial version, but never quite got it 100%.  I'm not sure why I was convinced the full version was going to work, but I bought it online.  I'm now as happy as a pig in that soft and smelly stuff they love to wallow in...? ;)

It has been flawlessly synch'ing contacts, calendar, sms', downloading pics and movies off the E65, uploading files I leave in the appropriate directory, each time I switch on bluetooth on the phone and hit the "synch" button.

If you are looking for a reliable tool to synch a Symbian based phone to a Mac - I'd endorse this piece of code!

At last.  Now someone needs to tell me where I find and app the synch's Thunderbird's contacts with the Mac's address book? ;)

02 September 2008

Some web apps I really like.

I seem to be perpetually in search of a FTP server I can abuse, so when a JHB based consultant offered to send me a large video file via "yousendit", I thought this was some new Jozi slang I needed to wise up to.

http://www.yousendit.com
allows you to register for a free account (as well as some funky paid ones with bells and whistles) and upload large files for others to download when it mails them a link.  Free means files are wiped after a week, but hey, it beats finding other ways of sending 50MB files!  I promptly introduced 2 people in the US to it and am downloading the data they were battling to get me as I type!

Then I was reminded of what Vinny Lingham has been up to since he succumbed to lure of the US West Coast.  I stumbled across (manually, not using that highly addictive web app!) TechCrunch's 60 second elevator pitch site, where you can upload a short video of your talking head pitching your product or company.  Very cool idea!  There the rogue was large as life punting Synthasite! ;)

http://www.synthasite.com has to be the quickest, easiest, cheapest way to build and maintain a website!  Can't wait for an excuse to use it!

PS.
One more : http://www.compete.com/
"track your rivals. then each their lunch"  - love it.  Wish I'd used this when we were running Storm!

that's me.

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