Pat’s Point of View

I’ve been using Wordle.net quite a bit lately for communicating research results, and I thought I’d give it a go for all my blog posts:

I was a little surprised, but pleasantly, to see the biggest words were “people” and “can”. Fairly high up there were “web”, “design”, “usability” and “information”, which is kinda good since I’d like to think that’s what I’ve been blogging about.

How did I do this? Well, I didn’t want to use a tag cloud plugin, so I used the WordPress export feature to create an XML dump of all posts and pages, extracted the CDATA fields, stripped all the HTML tags using regex in HTML-kit, then pasted it into Wordle :)

Firefox on my work laptop is experiencing somewhat of a personality crisis; whenever I visit a Yahoo! website (yahoo.com, yahoo.com.au, flickr.com) or PayPal I get the mobile version. While it has been a useful exercise in learning the ins and outs of some of the ‘biggest’ m-sites around, it’s actually really annoying. Update: I can now include WSJ.com (The Wall Street Journal) in this list since I can only see the mobile version of that site!

These sites obviously use some sort of user agent detection, but as far as I can tell my browser is reporting itself as it should be. I’ve tried several different user agent plugins to force it to report itself as Firefox for Windows, but it makes no difference. I’ve cleared all cookies, no effect.

The only other clue I have is that this all started happening after I used the .mobi emulator to test a few mobile websites. The emulator is just a Java applet, from memory, so it shouldn’t have such a lasting effect. Could it have somehow corrupted my browser?

So I hereby envoke the lazy web…does anyone know how to fix this? Please help :)

(yes I could just reinstall the browser but that’s no fun, and might not fix this issue anyway)

So many people have extracted lessons from Gordon Ramsay’s style, from management to consulting (for instance there’s me, Ruth, Donna, Craig and even The Australian) that it’s becoming boring. He’s obviously good value, but I’m now looking elsewhere for analogies.

Sticking to the reality TV theme, though unintentional, bears much fruit and I can’t think of any better example than Trinny and Susannah. I think they are brilliant at what they do, without having to drop the F-bomb every few seconds (don’t get me wrong I don’t mind Gordon’s profanity but it does make him less accessible).

I first happened across Trinny and Susannah (T&S) in their UK show and series of books “What Not to Wear”, where they gave ordinary people fashion tips tailored to their body-shape, lifestyle and budget. For those of you not familiar with the duo, this isn’t your typical fashionistas spouting on about “What’s hot this season, darling”, it’s honest and useful advice for real people. And it goes much deeper than vanity, most often the cause of the problems they solve are the emotional hang-ups we all have inside. They make people feel good about themselves and accept who they are.

Since then they have continued to help people across several more TV series, as well as across the globe. Theirs is an excellent model for consultants, with core traits such as:

• Working as a pair, they balance each other out
• Breaking it down into simple rules we can understand
• By exposing themselves, literally and figuratively, they foster trust and empathy
• A true desire to help others
• Ruthlessly forward, there’s no room for shyness, excuses, self-denial or apathy
• A simple process: research, understand, extract, boil down, try, validate, rollout

The process I speak of in the last point, was well documented in the more recent series “Trinny and Susannah Undress…”, where the girls showed that their approach can scale too. Doing some very ethnographic-like formative research around a particular problem, they extract insight and develop their rules, followed by application of the results to thousands of people. A series of huge publicity stunts for the BBC, no doubt, but this is consulting on a level rarely seen (and with genuine results).

I think possibly the most interesting aspect of their approach is the development of rules. This is what makes their work so accessible; anyone can get simple and straight-talking advice that suits them. What colour combinations go together? What choice of clothing hides this, or accentuates that? What colours go well with my complexion?

I’ve even done this myself, making use of the rules for guys-without-six-pack-abs and it works. In fact T&S’s work with men is probably the best of all, because if there is anyone who needs simple rules to supplement bugger-all fashion sense it’s the male population.

TiVo will change the way you watch TV. Unless you’ve already owned a DVR, in which case you might not be that impressed.

Our living room is now home to a TiVo HD DVR after we upgraded from our old Humax PVR 8000T. Having played with the TiVo for a few days now, I’ve concluded a few things. Firstly, there is not much on offer on the HD channels, but secondly and more importantly, there are some flaws with the TiVo.

• It’s too polite, always asking you to confirm actions. A task that might involve one press of a button (like stopping recording) takes two or three. I can’t really speak for other devices, but the Humax is easier to use. Of course we are more used to what we know, but the Humax is a simpler device with a better remote control and more efficient actions.
• It’s always on and you can’t turn it off. I don’t know what the TiVo consumes in terms of power, but it must do so 24×7.
• There’s no volume control in terms of the audio output from the unit. You can set the remote control to set the volume on the TV, but that means controlling two devices with one remote and thus pointing it in two different places. Not a huge issue, I suppose.
• There’s no clock on the front panel. This may not be a big deal for many people, but the Humax had a digital clock on the front that was always on and it became very convenient.
• There’s quite a bit of screen flicker when the program resolution changes. For example a program is broadcast in full HD (1080i) but then you change channels to a SD broadcast, if the TiVo is in certain modes, the screen will flicker or go blank for a moment whilst it changes over. (We solve this by having a fixed output of 720p since our current TV doesn’t do 1080i anyway).
• Similarly, the volume fluctuates. At first I thought this was due to the change over between the 5.1 channel audio in HD programming and the 2 channel stereo of SD programming, but it happens during programs. Could be the TV but it’s never done that before.
• It’s a bit big and ugly, the thing looks more like a small desktop PC rather than a slick piece of entertainment kit. The Humax on the other hand is a nice slim, silver and mirror unit.

On the positive side, and the main reason I chose the TiVo over other choices, is the “Find Programs” functionality:

• Search by title allows you to choose a show by name and it will be recorded, without really having to worry about channel, date, time, duration.
• Wishlist Search allows you to find shows by searching for actor, category or general keyword. Doesn’t sound like much in this Web 2.0 age, but it’s pretty good for TV.
• Season Pass allows you to select a show and record all instances of it automatically, week after week or whatever frequency it’s on. If it changes timeslot or day (even channel?) it will still be recorded.
• TiVo Suggestions allows you to rate shows you watch or record using a thumbs up/down system and based on this other shows you might like are suggested.

Browsing what’s on all channels using the “Guide” button is also well done; it’s similar to Foxtel and better than the Humax. Eventually we’ll run out of space, so being able to pull content off onto a computer and burn it or store it is a great feature, or we can extend the TiVo’s capacity via an external eSata disk (strangely you can use USB disks even though there are two USB ports).

So why the upgrade? The Humax did change the way we watch TV, and we quickly got used to being able to pause TV—say if your wee baby starts crying and you don’t want to miss that all important cliffhanger ending!—or rewinding a bit to watch something again. And of course, just like VCRs before them, Digital Video Recorders are great for recording your favourite shows (but unlike a VCR most DVRs are pretty easy to program).

But almost as quickly as we got to like the Humax, we started to outgrow it. When we bought it, there were a few twin-tuner models around, but they were very expensive and we reasoned that the need for two tuners would rarely come up. How wrong we were. We constantly ran into situations where we wanted to record something on one channel and watch/record something on another channel. It was really frustrating to have to switch to the TV’s analogue tuner to watch the other channel and to not be able to record it. There was also quite a lot of deleting shows from our almost full hard disk, as we couldn’t get any content off the device.

So it was time to upgrade, something which I’ve rarely had a genuine need to do. Of course there are times when you upgrade because you want a bigger/better/newer model but this was something we use a lot and there was a real unmet need. Thus, top of the wish-list was twin-tuners and the ability to get content off (either via USB or network). There have also been lots of ads for the High Definition channels from the free-to-air networks, so that was something we thought we should put on the list too.

What to buy? Well of course there was Topfield, which from the early days of DVRs was a leading name with features and price far better than what the usual brands offer. In recent years they have copped a bit of criticism for bugs but the new TF7100HDPVRt was definitely a contender. It’s got a big drive, full twin-tuner capability and wifi networking. Combined with Ice TV you get the ability to record shows based on their name, rather than a fixed date/time/duration. You see, the problem with a VCR-style scheduled recording is that shows run over time, under time and get moved between timeslots and even days. So your scheduled recordings can miss the start, end or entire length of the show you wanted. By taking ‘up to date’ programming data from the networks, the Ice TV service provides selected DVRs with a proper EPG (Electronic Program Guide) that you can actually use, as opposed to the guides actually published/broadcast by the networks which are inaccurate and unreliable.

There is of course another player who is renowned for this human friendly recording, the US smash-hit TiVo, which until now was not officially available in Australia. Their latest generation DVR has similar features to the Topfield, is similarly priced but with a reputation for usability. Even though the on-paper comparison might seem to suggest the Topfield 7100 is a better bet (bigger hard disk, longer ‘live pause’, full twin-tuner features) I decided on the TiVo pretty much based on the virtues of its integrated EPG service, which downloads current programming data from the web. The proposition is that, as part of the deal with the 7 network that brought TiVo to Australia, the programming data will be more accurate. So far it seems to be.

Overall, I am happy with the TiVo. It performs the main function we bought it for (recording or watching multiple channels simultaneously) and the “Find Programs” features are really worth shouting about—would help if there was more quality content on free-to-air though! But there are definitely areas for improvement.

And I will have to never ever look at that new Topfield lest I regret my decision :)

OK enough is enough. I have finally ditched my Maxtor Shared Storage II NAS drive which I had so much trouble with. I was sick of it screwing up, but mostly I was sick of not being confident that my data was secure.

So today, after getting a refund for the Maxtor, I went and bought an Apple Time Capsule (500GB) from the new Apple Store in Sydney. (As an aside isn’t it weird how you can walk out of there with an item and no receipt—because I asked for it to be emailed to me instead—and nobody stops to question you?)

I’ve read lots of negative reviews from disapointed customers, but I reckon it’s the Time Machine backup functionality that most people are having trouble. For what I need it for, I think the Time Capsule (TC) will be just fine. Not only do I get what I hope will be a more reliable piece of network storage but I get Wifi “n” and gigabit ethernet, and my Macs should talk to it nicely (something the Maxtor and my old wifi router never did that well).

And so it was, pumped up on cold and flu drugs, I sat down this afternoon with my new toy, hoping for a pleasant setup experience. Setting up the TC itself was easy, and getting the machines to see and use the network disk was straightforward too. However when it came to getting the router to work with my ADSL modem, a few issues popped up. I remembered how I hated getting my old wireless router (Netgear WGR614v4) to talk to the modem (D-Link 300G+). But with some time and experimentation I found that putting the modem into bridge mode and giving my PPPoE details to the TC, gets it working nicely.

Now I just need to get my archives files onto the TC, not such an easy task when it’s a 200GB zip file. I’ll figure out some way.

I read with interest, some of the great ideas in trendwatching.com’s Innovation Avalanche. As someone at work commented, there are definitely some services ripe for reproduction in other markets, for example:

Parkingspots.com connects those who have parking spots to rent out with those who need them on a monthly basis…[full article]

Though more ‘intention economy’ than crowd power, Dutch ING Bank’s WoonWaarUWilt (“LiveWhereYouWant”) initiative is too much fun to not include: the service lets clients make an offer on houses that aren’t on the market, but that they’d love to own…[full article]

…Located in the Britomart (a public transport hub) in Auckland, BikeCentral offers bicycling enthusiasts and commuters a welcoming place to park their bikes and transition into the next part of their day. In addition to safe, secure bicycle parking, BikeCentral members have access to private lockers, showers and changing areas. Coffee, fresh food and free wireless internet are also available, as are rental bicycles and an on-site repair service for minor repairs…[full article]

The authors top and tail the list of ideas with their own editorial on subjects such as coming up with your own innovative ideas and how to make money off those in the list. Good stuff.

Despite the great ideas discussed in this article, I must say I don’t like trendwatching’s design. The graphics are too big and poorly coupled to the text—it’s actually difficult to tell which belongs with which—and overall it’s quite hard to scan because there are no headings for each of the 41 innovation ideas. The overly large headings that pepper the page, such as “hyperlocal” and “tryvertising”, add to the confusion because it’s not clear that these are actually category headings (for lack of a better word) that group together the ideas. A clearer content, and visual, hierarchy would be good.

To my surprise, there is some good TV to be found later at night. Two programs I have discovered recently are:

• Balls of Steel (Tuesday 10:30pm, Channel 9) – I know it’s old but it can be hilarious at times. I particularly like “Neg’s Urban Sports” and “The Pain Men” (I wish they aired their show Dirty Sanchez in Australia).
• Kung Faux (Monday 10:00pm, ABC2) – This is an awesome collection of 70′s kung-fu movies dubbed over with funky voices and put to modern break-beats and house. Think “Bargearse” from The Late Show days. Very cool.

The time has come for a change, as if I haven’t had enough change lately. But this change is a career change, and it is with some sadness that I announce this is my last week at Step Two Designs.

While it has been quite an experience, it is time to move on and experience something else. My immediate move will be to join the team at News Digital Media. I’m looking forward to it, especially to the change in pace and surroundings, and working with a great bunch of people. In many ways it will be a return to the sort of environment I had worked in for many years prior to coming to Step Two.

So, next after Step Two—the third step as it were—is News. I start next Monday and I can’t imagine it will be long before I’m rubbing shoulders with uncle Rupert himself. You don’t suppose he monitors the blogosphere do you? :)

Well the title of this post says it all really. Regular readers may remember my comments on protecting the digital home, regarding my efforts to find a NAS solution for my home Mac network. Ironically, my chosen solution did little to live up to the title of that blog post, because the Maxtor Shared Storage II drive I purchased didn’t protect me at all.

(more…)

OK, I won’t be coy like most people who are tagged by this viral meme phenomenon :) I’ve been waiting for someone to tag me, gosh darn it! So thank you, thank you, thank you to Liesa for making my day.

Now, the obligatory recital of the rules:

• Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves
• People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules
• At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names
• Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog

Easy peasy, right? hmm no not really. So eight things you might not know about me:

1. I’m a big car fan. I love everything about cars, owning, driving and drooling over them. I try not to let it go to my head most times since it’s an expensive hobby to have. My last car (my WRX) cost me a lot, in many ways. But I oh so loved driving it…rather too rapidly I must admit. My wife almost convinced me to try out for the host of the local version of Top Gear, which I would have loved but I don’t think I’d be a good TV presenter.
2. I’m a big Prince fan. I have all his albums (yes, even the weird ones). Actually, I’ve got fairly eclectic musical tastes; metal, funk, hip-hop, rock, ska, country, blues, soul. About the only musical styles I don’t like are classical, opera, chick-rock and that rubbish pop-trying-to-be-punk that is so popular at the moment.
3. I’m so looking forward to being a father. It may be some form of sympathy cluckiness that rubbed off from my wife, but nothing will make me happier than to welcome our first baby into the world in a few weeks.
4. I can talk a lot. On my school report cards, teachers would comment on how quiet I was, something my parents couldn’t understand: they couldn’t shut me up at home. To this day, my wife says I have verbal diarrhoea.
5. I wanted to be a designer (industrial or graphic). But towards the end of school I got distracted by the cult of getting the best marks (the influence of tragically upwardly-mobile friends) and focused on maths and science. I should have continued at subjects such as art and technical drawing, which I was good at. This sometimes shines through in my obsession with presentation over substance. Something I won’t let my kids do: forget what they are passionate about.
6. I once learned to fly (in a plane not in my head). In fact I grew up around aircraft because my dad was into it, and cars, so it was only natural to give it a go. Didn’t really like the rules and regulations involved with day-to-day aviation—and I’m terrified of heights, so probably for the best I gave it up.
7. I have a habit of suddenly taking to things I previously disliked with a passion. For example, beer, coffee, Apple Macs, tuna, Facebook. Not sure why this is, perhaps I don’t like being ‘with the crowd’ so I wait until later. I’m a late adopter (but I am a sneezer…what do you make of that Seth?).
8. My favourite movies are Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Snatch, High Fidelity, Sean of the Dead, The Abyss, Evil Dead 2, Ocean’s Eleven and Aliens. Generally I like comedies and science fiction. I am a bit of a Treckie too, but my wife is a bigger one!

A dubious selection of facts to be sure, but now for the spreading of the virus! (well something has to fill the void before 28 Months Later). So, Martyn, Peter, Cairo, Matt, Chris, Stephen, David and Joel…consider yourselves tagged. And I would have tagged Kieran, but he doesn’t have a blog per se (but he does have a knack for short stories).