Wednesday, April 29, 2009

CouchDB presentation

Some people are upset about this CouchDB presentation,
My response is - Are you freaking kidding me?

What an over reaction, there was nothing wrong with that presentation, i wouldn't show it to a board room but as far as showing it to a ruby developers conference then no probs.

It's interesting that people are reacting only to 'the women' in the presentation....but i saw a few dudes in there as well.

I think it was creative and got the audiences attention to the various concepts. I actually learnt some stuff that i didn't get before as well.


Cheers,
Dean

Al Jazeera

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2009/04/al_jazeera_english_cracks_wash.php
Al Jazeera English Cracks Washington WashPost
Viewers in the Washington, D.C., will be able to see the Al Jazeera English channel, which has been without a U.S. outlet since it launched 30 months ago, the
Washington Post reports. The channel made a deal with educational broadcaster MHz Networks that puts it in the capital area starting Wednesday and in 20 other cities in a few months, the paper says.


Yeh I often wonder what exactly are American networks afraid of.

I for one would love to see this on Time Warner in NY, I called TW when they launched and was told to send an email... did so....and got no reply.

Hell if you can find space to run TruTV...... just saying you know.


Cheers,
Dean

Tunatic

Check out this Freeware that I just came across (hat tip to Alec)

http://wildbits.com/tunatic
Ever thought ‘what is this song?’ Let Tunatic hear it and you will get the artist's name and the song's title within seconds. Tunatic is the very first song search engine based on sound for your computer. All you need is a microphone and Internet access.
Tunatic is freeware.



i think when you first install maybe the application needs you to reboot but doesn't tell you that you have too.

So far i give it a B-

Mislabeled details on one of my tracks and anything half eclectic it fails miserably but for something thats free - not half bad.

Interestingly it doesn't actually allow you to "provide details" once a song lookup fails to find the song - you think it would grow the library exponentially if you crowd sourced the details.

But hey for free who can complain.


Cheers,
Dean

Fear a high school reunion? Hire a stripper

I love how creative some people are - personally i like high school reunions but this is way funny.

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE53O1J920090427

Comedy writer Andrea Wachner hated the idea of going to her 10-year high school reunion so much that she hired a stripper to go instead, and what followed, she says, was a comical study in human nature.
Her story is detailed in a nearly 40-minute documentary directed by Wachner that, because of issues surrounding its length and getting approval to show it from former classmates, may never be seen -- not even by her parents.


But the 31-year-old Los Angeles resident said on Friday she hopes it will someday and even if not, Hollywood already has come knocking on her door.
She has written a feature film script based on her story, is trying to sell a reality TV show from it, has appeared on cable news channel CNN, and is scheduled to be on ABC's morning chat show "Good Morning America" next week.

"I've been so lucky throughout this whole experience. Everything that could go wrong, went right," she told Reuters. "I love the way it all turned out."

But some of her classmates don't.
"There have been a few people that were pretty vitriolic, and I have received some angry letters," she said



Classic I love it.


Cheers,
Dean

Monday, April 27, 2009

Quality papers always sell

Came across this chart tonight.

SAI came up with different interpretation of what it means but to me it says WSJ (the yellow line) or quality/valuable information, always sells.

Maybe newspapers and tv need to go back to investigative journalism and not printing 'feeds' in a regurgitated fashion in order to keep their subscribers numbers up.


Cheers,
Dean

Fans Consuming Baseball at MLB.com in Record Numbers

NEW YORK, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- After three weeks of the 2009 baseball season, it is evident that fans are interacting with MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, in record numbers.
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-27-2009/0005013630&EDATE=

Yeh but dont try to subscribe to the paid service if you want to watch on the weekends all games between 10am -7pm are blacked out.

So what you are really telling me after I already subscribed is that I wasted my $110 if i dont watch from my PC during the weekly work days.....

hmmm.


Cheers,
Dean

Hellloooo Sony

Wow it's interesting what you can stumble across in Trademark search website. I've modified the image as i dont want to tip people off to what I'm working on but.



"Hellloooo Sony ... I see you"





Cheers,
Dean

P.S. Love the concept....cant wait to see if it works cross platform.

Mi Casa Verde gets rave reviews

I was just sent this link for a recent press article about Mi Casa Verde.

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/review_mi_casa_verde_vera_z_wave_automation_system/
"represents a major leap in user friendly home automation."

I've blogged about this startup before. They have this absolutely sick Z-wave hub system that can control your lights, heating/cooling and now door locks with the Schlage Z-Wave door locks.

This along with allowing you remote viewing of your ip cams (and handling dynamic dns etc) make it a fantastic investment for not only geeks but people who just want something quick and easy to setup.

Check them out at Mi Casa Verde


Cheers,
Dean

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Paul Budde - NBN Analysis

Couldn't agree more.

http://www.buddeblog.com.au/nbn-luddites-will-be-proven-wrong/

This should be valued against what it does for the entire economy as a whole, not just straight ROI on the connectivity itself.


Cheers,
Dean

Friday, April 24, 2009

real time global maze competition concept

Really interesting article here on BBC News that I found via Slashdot about the possibility of racing real time in an event that i found while researching a business concept (you're welcome to take it and run with it for anyone that wants to develop it further - dont forget to send me my 5% when you get rich).

So we all know iPhones are the latest and greatest (yeh right but they are the only platform in town for paid applications at the moment).

So my concept is this, run a "timed maze game, in real 'space', on your mobile handset virtually".
So the application concept is simple, you head to the park or some other 'open space', you start the application on your iPhone, choose the size of the 'virtual maze' (no point in selecting 1000 meters x 1000 meters if you are going to have to run into street traffic........though it could add a 'frogger like' spin to the game).

You would be shown an 'overhead view' of the maze on your handset and get time to 'plan how you get through the maze' from the start to the finish, once you hit go the view on your handset changes from 'overhead' to 'eye level' and you start walking through the maze. (think 3D-wolfenstein style view).

By using accelerometers, gps or other digital compasses, the handset changes your 'eye level view' as you physically move through the maze, which although is open park space, throws up 'walls & paths' on your handsets display.

The cool part is someone in London's Hyde park, could be competing with someone in New York's Central park either as a 'best time score' to date, or even better in real time.

I'm not sure if mobile handset location is at this kind of accuracy at the moment, but if you work in this space and want to run with this idea feel free to, or if you are a developer and need someone to help you on the commercial side/raise money etc then get back in touch with me.


Cheers,
Dean
P.S. If you are a shit hot developer and 'like this concept' AND already have funding then i have an even better concept for you that can actually sell today + has wider market appeal BUT it's going to cost you more than 5%.

Send me an email to discuss.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Grey Gardens

We just watched the 2009 movie version of Grey Gardens.

Based on the life stories of the eccentric aunt and first cousin of Jackie Onassis (both named Edith Bouvier Beale aka "Big and Little Edie") raised as Park Avenue débutantes but who withdrew from New York society, taking shelter at their Long Island summer home.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758751

Amazing and sensational, both Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange give a performance that rips at your heart and makes you smile at the same time.

Watching this self controlled train wreck of a sitatuation unfold makes you look at your life and wonder about "the choices you make to be happy - but are you really happy, and if not why not".

Whoever did the makeup in the movie deserves an academy award, along with the acting I almost never 'saw' Drew Barrymore the person but 'Little Edith Bovier Beale' the character.

BTW check out the photos of Jessica Lange at the premier 'va va voom' for 60 in comparison to how she looks in the movie.

I'd love to see the original documentary, hopefully Time Warner will do a special run of it.


Cheers,
Dean

Australian High Court thaws copyright protection

Got this in an email today;


In a landmark copyright case,1 the High Court unanimously held that IceTV did not infringe copyright by reproducing individual items of time and title information from Nine Network’s weekly television schedules. The decision signals a shift away from the “sweat of the brow” protection previously afforded to data compilations in Australia, reinforcing that copyright protects expression of information and not the information itself.
Click here to view full version

I cant tell you how happy this makes me (no really i cant tell you...... it's a secret :) but it's very cool and i think some people in Australian TV viewers might also think it's really cool too in about 12-14 weeks........


Cheers,
Dean

Facebook Shares for sale

Ever wanted to own Facebook?


Now you to can buy shares in Facebook (well accredited investors can).
I wonder how much - shareholder disclosure information is being passed onto private holders of the Facebook secondary market shares.
If you think this is a good thing then go sign up http://www.secondmarket.com/ , more details about it are here http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/technology/start-ups/23vc.html

Cheers,
Dean


P.S. UPDATE: Want to buy shares in the next hot web trend? If you are a "SEC Rule 506 reg D" accredited investor then check out http://www.livefanchat.com/Investors/index.html which is my new startup. Accredited investors only please.

Global competing music publishing rights

This article http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/08/22/judge_forbids_illegal_rights_license got me thinking today about physical cd production license rights.

(actually if you want to know the truth I've actually been thinking about this topic since this article http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/06/prince-sues-to.html?prince).

If a "country based" publishing licensing authority has the rights to license the "production of music" at a particular rate, like the Russian Music Federation did with AllOfMP3.com (background links here http://www.allofmp3.ru/press.shtml)

What is to stop a country like Fiji or Argentina becoming the worlds leading cd production center based on cheaper favourable license costs?

Eg I set up production in Argentina, i press all my cd's there and pay the statutory authority the 'legal going rate' which they then pass along to the approrpaite country representative of the artist.

I set up a website hosted in that country and then sell my cd's for shipping globally.

All while doing so legally, but at a much reduced cost base? Law of viral economics and search engines will take care of marketing (hell i can just auto upload onto ebay as a distribution method).

Am i missing something?


Cheers,
Dean

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

NY Alpha

Know someone?
#NYAlpha

Augmented 'tags'

Came across this article today;
http://www.ugotrade.com/2009/01/17/is-it-%e2%80%9comg-finally%e2%80%9d-for-augmented-reality-interview-with-robert-rice/
(hi nathan, discussion about digital compasses for another time).



If digital graffiti tags 'are' the future, does this mean we are going to see a repeat of the "Third Voice" court case?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/11/five_years_ago/

Personally I'm not sure how thrilled Victoria Secret is going to feel about someone tagging one of their stores in New York with a bukkake picture you took of their latest catalog.


Cheers,
Dean
P.S. Yeh thats a totally patentable idea, augmented reality 'spam checking' - has my corporate locations been tagged with anything disagreeable and tools to do something about it - have fun and dont forget to send me my 5%. :)

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Verizon expands remote DVR management functionality

Verizon expands remote DVR management functionality
Verizon has added more wireless handsets that work with its remote DVR management service. Verizon is now offering the service to all of its FiOS TV DVR users. The service allows customers to remotely review, change or add recording requests, delete recorded programs, browse and search TV and VOD listings, as well as set parental controls. More

I would be happy with the ability for my Time Warner 8350HD box just to not record repeats when i ask it to only record first runs.

And to be able to enter the name of an actor or movie and whenever it finds it - to record.
....you know like Tivo has been doing for the last 6 years.

I have no idea what the people at Time Warner do with their work hours but it sure aint working on their firmware.

When Cisco bought out Scientific Atlanta....i for one was hopefully they would fire half the staff and start from scratch.


Cheers,
Dean

The Great Brazilian Sat-Hack Crackdown

CAMPINAS, Brazil — On the night of March 8, cruising 22,000 miles above the Earth, U.S. Navy communications satellite FLTSAT-8 suddenly erupted with illicit activity.

Jubilant voices and anthems crowded the channel on a junkyard's worth of homemade gear from across vast and silent stretches of the Amazon: Ronaldo, a Brazilian soccer idol, had just scored his first goal with the Corinthians.

It was a party that won't soon be forgotten. Ten days later, Brazilian Federal Police swooped in on 39 suspects in six states in the largest crackdown to date on a growing problem here: illegal hijacking of U.S. military satellite transponders.

http://www.wired.com/politics/security/news/2009/04/fleetcom

Holy crap - how MacGyver is that.


Cheers,
Dean

Tomaz Stolfa

Hat tip to Aleks Jakulin

Was sent this presentation today, I really like
1/ The presentation style
2/ The presentation content

http://www.slideshare.net/tomazstolfa/telco-web-quest-for-the-killer-combo has some really interesting points.

Very similar to the Mexuar product I was contracting to a few years ago.


Cheers,
Dean

Digg reps their own ads

http://www.clickz.com/3633453

"Digg is ending its two-year-old exclusive ad selling relationship with Microsoft, one year earlier than the deal was set to expire.

The two will continue working together on remnant and so-called "network reserve" inventory. Microsoft's network reserve ads represent high visibility placements sold to advertisers on a blind basis.

But beginning in July, Digg will be solely responsible for all custom ad deals."


This quote should read....we're sick of MS ad reps not pushing us first over any of the other brands and writing crap CPM deals.

As anyone who is running an advertising supported website knows, direct sale ads can often sell for 500% more than remnant ads through MS/GoogleAdBrite etc banner ad networks.

There is just no reason not to run your own ad server directly (we use www.openx.com the open source ad server solution for our www.livechatconcepts.com websites with pubmatic then doling out remnant sales).


Cheers,
Dean

Monday, April 20, 2009

"Illusory" terms of service

Wow I’m not sure how many people caught this or understood the ramifications of it.

I’m trying to do some additional research to find out what this means but this ruling at MediaPost.com this morning caught my eye.


Lynn determined that Blockbuster's contract with users was "illusory" because the agreement said that movie rental store could change the terms and conditions at any time.
A Blockbuster spokesperson declined to comment on the case or state whether the company will appeal.


The decision is a blow to Blockbuster because individual consumers would have had a difficult time bringing cases one-by-one against the company. But the decision paves the way for attorneys to argue that all consumers affected by Blockbuster's participation in Beacon should be able to proceed as a class.

Internet law expert Venkat Balasubramani said Lynn's decision invalidating Blockbuster's user agreement was potentially far-reaching because many Web companies reserve the right to make changes to their terms of service. "It seems broad and could have impact on the terms of service used by a lot of different companies," he said.


I’m fairly sure this has to be appealed as couldn’t this throw a lot of User Agreements out the window? (I know it would affect my agreement at www.LiveBaseballChat.com out the window).

Any thoughts about how this affects your business? Post below.


Cheers,
Dean

Investors turning on the screws

With a combative attitude like this it’s a wonder any deals at all are done.
http://venturebeat.com/2009/04/18/vcs-are-turning-the-screws-with-financing-terms/

Considering we just decided to go out for angel/early vc funding this weekend I am hopeful this isn’t what I encounter over the next 8 weeks, luckily I have the option of self funding as we don’t need a lot of capital.


Cheers,
Dean

Friday, April 17, 2009

Oprah is on Twitter

I cant believe Oprah has 164,596 twitter followers already

- she only announced 8 hours ago.

That is insane.


Cheers,
Dean

P.S. expect the fail whale to appear a lot next week.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Modern Art

I dont know the origin, but i know i like it when i see it.


Cheers,
Dean

(.....how dumb do you think i am, yes that was an intentional pun).

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Walmart using Twitter

This cant be right can it?

I got a notice on one of my twitter accounts that "WalMartShop" is following me on Twitter?


Ant the link http://shopwalmartonline.blogspot.com/ leads to a site with more Walmart content and ads.

If you are going to set up a scam site why the heck would you use Walmart as your target?


Cheers,
Dean

P.S> It's just been announced that Oprah is getting a twitter account and on Monday the 20th of April she is going to post on her show about Twitter.

Expect the fail whale to be appearing a lot next week as a million housewives across the USA run out to immitate.

http://valleywag.gawker.com/5215132/oprahs-on-twitter-twitters-on-oprah-and-everyones-so-excited

Yankees season opener game

Cant get tickets for the Yankees opening game?

Then check out the game live at 1pm Thursday 16th of April 2009
http://www.LiveBaseballChat.com


Hope to see you there, use the "CHurl" function on the site to invite your friends using email, twitter and facebook.


Cheers,
Dean

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

We didn't start the Flame War

I love the 'viral nature' of the web.

it's elusive as hell but there are definitely some common themes.



Cheers,
Dean

Monday, April 13, 2009

Mythbuster car pancake

Nothing makes monday mornings more fun than the Mythbusters

Jamie and Adam are not satisfied with the two semis not pancaking a compact and fusing together...so they go to New Mexico to get a rocket to smash into a car at 650 mph using a double stage rocket sled.



I love the footage around 3.11 where the front bonnet of the car starts to vaporize into 'paint' - gives a new definition to 'pink mist'.


Cheers,
Dean

The QRazy Simpsons


".....enlarge individual QR codes to view clips from the program, listen to popular quotes, get SMS messages, watch user-generated Simpsons related content on YouTube"


Cheers,
Dean

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Twitter popularity

lol -

"RT @SimoneBlum: Twitter isnt better than sex, but sliced bread is in serious trouble"

On a serious note, man i had the weirdest experience waking up this morning, i was thinking about the dream i had last night but i was visualising it in 140 character twitter stanzas as if i was typing it out on twhirl.

I know i can hear half of you saying "sstep away from the keyboard" and the other half of you are saying....oh yeh that happened to me already.

lol


Cheers,
Dean


NYC co-op boards

Wow can this be for real?
http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/10139-co-op-board-rejection

I like the advice of one of the comments become the most hated person in the building so they want to get rid of you.... lol.

Comps are one thing but they have to have a better reason than this.


Cheers,
Dean

QR codes in the Australian Powerhouse Museum

Great article here about the use of QR codes in the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney

Some really good lessons about the realities of using QR codes and the real life issues you come across putting them into use.

As they found doing these things in house makes total sense and is totally possible to do on a small scale basis trials without large investments.

If you enjoyed that you might like to check out this post on lessons learned building the mobile website landing pages.

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/dmsblog/index.php/2009/02/28/we-are-partially-mobile-powerhouse-on-your-phone/




Cheers,
Dean

Friday, April 10, 2009

Time Warner threatening metered billing

Read this article http://gigaom.com/2009/04/09/time-warner-offers-more-pricing-options-to-sweeten-its-tiers/
Thought my comments warranted posting here.




This all sounds fine and reasonable.

As soon as cable companies offer to give up their exclusive cable franchise rights then they can implement 'metered broadband'.

Until then..... the cable companies, their paid lobbiest shrills, and anyone trying to throw FUD into the mix can go back to their desks in hell and work out a new business model.

Cable companies have gotten fat and lazy on these exclusives.

If they want to throw competition into the mix...then they are welcome to. Until then - hands off.
(doesn't look so attractive now does it Time Warner)


Cheers,
Dean Collins
www.Cognation.net

The Hooters - 500 Miles

Someone posted somthing on twitter about The Hooters and 30 minutes later after spending way too long on You Tube I give you this.



What a really cool 'later' song of theirs - apparently they are reformed and touring etc again.

For your own trip down memory lane.
Johnny B
All You Zombies
And We Danced

Happy Music Friday, what a trippy morning.


Cheers,
Dean

Scarpar Powerboard

Oh No


I must resist.....my wallet is opening.....Kaching!!! where can i get one?

Cheers,
Dean

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Fake Twitter Status

Having problems with twitter? sick of the BS about the supposed causes?

Check out http://faketwitterstatus.tumblr.com for the real facts.

It's a crrackup and far closer to reality than the official one.



Cheers,
Dean

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

ITunes hacking gets a new spin

I posted a few weeks about about how the iTunes gift card security had been hacked, well here is a new spin on it.

AppleInsider has obtained an email sent to the developer of TiltMeter Pro, sent from an individual using a yahoo.com email account to the developer’s customer support email address listed in the iTunes App Store. The email states, “I’ve been taking a look into your application and have an offer to you. I have many itunes gift certificates for itunes usa , canada and uk to make purchases through the itunes store. I can buy your product as many times as you want and can share earnings 50 - 50.”

The scam attempts to exploit Apple’s generous 70% revenue share of all iTunes mobile software purchases, which the company pays directly to developers. Counterfeiters have already
mastered the algorithm used to generate fraudulent iTunes gift certificate numbers, but can only sell the fake certificates for pennies on the dollar, as few consumers are willing to pay anything significant for the opportunity to download free iTunes while incurring the substantial risk of being caught with a paper trail tied directly to their iTunes account.

More here at;
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2009/04/07/scammers-offer-to-help-iphone-developers-defraud-apple/

I wonder which developers are going to be caught..... manipulating the system.


Cheers,
Dean

Australian NBN financial analysis

I read this article today: http://www.crn.com.au/News/100574,consumers-to-pay-a-premium-under-nbn-plan.aspx and below is my response.


So nobody working for the ISP's are taking into account the benefits for Australian business's having 100mb fiber to their door OR the ability for people to videoconference/telework from home, consume new services etc.

Lets put it this way, people in here in New York are talking about how bold a move and if a country as large as Australia can do it why cant the USA (Singapore and Korea always being referred to as freak outliers that dont count.... according to Americans).

This is a bold move and whilst it would be my wish that the Australian governement fund it all themselves so as to deliver connectivity and access on a 'cost + recovery' basis and eliminate the need to organise public funds (read...give a ton of money to Macquarie/bankers for securitising a project while taking on no risk).

If the government ran the network this way as 'a public utility' just for the good of the country - it would be an even more impressive thing.


Cheers,
Dean Collins
www.Cognation.net

Monday, April 06, 2009

Australian NBN network

You ripper,

http://www.crn.com.au/News/100466,government-announces-nbn-plans.aspx

This is exactly how fiber should be - a shared wholesale resource just like water to ensure retail channels can deliver value add in content and services;

- Not 'outspending on infrastructure' disadvantaging the carrier
or
- Securing 'private monopolies' that disadvantage the customer.


Lets hope this smashes the existing theory about how networks should be built.


Cheers,
Dean

P.S. another few articles;
http://telecommagazine.com/newsglobe/article.asp?HH_ID=AR_5104
http://blogs.smh.com.au/gadgetsonthego/archives/2009/04/rudd_scraps_nbn_tender_announc.html

www.LiveBaseballChat.com

Well we had the launch of http://www.livebaseballchat.com/ yesterday.


What a fantastic game between the Braves & the Phillies for the opening chat.

It's also been great to see people using the Tweet on Twitter function to invite people directly into the chat room they are active in.

Check it out at http://www.livebaseballchat.com/
Cheers,
Dean

I Wish

As a follow on from my How Do post last week a friend of mine just sent me this;

http://twistori.com/#i_wish

Cute concept.


Cheers,
Dean

Sunday, April 05, 2009

www.LiveBaseballChat.com is go !! :)

2009 MLB season is officially go - bring it on :)

http://www.LiveBaseballChat.com/ was finally launched at 3pm today just in time for the season opener between Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies


So What’s It All About;

http://www.LiveBaseballChat.com/ is a website built by fans, for fans. We are providing an opportunity for baseball fans to talk to each other with other fans about specific games live.

Over the course of the MLB 2009 season, 2430 live chat rooms will open 30 minutes before each game and give you an opportunity to talk to other fans live during the game about each specific game. You’ll be able to invite other fans to join via Email, Twitter or Facebook. (SMS and iPhone coming soon).

Tonight is our Beta launch so if you see something you don’t like, or think can be improved, then please send an email to Suggestion@LiveBaseballChat.com this site is built for you so looking forward to hearing your advice on how to make it better.

Other than that – see you at 8pm eastern BAATTTEEEERRRRR UPPPPPPP!


Cheers,
Dean

Saturday, April 04, 2009

QR code use in Art Gallery

Great use of QR codes in an Pittsburgh based art gallery.



Perfect use of the technology.


Cheers,
Dean

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Jailbreaking versions banned

Yet another version of the "Steve Jobs Nanny State"
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/04/latest-iphone-developer-agreement-bans-jailbreaks.ars


Cheers,
Dean

Cisco cashpile

How can Cisco have such a shitty stock price http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/csco

When they have the second biggest cashpile in the world?
2. Cisco Systems - (CSCO), Chart, Total Cash: $29.531 Billion

http://seekingalpha.com/article/125853-the-15-most-cash-rich-companies


Cheers,
Dean

Sneak Peek

Thought some of you might want a sneak peek at what's being turned on at midday Sunday http://www.livebaseballchat.com/sneakpeek/index.htm

Bring it on :)


Cheers,
Dean

2d code augmented reality tools available to the masses

Came across this site and thought it might interest some people

http://drawlogic.com/2008/11/17/as3-augmented-reality-in-flash-and-papervision-3d-flartoolkit/

Basically talks about Augmented reality tools now available to the masses, this example below was put together using Flash and Papervision 3D.

Amazingly these tools are available for anyone to create similar augmented reality functionality.


A great example here using the ARToolKit - 3dimensional book displaying augmented reality.

http://www.hitlabnz.org/wiki/Black_Magic_Book
No matter where the user positions themselves around the book, or how they turn it, three-dimensional images will still appear attached to each page. New virtual scenes and models can be seen by simply turning the pages of the book. The BlackMagic book contains an array of images ranging from a model of the original 1852 winner, America, to a virtual video depicting Team New Zealand's 1995 victory, and an animation of the 2003 America's Cup course.

This is too sick for words - cant wait to see commercial applications being developed for this kind of technology.

(btw one of the other ARToolKit examples was a furniture assembly manual in 3D, no more Ikea instruction manual 'translation' issues - see the demo examples in 3d right on your laptop).

What would you want to use it for?


Cheers,
Dean

Did you know

Yeh I know it’s been around for a while but a friend of mine in Australia just sent me this again last night and after watching it first thing this morning I felt all pumped up to meet the challenge.

I thought it might motivate some of you, as well.



I love the 1 in 8 couples met online fact, makes me realize I could create something today that changes how you live next year, and that as a ‘job to have’ is fantastic.


Cheers,
Dean

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Shark Tank

Barbara Corcoran …..oh puullleasee
http://inthesharktank.com/?p=62

I’ve already decided this show is already going to be a freaking failure.
What about some real VC's with real experience and real business backgrounds.
I'll stick to watching the original on Ch 106 BBC america thanks.


Cheers,
Dean

@CTIA: NeuStar Touts Global Bar Code Interoperability

Step right up, Step right up, Come one Come all.

Welcome to CTIA, where only we can take a perfectly simple idea like open source 2d bar codes and turn it into a multi level money grabbing screwup.

Yes folks step right up to CTIA press extravaganza next week, where we will announce a system sure to confuse the market even more and introduce a closed highly licensed system from what was once a perfect idea already.

http://www.wirelessweek.com/article.aspx?id=167324
LAS VEGAS—NeuStar, the company behind the common short code registry, today unveiled the a successful demonstration and implementation of technology that enables cell phones and other mobile devices to scan and process two-dimensional bar codes – regardless of the mobile service provider, type of bar code symbology or scanning technology used.
“This is very exciting because what we’re announcing is barcode interoperability,” said Diane Strahan, vice president of Mobile Services at NeuStar. “We truly mean across all platforms and media.”
NeuStar says its pilot program is based on open standards and demonstrates interoperability among the world’s most successful bar code campaign managers, symbologies and code reader technologies through NeuStar’s third-party central clearinghouse and registry services.



CTIA, you can count on us, I mean look how badly we screwed up the common short code system (SMS CSC) here in the USA, of course we'll fuck this up as well.
(dont believe me go check out how the csc system in the UK is flourishing in comparison).


Cheers,
Dean