Today, I attended the first BizcampNewry, which I must say I very much enjoyed it. It was an all-day event & held in the Southern Regional College in Newry, a city about 30 miles from Belfast near the border.
For those of you unaware what a “BarCamp” event is, it’s basically a mini-conference where the attendees arrive and sign up to be the speakers for half hour slots throughout the day. You can generally talk about whatever you want but from experience of attending similar events, it’s wise to have done some preparation before hand, rather than jump up on a whim. It’s also advisable to speak on a topic you are very well versed in as you never know who may in the audience, and you could find yourself out of your depth very quickly.
It was billed a business conference but the talks I attended were very online business orientated although this may have been due to the effect that I was drew to the webby sounding talks. I did see, for example, a talk on auditing which I’m sure was business agnostic.
There was also a presentation in the morning (I’m afraid I’ve forgotten the gentleman’s name, if anyone remembers, please let me know in the comments), who told of how he had successfully built a business online selling inflated balloons. An amazing idea and he passed off some very useful tips and tricks to consider when distance selling physical products online but he did however advise people with an idea of selling products to start off by building their own websites. I disagreed and why I disagree will be the topic of a blog post later this week…
These events can sometimes be blighted by people only there to promote brand numero uno, but thankfully that didn’t seem to be the case today with many speakers clearly just giving up their time to pass on the value of their experience which was appreciated. If you were one of these speakers, I thank you.
All in all a great event so close to home, and big props to Chris McCabe & Nichola Bates for making it all happen, these things don’t come together magically and I’m sure there was a lot of hard work went on behind the scenes.
Incidentally, I found out about this event through the Digital Circle network and also see that there is a BizcampBelfast on the horizon. I shall certainly be there.
The iPhone app development is clearly the big daddy when it comes to mobile apps, so much so many mobile app developers much surely be thinking why would they bother to develop for any other handsets when with the iPhone sales climbing steadily all the time. Well, how about Palm offer $1Mil for top app developers. Interesting, while iPhone development requires quite a deep understanding C# knowledge, all you need to develop for Palm is strong HTML/CSS/JS. Oh, and a killer idea of course.
As IMAP ports are blocked in work, GMDesk is a great little Air app that runs Gmail from your desktop outside the web browser, WIN!
We’ve already had the first tweets from Space, now comes the first Twitpic from Space.
Need a test bench to test multiple versions of IE? This week I discovered IE Tester, although I’ve also heard that it can be inconsistent with bugs in IE6. But a useful tool if you can’t get to a vanilla install of IE6. If indeed, you even still support IE6.
Perch looks like a useful little CMS for small scale projects though a site license puts me off when there are other excellent CMS’s for gratis.
I’ve always liked Chrome, it’s lightweight and zippy and does what it needs to do well. However, Firefox has remained my primary browser and a big reason for this is Firebug, which I consider the most important weapon in my arsenal as a web developer. But this week sees the release of Firebug for Chrome, hurrah!
As I’ve started to train for the Belfast Marathon, I’ve been using Runkeeper app for the iPhone to track my training and I must say I’m very impressed. I had the free version but upgraded to the Pro version at the start of last week week. At £5.99, it is quite steep for an iPhone app, but having used this for only a week, I think it justifies the cost.
It’s incredibly intuitive to use and has the ability to track my run via GPS, my time, pace, distance covered, calories burned and altitude. Once I have finished my run, I just hit save, and this data is then uploaded to my Runkeeper profile where I can view the route I ran on Google Maps and get a more detailed description of my workout. This information is public by default but you can set it to private if you wish. You can set this information to then propagate across your various networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. I can also easily drill down stats in a nice graph on my to see what I’ve ran each week/month which makes tracking my marathon training a cinch..
Incidentally, Runkeeper can also be used to track cycling, walking, skiing, hiking and oddly enough, swimming, among others. I don’t know how confident I’d be taking a dip with the iPhone on my arm. Speaking of my arm, I use an iPhone armband for running with which I’d highly recommend as not only does it protect your iPhone but also doesn’t disrupt your running.
So, what has the Pro version got that the free version doesn’t? The Pro version allows you to set up custom training workouts with your own training play list. More importantly, the Pro version can be set up to give you updates through your headphones as you run. This can be set to update you based on time or distance. The update tells you how long you’ve been running, the distance covered and your average minutes per mile. You can also double tap the screen at any time for an update. I’ve found this invaluable as it’s a great motivator when I’m starting to flag. The Pro version of the App is also ad free.
The Runkeeper website is compatible with Polar heart rate monitors and although it doesn’t talk directly to the heart rate monitors, it seems very simple to just upload your data file after each run to factor it into your training summary. Runkeeper is also compatible with Withings Scales, which look like the daddy of bathroom scales. I really tempted to buy a set despite the pricey tag as this would really give a complete picture over time of how I’m doing. I’d also feel a bit like RoboCop powering down for the night after a run…
A nice community aspect of Runkeeper is the ability to create street teams. This is basically connecting with other users to track and measure your progress against each other. If so inclined, you can even buy a t-shirt to show your allegiance. If you think that’s a bit much, check out what some go even further. I currently only have one other in my street team so if you’d like to join mine or vice-versa, I’d welcome the invitation.
A couple of small issues I’d like to see improved – If you receive a call or text when running, the app pauses. I have a feeling this is due to the iPhone rather than the app but it is slightly annoying as I didn’t realise I got a text last week half way through my run and didn’t realise the app had stopped tracking until I’d finished.
On a geeky note, It would also be great if Runkeeper developed their API a little so that I could interrogate my own data. Right now, all they provide to work with is a GPX file which is far from ideal.
In conclusion, if you’re a casual runner, you should definitely download the free version, and if you’re anyway serious about running or training for an upcoming even, I’d highly recommend you download the Pro version.
This is a brain dump of some of the things I ran into on the Internets this week. When writing these weekly posts, I can’t help but think of a certain scene from Bo’ Selecta from days gone by. Just thought I’d share that, it’s quite an obscure reference, let me know if you get it. Anyway, the week in links from er.. the Internet.
Hopefully, I shall be attending BizCamp Newry next week, still time to sign up, nice to see these sorts of things happening in Northern Ireland.
The training for the marathon continues apace, which the image in this post also alludes to, check out my Runkeeper profile. (Runkeeper review en route..)
I know you’re dying to know what were the top Twitter Trends of 2009? All is revealed…
I found this handbags page from Jon Hicks that I’m just dying to use but have yet to get an appropriate opportunity. Clever use of the URL was also noted.
Oh, in case you’ve been living in a cave outside Bundoran, The Apple iPad was announced. Much hilarity ensued in my head when I discovered this parody from over nearly three years ago, little did they know.
If you’re from Northern Ireland, and if you haven’t already, you should check out Lookaly, a Belfast based start up which is fast becoming the definitive guide on where to eat/drink/club and whatever else tickles your fancy in Northern Ireland, certainly Belfast. Today, I have lunch in Rhubarb and promptly left a quick review.
Some interesting stats on the most popular ways to interact with Twitter. Tweetdeck FTW!
And finally, for a blow by blow account of what Blair said at the Iraq Inquiry, look no further than the excellent Guardian website.
As I traverse the internets each day I invariably come across a shed-load of interesting articles, blog pots, videos, jokes, etc. which I normally post to my Twitter profile but with my new years resolution to blog more often still fresh in my mind, I’ve decided to collate these bits and bobs each week and post them on a Friday. Who knows how long it will last, but let’s be optimistic at the outset and predict that it’ll last from now to infinitely. Probably.
Ever wanted to play out with the vast amount of data produced by the BBC Programmes application? Have a look at the developer docs and maybe you can put a nice modern twist on the Radio Times.
I’m frankly amazed and also slightly terrified by the story of a guy who was arrested under anti-terror laws for jokingly sending a tweet about blowing up an airport. If he had phoned in a warning, sure. Or announced it over a tannoy in the airport, I get it. But for sending a tweet? Madness.
Disillusioned with David Cameron’s campaign to become next PM? Make your own poster to voice your discontent.
In the vein of 24 Ways, I found 52 weeks of UX, where a new article on User Experience is published each week, subscribed. (p.s. Aesthetically, anyone else think A List Apart?)
I’m a big fan of Lost and am very much anticipating the return of the final season in Feburary on Sky 1.
However, a shitload has happened in the first five seasons and you could forgiven for feeling a little lost yourself. So, if you haven’t time to watch the first 120 episodes, here’s a nice little condensed version for your viewing pleasure.
January 8, 2010 at 6:48 pm · Filed under Book Review
Not so long ago I was asked by a graphic designer friend what books or websites I would recommend to anyone interested in starting to learning web design.
When studying for my degree, Interactive Multimedia Design, I was taught in final year by the very knowledgeable Chris Murphy & Nick Persson. It was on the basis of this degree that I managed to secure my first job as a web developer with the BBC. These two gents have now penned their first book, dealing with how to write standards compliant websites from the ground up.
Web Standardistas is aimed at absolute beginners to web design or anyone who has been building sites for a couple of years using WYSIWYG editors or outdated methods. It takes the readers right through from building their very first web page to building a fully functioning, XHTML standards compliant site, styled using CSS by completing set ‘homework’ at the end of each chapter. Murphy & Persson clearly draw on their experience as academic teachers to point out obvious pitfalls and nuances encountered by beginner to web design.
Reading cover to cover provides the reader with a very complete picture of how to build a simple website, explaining not only how to do things, but why you should not do things. The style of writing is very accessible to all and very easy to follow.
Many people thinking of dabbling in web design wrongly believe that they require complex and costly software to get up and running but as this book strives to point out, there are many free and open source alternatives at every step so expense should not be a barrier of entry for any aspiring ‘web standardista’.
The book also deals with an aspect of web design often overlooked by others, how to actually get your site online. The book covers the fundamentals of domain names, hosting and FTP.
Links and resources are provided throughout the book to the support website, which should make sure anyone trying to follow along doesn’t stray to far from the correct path.
Despite being a professional web developer for three years and claiming to be quite well versed in web standards and best practice, I even found myself picking up little tit bits along the way, such as it’s best to omit the units from the line-height CSS property so that all line height is relative to corresponding font size. Every day’s a school day!
In conclusion, I’d highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning web design. I’d also recommend it to anyone with an interest in primates or fine tea but you’ll need to read the book to get that reference.
I’m getting a little bored of the cold now but to have snow over Christmas was very nice indeed. Much merriment and tomfoolery. However, I was equally glad I didn’t have to go anywhere near an airport or train station as every single one of them seemed to be barred up with a chain on the door. However, a little dusting of snow didn’t stop them in 1963, when men were real men! They just all got a shovel and cleared the tracks, or failing that, got a little help from a juggernaut of a steam train, very cool indeed.
December 26, 2009 at 5:07 pm · Filed under Social Media
There have been some pretty inventive flash virals in the past and I found another great one today from Sweden.
I’m not entirely sure what the product is, and I generally hate heavy Flash apps as they take an age to load, this one is no different but I think it’s worth the wait.
You can then upload your own picture so you too can know what it feels like to be a hero, WIN!
So, as the title suggests, I shall be leaving London at the end of the month. Well, for a little bit anyway. I’ve been offered a 6 month attachment with BBC Northern Ireland as a Future Media Developer in Belfast, w00t!
What, you may ask, is a Future Media Developer? It’s basically a mix of what I currently do at BBC Switch as Client Side Developer and some project management. This is because BBC NI work with alot of independant digital agencies such as Front and Being Online, as oposed to undertaking any big projects inhouse end-to-end like we do at Switch.
Incidentally, my current job title also changed to ‘Web Developer’ about a month ago as no-one outside the BBC had a clue what the hell a CSD was.
However, BBC NI and BBC Switch are similar in alot of ways as they are both truly multi-platform content portals with daily content being transmitted across web, TV & radio, so I hope I can bring some of my experience working with Switch to NI.
Anyway, I’m throughly looking forward to getting stuck in and I guess I’ll know alot more about the job role, it’s challenges and it’s opportunites once I get settled.
On a personal note, it’ll be a bit of a wrench to leave London. To the outsider it might not always seem like it, but it’s a truly enchanting city once you are caught in it’s grasp, and it’s hard not to feel like you are taking a step down in pace & lifestyle by leaving, for however short a time period. However, the current plan is to return in 6 short months and I’ll not miss it’s price tag in that time.
I’m also incredibly excited to be moving ‘home’ for a while. I say ‘home’ because home is actually Armagh, but it’s only a mere hour away. One hour car journeys seem merely frivilous to me now. I lived in Belfast for four years while at Uni and loved every bit of it and I’m sure I will again, except this time I’ll not be living in some student pit, win!
