Tiki Bar TV
Ξ February 28th, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Video |
When am I going to see another episode?
Helen at HMC
Ξ February 26th, 2007 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Digital imaging, Web design |
Get over to HMC and check out the work of a mate of mine, Helen from Limelight.
As part of the Art in Public Places run by Hobson’s Bay City Council, Helen has created more of her retro pin-ups to be exhibited.
They’re going to be displayed during the Williamstown festival at the Iceberg bar, Nelson Place. There are about 40 artists doing the same thing but exhibiting in different locations around the area.
Good luck Helen.
Content Management
Ξ February 26th, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Software, Web design |
Interesting, we just got a call from a company offering to host content management sites for $250 a month.
In the last month or so we have been experimenting with an Open Source content management application, WordPress.
We have found it to be extremely powerful and flexible. A large number of paid for content management is based on open source and generally is not good value for money, especially if you are a web developer. If anyone wants content management we install WordPress, a free application based on php and mySQL and apply a custom designed template. It is no more complex than a site designed in XHTML CSS. We build static pages and navigation as content to be managed as well as user feedback, and RSS blog type pages as subscription feeds. This is a normal web design fee plus normal hosting. Some training may be required for client generated editing but as a browser based system it is very straight forward.
Too many times we have had clients call to say that under a monthly fee system, their contract term has expired prior to getting enough time to get their content in order. They did not have time to learn how to set up the pages and navigation let alone the text or images. Good content management is supposed to allow clients and or their employees to add content as required as soon as possible so that their site is current and reflects any change that occurs. For those clients whose content is updated on a daily basis this can save a lot of money. For sites that are basically static apart from the odd alteration $250 a month is a rip off.
$250 a month is 10 times what our normal hosting fee would be anyway, so beware the content management scammers.
Trish Moore, President of GWCCI
Ξ February 21st, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Digital imaging, Photography |
Trish has had her portrait done in the studio at Big Trousers in a bit of a rush to cope with media inquiries regarding her new role as President of The Greater Western Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Trish and her partner Paul run “The Tint Shop” in West Melbourne and was elected president recently replacing Janice Simpson, who led GWCCI since 2003.
We hope to see Trish in the local papers.
Hello
Ξ February 19th, 2007 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Video |
This is just to say hi to all those that ask me to wave on the webcam.
any chance of a wave on the webcam. i am from the UK.
kim
Telstra, moving forward?
Ξ February 19th, 2007 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Apple |
Telstra boss, Greg Winn, let Apple know he did not think much of their iPhone. He reckons they should stick to their knitting. In other words he says the phone manufacturers of today will easily compete with whatever technolgy Apple puts into the iPhone. Tell that to Microsoft or a dozen other mp3 player manufacturers. Engadget story today points out that Telstra is the natural fit for iPhone as it is the only EDGE capable network provider.
What is this knuckle head thinking? Has no one learned the lesson yet? Have a close look at the development potential of the platform and the strength of support and software development that Apple brings to the market. At least read the patents on this puppy. When Apple gets their nose in front there is no way to copy. They move too quickly to simply copy, and the development of the cell phone has been in every direction other than usability. This is the big hole opened up by the different cultures in design and user interface. I think Apple will do well in that market if user interface and interaction with online services is the game.
I reckon Telstra should stick to their knitting…
Setting the benchmark for internet service and quality. Keep it under 1500k so as not to corrupt the cable business. Charge clients for excess bandwith ( don’t throttle speeds) charge for uploads and downloads on DSL services. Take a few weeks to install a landline when VOIP is breathing down your neck.
I wonder how the sales numbers are on the new high speed wireless network. Even given all the services that Telstra offer they are #4 behind some of the minows in the ISP stakes, according to Whirlpool.
Way to go Winn, you dill.
You really got Fake Steve pissed.
Apple sub-notebook ?
Ξ February 16th, 2007 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Apple, Digital imaging, Hardware |
Acording to Appleinsider an Apple sub-notebook may be coming soon.
A tiny sub-notebook on its way from Apple Inc. is expected to re-establish the Mac maker as a leader in the field of compact computing while drawing parallels to the legendary PowerBook 2400 along the way.
This is interesting news as is fills the gap for many pro users of application like “Aperture”. What a device to have on location if you like to travel light or need to travel light such as on remote location jobs. It seems that the engineers have found it difficult to stick an optical drive into the device. I say “fine” who needs an optical drive in a device that would be reconnected to the local network when the job is done?
Google Earth Final 3D
Ξ February 14th, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Digital imaging, Photography, Software, Web design |
So the final is complete of the 3D view of the Big Trousers office in Footscray. We hope to get this file uploaded to Google Earth but it may be a little too intricate.
In the meantime to see the 3D image make sure you have the latest version of Google Earth and download our locater file.
P.S If you have a previous version of our locater file remember to delete it first.
A big thanks to David of RMS who did the 3D research, rendering and debugging. His account of “Sketch Up” verses “Autocad” would make for interesting reading here.
Here is the model in SketchUp.
Download the file for Sketch Up from Google 3D warehouse
Ajay’s Webcam list
Ξ February 13th, 2007 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Web design |
We have just completed a rather strange site for us. Ajayswebcams is a site built entirely on a WordPress application. This means the site is fully content managed and has a lot of dynamic content. Our aim was to make it a search friendly as possible. Funding comes from placed advertisments by Google, so do Alan a favour and click on a Google link.
“Webcam of the week” Beluga whales in Canada.
The site has a researched list of live webcams, most of which are streaming Axis network cams that would not normally be easy to find. Unlike other webcam sites, whose lists are generated through submission by site owners, this site contains links that are online for more private reasons, ie. security, observation.
Google Earth update
Ξ February 8th, 2007 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Digital imaging, Software, Web design |
Well this is the first image in location with some detail.
The next step is to work on optimized png images for the surface detail.
UPDATE:
If you downloaded the first file, delete from Google Earth and download again to get the next one.
Like this:
Melbourne Jazz Fringe Festival 2007
Ξ February 8th, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ News, Web design |
Coming soon, the new MJFF site for 2007. This site will now be complete with a WordPress content management blog type application that will allow members of the committee to add pertinent details as they become available.
Also this simple banner advertisement that links to the site is hosted as an image on the MJFF server giving supporters of the Festival a way to actively promote and provide Google search “weight” to the site.
Because the “cut and paste” code we supply contains a link to our local files, we have a way to update this banner as it appears on those sites without the need for any update by those who generously decide to include it on their sites. Below is the larger banner.
CROSBY Architects now online
Ξ February 7th, 2007 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Web design |
After much time in the planning Crosby Architects site is now live.
Many thanks to Dave and Mark at eFront who helped with the blog style sheet for the Blogger application and some of the implementation.
It is a testament to Geoff Crosby’s design sense that the page has emerged in a clean disciplined style. Over the next few weeks we hope to get more content onboard relating to past projects. In the meantime Geoff needs to get a blog going.
Good luck Geoff.
ITunes DRM
Ξ February 7th, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Apple, Software |
This comment from Apple is the best explanation of the current state of affairs within the music download industry I have read. The last paragraph puts it right back up the nose of European ( an especially the French ) government agencies who are now making iTunes illegal in those countries.
“Much of the concern over DRM systems has arisen in European countries. Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free. For Europeans, two and a half of the big four music companies are located right in their backyard. The largest, Universal, is 100% owned by Vivendi, a French company. EMI is a British company, and Sony BMG is 50% owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Convincing them to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free will create a truly interoperable music marketplace. Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly.”
iTunes “busted” under Vista
Ξ February 6th, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Apple, Software |
According to Apple, iTunes users should delay an upgrade to Vista if they want to maintain their iTunes functionality.
Apple says that there were “compatibility issues” which would create some problems like a failure to play music and video purchased from the iTunes store; poor animation performance; and a failure to automatically synchronise media, contacts and calendars.
Seems the Inquirer has used this a smack at Apple under Anti-Trust legislation.
An anti-trust court might take a dim view of the fact that Apple had been spending a fortune trying to get users, who might be thinking of upgrading to Vista, to change to OSX instead.
However according to Biz Tech they are not alone.
Some MP3 players are experiencing glitches with computers on which Microsoft’s new operating system Windows Vista has been installed. MP3 players acquire music files by connecting to the computer, but the new operating system fails to recognize some players…..Korean MP3 players were also found to be incompatible with Vista. A Samsung Electronics spokesman said that the company’s new music devices are compatible with Vista, but that older models like the YP-20S don’t function well. ReignCom said that its H10 and an MP3-playing electronic dictionary are incompatible with Vista. A ReignCom spokesman said that the firm is developing a program to resolve the problem and that it should be ready this month. Facing a similar problem, other MP3 player maker like COWON are also testing to find out if their products work with Vista.
Google Earth and SketchUp
Ξ February 5th, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Digital imaging, Software |
Work has been progressing on a few of our own 3D uploads for the recently released version of Google Earth that allows users to upload there own files for all users online to see. A free version of SketchUp allows one to “build” your own place then upload the file to Googles’ server. In the meantime you can share Google files like this one.
Download the data file to explore my brothers house in Melbourne.
We are working on a Big Trousers office file complete with photographic detail in 3D.
Check back soon
UPDATE:
Below is a preliminary 3D of the Big Trousers office.
