Fully Sync’d, Google Style
I wrote a few months back about the way I had my Contact / Calendar / Email system setup, and I was the first to admit it wasn’t perfect, I really didn’t like using 3 or 4 custom applications to sync data from outlook, send some to Google, some to Apple (MobileMe) and then using an array of applications to push the data to my Macs, iPhone and Work computer.
Now, after changing my primary email address I have been able to migrate all my data to the Google Apps Pro service, which is something I have referred many people to over the last year or so after google really got moving on Google Apps.
Setting up the Google Apps, it was as simple as installing the Google Apps Sync client on the Win7 PC with Outlook – and that was all up and running with Contact, Calendar and Mail Synchronisation, Installing it on the iPhone was even easier, and with Push support it was even more appealing!
And, for everywhere else, there is the total archive of everything on the Google Apps website. I am really happy with google Apps.
The Wii
I’m the first to admit I’m not a gamer, and gaming consoles don’t really interest me, that might be why it’s taken me almost three years to buying a console.
What drew me to the device was the fact that it incorporates physical movement.
After playing with the device at the end of a day at work or first thing in the morning, I am impressed with the results that the “Wii Fit” game has produced.
I am fairly impressed with the graphics and the advanced human movement controllers, unlike any other gaming device that has nothing but buttons / joy sticks.
The price for a Wii, Some games, Wii Fit, Wii Board and so on, was less than a yearly gym membership, and has many purposes.
Posted in The Life of Ben | No Comments
Facebook’s super social behavior
Since the beginning of Facebook, the general goal has been for users of the service to “connect” with each other via the facebook website.
After facebook really boomed in Australia by about 2007-2008, it was already pretty popular elsewhere, and since the growth of facebook was so enourmous they have been able to continue to build, re-tweak and redesign many elements of facebook as it continues to evolve with it’s users.
On a recent update facebook have added new features, things like the ‘live feed’ which like all updates, annoys a certain group of people who don’t really like it, and will create groups to try reverse it. The latest update also included more social connection tools that facebook want to you try “connect” with more people by trying to guess new friends (yes that’s been around for a while) but they have now introduced the concept of ‘Re-Connecting’ with friends.
From what I’ve seen it basically looks for contacts (friends if you will) that you have not made any contact with, or not posted, commented, liked anything to do with them, and suggests you “write on their wall” to reconnect. This is almost as bad as your mother forcing you outside to play with friends you don’t want to be around.
I think Stephen Colbert put it best, “Facebook is a service that can let you see what all your friends are doing, and within the same three seconds, stop caring”.
Posted in Internet News, Personal Opinion | No Comments
All Hail thou Mouse of Magic and Might
Along with some cool announcements from Apple yesterday about the new iMac – they also introduced the “Magic Mouse”
My thoughts without trying this mouse, are that Apple have jumped over that line of Style and Practicality.
They have now eliminated their side button on the mouse, and no scrolling wheel, scrolling is done by just rubbing your finger up the mouse. As a person who works on computers all day, I couldn’t handle the Mighty Mouse as it was too low to the ground, and the scroll ball was to small and annoying when scrolling large websites.
On my iMac at home, I use a 5 year old Dell Logitech Mouse, as it is simple, practical and better user experience.
The Folks at ZDNet seem to agree too..
Posted in Tech News | No Comments
Google Wave in 2 Mins
One of the highlights of Web Directions this year (which I have been too busy to blog about) was that all attendees were issued something that’s scarce among web folk, and that’s a Google Wave invite.
Google Wave is only in BETA / Preview at the moment, and only open to a very select few. After using it for some tests, I can see how Google Wave will be the next thing in online collaboration and communication.
But what is Google wave? For those who don’t know, here is a terrific video explaining it in only a couple of minutes
Posted in Internet News, Videos | 1 Comment
