Thoughts | Technology | Life

Come on Apple - where is our update!

2009-02-04T22:15:00.005Z

Getting bored of waiting for hardware announcements from Apple. Okay we had some new software and they tweaked the MacBook "bottom of the range" recently but there is still the subject of updating the iMac and the Mac Mini that goes untackled!

Does Apple really hate the Mac Mini as if you look at the spec it is looking positively ancient compared to other desktop pc's. You only have to check the latest Dell range to see a better spec albeit you have to put up with Vista! It has HDMI built in and the option to add a Blu-ray drive - Mac Mini is still packing a "Combo drive" for the same price - huh?!

Get it sorted Apple we are impatient and have money to spend but for how much longer!

MacExpo 09

2009-01-02T10:40:00.006Z

With all the festivities been a bit quiet on the blogging front but found some renewed energy.

Looking forward to MacWorld Expo on Tuesday and wondering what feast of delights we have in store - a new MacMini is rumoured about time it had some attention.

New "chips", "graphics" and "extra storage" would be very welcomed - I still think it is a really good machine with a future so hears to a good one coming out. Just a bit behind the other products at the moment and due a make-over.

New MacBooks at last!

2008-10-09T21:19:00.000+01:00

Mac

Very exciting seems the time has come for Apple to update their MacBook range or at least they will be letting us know their plans on the 14th October.

What will we get? Wouldn't it be great to see a NetBook version at a Netbook price!! Suspect this maybe hoping for a little too much. What we really want is a "Alum" MacBook at £500 plus a range of glorious MacBook Pros that some of us can just dream about owning but give us enough of an urge to visit the Apple Store on Regent Street every once in a while to test them out.

Go on Apple give us something price wise that reflects the current economic conditions and bring a smile your Mac fans at the same time when we are all wishing we didn't put our money into Icelandic banks!

Macs or no Macs that is the question

2008-08-31T11:36:00.005+01:00

So there have been a few rumours about new Macbooks and MacBook Pros - example of cases have been shown on the web and verified as being true.

But when are Apple going to officially confirmed a date for the announcement - come on Apple is it the 9th September or not. We can't handle the suspense!

iPhone 3G battery

2008-08-25T11:16:00.002+01:00

Well I haven't seem much talk about the battery life on the new 3G iPhone but I have heard unofficially that there are problems with it.

Seen a couple of "cases" where the battery life is not lasting more than a day with only mid-to high end use. May be a good time to hold off until the 2nd generation 3G comes out - or am I just trying to seed some doubt in my mind to stop me from buying one! Or will there be a decent firmware update which will help - and then a trip to carphone warehouse awaits!

iPhone 3G - what a surprise

2008-06-13T23:05:00.007+01:00

Well the worse kept secret going was revealed and I am probably one of last people in the blogosphere to start talking about it.

I have to say I thought it was a little weak - they had a great chance to update the camera, include iChat with Video conferencing but have either left it to other developers or ignored it altogether.

Which means the functionality is currently better on my Sony Ericsson K800i which I have had for well over a year now and I still think is great. Having said that the style of the iPhone is still excellent. I have to admit my iPod Touch is still considered by all members of my family as a thing of beauty and fought after by us all! An iPhone purchase is inevitable!

Oh dear MS!

2008-06-05T09:53:00.003+01:00

It's been a while since the last post but I couldn't resist it when I saw this about Windows Vista - and there was me thinking about upgrading my PC when Microsoft are offering downgrading!

If you don't like XP does that mean you can down-grade to Windows 2K instead.

Can't see Steve Jobs offering to downgrade to Mac OS9 in a hurry or go back on a 3G iPhone when it arrives!

Macs the latest addition!

2008-01-24T23:48:00.000Z

No matter what Apple do I can't help admiring them. The MacBook Air - although not for me - looks like a fantastic bit of kit. I think it is an accompanying laptop to a desktop rather than a sole machine for someone - kind of encourages 2 Macs in the house rather than one!

Not having an ethernet port, only one USB port plus no spare battery option is a bit of an oversight for hard core users - but you can't help but sit back and admire it for a fantastic feet of engining!

Check it out an see what you think.

IGandy - part 3

2007-11-12T19:19:00.002Z

No toppled from the top spot of being IGandy in Google! I guess it is understandable as I have been "dozing" in the Blogging world for a while so to be expected.

IGandy here we go again Google you better watch out I don't take being toppled from top spot easily so the race is back on. IGandy whoever you are at the moment watch-out!

2007-11-12T19:19:00.001Z

iPhone its coming

2007-11-08T20:53:00.000Z

Back after a little lay-off Blogging can take it out of you - you know!

Lured back to Blogging (I can't stay quiet for long!) due to the impending launch of the iPhone in the UK - it is going to be massive with people queuing up outside stores day before they open. Having read a few reviews the jury still seems to be "out"- with comments building up around it being found a little wanting in a number of areas with the Nokia E95 being a better option overall.

But you can't take it away from Apple the cool factor has to outweight the slightly reduced functionality - but what a hefty price tag - £900 whichever way you look at it must be the pricest phone even with a few free minutes chucked in.

Especially if you think my car only cost me £500!

Google Webmaster Tools

2007-09-12T22:02:00.001+01:00

Can't believe I haven't mentioned Google Webmaster tools yet, those who put up with me as part of my day job have me going on about its virtue on a daily basis.

If you are running a blog and you haven't set yourself up with the "best way" of getting yourself into Google naturally then you are committing SEO suicide! But it is quick and easy to put this right.

Within your Google account go into the Webmaster Tools - where the information is readily available. You will need to verify that you are the owner of your site (by adding a page or a meta-tag) as otherwise you could be anyone. I tried it with "microsoft" to see what would happen but alas it would not let me!

Once verified and after a bit of time - it will start to show you some interesting stats about your site. This includes when Google last visited you, what it "saw" when it came, your page rank and importantly who is linking to you (which we know is all important).

In order to get the full suite of info you need to build yourself a "Sitemap". There are free sites that can help you with this.

Once you have created your sitemap you should submit it to Google - it tells Google all about your site its structure, pages etc and each time you update your site (if you re-submit it). It will also importantly encourage the Googlebot to come back and have a look each time you update your site.

Note to self for the next post - don't go on about Google so much!!

Blog - How to Blog

2007-09-11T20:55:00.000+01:00

Well the Ad-words campaign is underway - for those reaching me that way - thanks for clicking on the ad! The experiment - Dave Gorman style - of can you make money out of a blog continues - not quite ready to give up the day job!

But in order to be vaguely useful if you are thinking of starting a blog you can find a really good reference on problogger - which rather than focusing just on money making ventures gives a good honest view on blogging.

My 3 views - for today as you have been good enough to visit:-

- There is no getting away from it - you do need commitment - you owe it to your readers and to yourself, you need a minimum of a post every other day I reckon. But not just for the sake of it have something to say - doesn't matter how opinionated it is! In a strange way it does seem to help get things off your chest - even if no-one reads!

- You also need to assess the your best way of communicating with people - do you enjoy writing or are you the kind of guy or girl that prefers to talk. If you do prefer the old spoken word then podcasting maybe for you as this blogging lark does require the odd word or two! iTunes does give you some more info on these - picture above just to give an illustration.

- What are you going to talk about - you very often start with one "angle" and go completely off in another. I guess having some structure will help you in the beginning but don't be frightened to go off in a different direction.

Variety is the spice of life so they say!!

SEO Help for free!

2007-09-10T20:41:00.000+01:00

SEO is the main on-line marketing tool available to a "blogger" unless you have unlimited funds or a rich Uncle. The goal is very simple get yourself as much exposure in the Search Engines as you possibly can. But this goes with a warning you need to set yourself for a long challenge this isn't something - despite the boasts of many "SEO companies" that can be cracked overnight.

A good way of experimenting with SEO is to see how far you can get up the rankings with your own name (unless you are "John Smith"). I have now reached the dizzy heights of Number 1 for term "IGandy" - but it was a matter of weeks - with only circa 300 "listings" to compete with to achieve this aim. Take this into consideration if you choose to target the term "Technology" (only 1 billion terms there!!).

Based on this I thought I would do some scouting around looking for good sites and articles related to search engine optimisation - gosh that trips of the tongue in a really hard way whoever came up with that!

Found the following good references with some helpful tips on SEO:-
- Marketleap
- Wikipedia (as always)
- Bloggerheads

And for the forgotten and slightly fallen Search Engine:-
- Yahoo

At least they are prepared to give away some free advice - unlike the "other main search" engine! Other thing to remember is hound your friends and family to use your site this really is free advertising - other than a couple fo beers maybe!

I will add a few more links as I go along in coming posts.

Ads or no ads that is the question

2007-09-09T23:01:00.000+01:00

I have read quite a few guides around related to making money from blogging - most of them seem to offer little snippets of advice but nothing too conclusive. The best article I have seen is from Stevenpavina - he seems to have made quite a success it if his comments ring true of making over $1000 a day. This seems quite an achievement each day from humble beginnings.

You can make money out of a blog - a few observations to date:-

- You can't hide behind it the way to make money and the only way is to offer advertising on your site - via Google Adsense or a similar programme. Relying on other donations, sponsorship or because you think you have become famous by being on-line - is not going to support your habits.

- Equally 99% of blogs are not going to make a living for anyone so reality says it is merely a way of having a "bit of fun" or another way of funding the latest iPod without feeling guilty of robbing your family!

- Tailoring the adverts to your potential customer - which is now a lot easier with the more recent releases of ad-words. If you do succumb - then you can quite literally decide which channels of advertising can appear on your site and hopefully Google will do the rest.

-I have chosen the social networking category as this seemed most relevant to me - as it would be a key area for me if I was visiting a blog site.
There are many more to choose from - don't be scared of ad-sense it is not a swear word (honest guv!) and has been cleverly put together - you can see why Google have made and continue to make so much cash from advertising!

IGandy - part 2

2007-09-09T09:32:00.000+01:00

Managed to reach the goal of being number 1 in Google for the term IGandy - and a lot quicker than I thought - the strategy of rambling on each day seems to have worked.

So I can proudly say that I am at top spot against the other 330 references - time to pack up my blogging shoes (?) or do I keep rambling on for a bit longer - not sure yet!

Looked at the challenge of making the term Thoughts|Technology|Life - on to the first page but on "googling" discovered there is over 1 billion results to compete against - I like a challenge - mmm this may be a tad tough and a re-think required!

Google Co-op

2007-09-08T15:43:00.000+01:00

Been playing around with the Google Co-op search engine. This is another free bit of kit provided by Google. It doesn't stare you in the face when you go into your Google account - it is in the "other" or "more" category that you have an option to click through to.

It is very nifty as it lets you create quite literally your own search engine with a few clicks of the mouse. The Google wizard guides you through the process allowing you to pick, what the search box and results pages to look like.

The key feature has to be the ability to decide which sites, categories and "channels" you would like Google to search from within your search engine . This way you can tailor the sites that are returned following the search.

For example, if your web-site was providing information that relates specifcally to small businesses then you could provide a search engine which searches sites just for small business insurance. If you prefer you can set it up just to "spider" your own site with no external links so no need to go off and create something specifically to search your own site as Google has kindly done it for you!

In addition, if you have an Adsense account you can set it up to use the same "id" as Ad-sense that way you can make a few quid if any clicks on sponsored links once the results come back. You can also disable the paid ads if you prefer.

Once you are done clicking the options you are given the code which you can copy and all you have to do is paste into into the relevant part of your web-site.

If you have a blog-site give it a try I am.

Blog Directories

2007-09-07T16:27:00.000+01:00

The challenge of trying to drive more and more traffic to a blog should not be under-estimated but there are quite literally hundreds of blog directories and aggregators that help you with this process.

Most of them insist on linking to them or they will not list you - in order to improve the number of links they have to their site as a vote of popularity. With a simple template system like the blogger one I am using this is really easy to do.

You can find it in the Templates menu

- add a new item
- select add HTML/Javascript code
- enter the name of the link and code you have been given on by the site
- voila you have a link to the site under a menu item!

I guess only time will tell whether they are useful in any-way or whether it is a complete waste of time and energy!

I don't suppose my request to Amazon for a link to be added from them to me will reap much reward!

I have succumbed to the draw of the Google Adsense programme - but promise not to fill the whole site with ads just using it in a vain attempt to fuel my alcohol habit!

iPods again

2007-09-06T22:44:00.000+01:00

I know I have already posted something about the new iPods and there are going to quite literally millions of posts all talking about the same thing - but the anticipation around the iPod touch seems high (yep accept I need to get out more often) around the blogosphere.

Worth checking out the keynote by Steve Jobs - if you are having trouble sleeping! They do a nice promotional job it has to be said.

I have been lucky enough (thanks Roberto!) to have seen an iPhone - so if the "Touch" is even half as good - an excellent boys toy awaits for those that can afford it!

PS Still not at number 1 on Google for "IGandy"

IGandy

2007-09-06T15:08:00.001+01:00

The challenge has been set - get to Number one in Google for that popular search term "IGandy"! This blog is currently on the second page on Google which lets face it is an admittance of failure to date.

Current opposition comes from a "Mac archive" (called IGandy for some reason)and a gentlemen in Sweden who has a myspace account where references to "Voodoo army" are being used so could be a bit tough!

Not quite desperate enough to use the Free £50 worth of Google Adwords to see if it boasts my popularity yet - strategy being considered!

Apple Release September 2007

2007-09-05T21:24:00.000+01:00

Well the wait for a touchscreen iPod is over as predicted by the rumors today Apple released a new set of iPods - including the iPod touch which looks absolutely superb.

Features of note include:-
- Wi-Fi web browsing allow you to browse from a wireless network - both old "b" standard and new "g"
- Multi-touch "interface" based on the iPhone
- A new widescreen display to make movies and videos even better to watch
- Closer links to YouTube

Plus new iPod Nanos have been released which include "Video" and an annoucement in the US of the "Wi-Fi" store working closely with Starbucks - have to see when we will get this in the UK.

That is all I can digest for now - will undoubtedly review their web-site over the next days to look at what I can't afford!!

Apple Announcements

2007-09-05T20:14:00.000+01:00

Rumours are rife on what Apple will come up with today - will it be the iPod Nano phone based on the iPhone touchscreen style? Guess we will have to wait and see!!

Blog-site help

2007-09-05T13:17:00.000+01:00

I thought I would dry up giving out my wisdom after a couple of days - but no it keeps flowing! I have found quite literally a million web-sites providing me with all the help you can wish for plus a few boasting about how much money you can make from a blog site and how to get visitors to your blog. But the ultimate guide so far is with my mate Seth.

I am in the process of working my way through the "56 ways to increase traffic" and from the looks of things this may be a long process - have a feeling that some more work is required if Thoughts|Technology|Life if it is going to reach the 1.1 million visitors required to make a living. Don't give up the day-job for now I seem to think!

Analytics on your own site

2007-09-04T17:13:00.000+01:00

One of the things I am learning about are the various tools that are available to help promote and run your own blog site - one very useful tool is in the "Web Analytics" arena.

Google - very kind of them - provide you with an Analytics tool that for completely free you can track "traffic" to your blog. All those soles that are kind enough to pay you a visit. Google make it as easy as possible for this to be set up - just worth having a Google account before hand.

All you have to do is add a "meta tag" to your template and away you go. With a site created via Blogger.com being so easy to use and set-up, every page you create will be automatically "tagged" for you.

You can pretty much slice and dice the results/traffic in any way you want to help:-
- understand what content pages people are interested and have navigated to that you have hand-crafted!
- what advertising has worked for you and where people have come to you from
- which keywords people are finding you from within the search engines (do you think Google may have a motive?)
- visually see how you are performing over a period of time
- track any conversions/sales you have achieved in a given period of time and there worth (this takes a little more setting up)
- if you choose to set-up multiple sites you can track each one individually

Plus many more features... worth a keen look.

All these things are obviously key if you are planning on making money from your site or even to see whether any one is being troubled to view your efforts of creating a site to be proud of!

Fully recommend this - and for any numbers "nuts" a must have without a big learning exercise to go through as you see in some packages that promise the world and take a degree to work out!

Facebook apps - kind of annoying

2007-09-03T23:16:00.001+01:00

Too many apps are appearing on the social networking site facebook I think the administrators ought to take a look before it all gets ruined. Appreciate it is a bit of fun but a bit of control would be good in this case.

I am getting requests left right and centre - friends seem to be going app crazy. There must be an opportunity to start a group - get rid of "facebook apps" I reckon! Why do we keep trying to create something when certain things are best left as they are.

One of the great features that does exists without the need of an app help is the Birthday list. Each time one of our friends has a birthday it shows it you in a separate panel - a really good flag if you the forgetful type (mmm!). Almost worth setting an account up for this reason alone. Have now made contact with guys I haven't had contact with for 20 years the power of this network is clear for all.

Can Nike+ help???

2007-09-02T12:44:00.000+01:00

That's it - now have a set of scales and my fears have come through - bigger than "ever" so the exercise starts here! Having done a 6 mile walk today (!) with a bit of running thought it might be worth seeing if there is any technology that may keep me motivated - other than my mate Ian moaning at me!

So a quick "surf" showed the Nike+ bit of kit for the iPod Nano from the guys at Nike (surprisingly) and Apple(also surprisingly!!). Seems it has a lot of positive feedback - 5 stars on the Apple UK store tends to be a good view on what is good and what is not. There is a sensor you attach to the top of the iPod Nano and then add another sensor to your shoes. The shoes have to be ones by Nike (again not surprises!!!) - there is a special hole in the shoes for you to slot it in. This way you can track progress and have some tunes to help you get through the pain. Don't suppose there is any chance they will fit with non-Nike shoes that would be hoping too much!

So it looks like a trip to the on-line Nike+store will be required in order to secure the footwear and the " gizmo" which acts like a pedometer. Being the kind of guy I am a piece of kit like that may well help keep me going - tracking my progress to "lightness"! Bring on the lightness that is all I can say.

Facebook

2007-09-01T16:59:00.000+01:00

What an addictive place is facebook I seem to be spending more and more time on the site hunting for friends I used to know. I have to say with some success as well - which is great and thought provoking. Only down-side is shows how old we are all getting and how things have moved on.

Facebook is really easy to use it has to be said - any exception is the load of "apps" that seem to be appearing by the day - most of them do seem annoying to say the least. I guess it is an attempt to spice things up a bit but if you look at the core value of facebook of being aimed at finding friends, creating a social network and for communicating then in hits the mark.

Wii!

2007-08-31T13:49:00.000+01:00

Had a crack the Nintendo Wii last night - really good fun. We had a go at the Wii Sports which comes with the console and offers a good selection of sports game each with a slightly different skill required. The Tennis game seemed a little tricky on the backhand side - suspect it may be more the user than the game! Be interesting to find out if anyone else thinks it is hard. Playing doubles the guy jumping around the net is priceless to watch especially as a re-play.

The bowling is good but just make sure there is nothing around you at the time otherwise drinks are likely to go flying if in the way. Boxing was a little "boring" after a while the "guy" you were hitting didn't seem to move around a lot - for a first time user - I knocked him out in the first round expected it to be a little more challenging. You may be able to change the settings something to be explored for next time!

Next time I get a chance to play be interesting to see if it has the same appeal or whether loses its initial impact. Overall could be a really good tool for bringing the family back into "one room" together - a kind of modern day "board game" in a strange kind of way!

A dullish day it has to be said!

2007-08-30T13:25:00.000+01:00

Doesn't feel like fun at the moment for whatever reason - still got the post holiday blues today. Shall battle on regardless.

Following our purchase of the XBox 360 it has now become apparent that the cheap XBox games that are pre-owned in Game are not backwards compatable.

I think that is a bit cheeky. There is a list of backwards compatible games on the microsoft web-site web-site which you need to watch out for otherwise disappointment is on the way!

Still a really good toy to play with XBox Live looks tempting although you do have to shin out more cash to use. Networking to a PC seemed to be a lot easier than I thought it would be using Internet Connection sharing saves paying for the wireless adapter at £60.

My Apple observations!

2007-08-29T11:51:00.000+01:00

A three day week which is great - I have a feeling everybody else agrees on that as well. The boys are still off - how long does the summer holidays have to last!

Looking forward to the next release from Apple rumours are "rife" on a new Video ipod with a touchscreen plus the next release of Leopard can't be far away can it? Macrumors seems to be tracking progress nicely.

iLife 08 looked good on the box but when using iMovie it seems a little confusing as to how to get Videos into the Media Library plus it doesn't recognise my Firewire drive which is a little strange as it sells it itself on recognising all external drives.

What a view

2007-08-19T16:48:00.001+01:00

A picture showing a fantastic view of the Sydney harbour bridge and the Opera house in the background. Photo taken from outside Luna Park.