Thunderbirds are go!
Finally! This site’s been down for like a month, because my host upgraded to the new version of php. I have no idea what went wrong. At first I assumed it was related to the database, because the site was still up. Only the content was gone, i.e. posts and pages.
I contacted One.com (the host) who have been somewhat helpful, although in the end I found a solution on my own. I was getting error related to plugins and / or various php-stuff. Even after I deleted all the plugins. It turns out there is a certain situation in which they don’t deactivate in the database. This post helped me, it’s on Wordpress.org.
Anyway, it seems everything is back to normal. I have to reinstall all my plugins, which sucks, but better than losing all the content. One will be upgrading the server that my other site pcblog.dk is on next week. I really hope it goes better, I have years worth of content on that site!
The error was the following, for those interested (at least it was some of the time):
wp-includes/plugin.php on line 166
Doctor Who Season 5 Trailer
I have a soft spot for Doctor Who. I don't know why, it's just so ... English. I'm happy to say that the second part of the The End of Time special was a lot better than part one. Lots of nerdy details. Tennant will be missed. Here's the trailer for season 5 with Matt Smith to keep people tied over. Looks good, slightly more serious?
A Few Cool Augmented Reality Apps
I've been talking a lot about augmented (AR) reality lately. Partly because I'm a technology geek, but more importantly because I feel it has the potential to become an integrated part of our lives. Maybe not any minute now, but it’s slowly creeping in on us. There are many more or less useful apps in the iPhone’s App Store now and I’ve collected a few of them here. Some are fun, some impressive and some show promise.
NearestWiki
The first augmented reality app I picked up was NearestWiki and I still find it to be one of the best to show newcomers. It doesn’t mess around with a lot of extra features and it does what it says on the tin.
It brings in content from Wikipedia and overlays in onto the “real world” through your phone’s camera. Very clever and potentially expandable (it’s Wikipedia, duh). I know Wikitude and Layar etc. get more attention, but I feel this one is better. Less clutter.
TAT Augmented ID (Polar Rose facial recognition)
This one is still a concept, but show you what NearestWiki could potentially become. It uses the camera again (as do all these apps) but is designed for recognizing people, not things. Via Polar Rose (facial recognition, cool stuff, check it out) it would identify you and display info you decide near you corporeal form. Great for work, but also for those socially awkward “I seem to have forgotten your name” moments.
WhereMark
Not out yet and there are probably others, but this is the one I stumbled upon. Reminds me of most of the other “browser” type apps, but promises to be readily able to be edited on the go. I.e. I could “tag” my house and leave a nice big floating bubble there for everyone to see. This obviously needs “the people” to create content, but image walking in the woods, finding a ruin and pulling up info via your phone, because someone already tagged that location and ruin.
Twin Towers Wikitude Extension
Yes, I know, potentially touchy subject, but look past the current use. Images walking through Rome and being able to overlay the ancient version of the city. Or how about London, Berlin, Athens... You get the idea.
NearestSubway
This is out in multiple versions. Basically gives you x-ray vision, letting you see the subway beneath you, distance to the nearest station etc..
Car Finder
This I have missed! Tag the location of your car when you park in those giant car parks, and this app will guide you back to you vehicle. Simple, but such a good idea.
What's Your Fave?
I'm sure there are tons of other greats AR apps out there. If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them ...
Don’t Block Your Users
Seriously. I mean, this isn’t rocket science. If you are the publisher of any form of content you shouldn’t be making people work to access it.
I’m talking about the “largest european newspaper” (Bild.de) not allowing iPhone users to access their website via the phone’s Safari browser. Lunacy, you say, yes, but there is a certain amount of logic behind it. You see, they have an iPhone app out - that you have to pay for.
While I know newspapers are struggling to find new revenue streams, and they should be applauded for it, they shouldn’t force people’s hands like this. It’s just not very polite. I always have problems when I’m forced to do anything. Install toolbars, autotweet junk etc., nobody likes not have the choice. Forcing people to buy an app to read your newspapers just sounds like a stupid idea all round.
I don’t read that newspaper (it’s german) but they’d better be ready for some backlash. If there’s no backlash Germany needs to get their protesting hats out of the closet...
Other stupid examples of blocking are the lack of BBC iPlayer on certain mobile tariffs in the UK. Why do I have to be on wifi to watch some low bandwidth flash video? (Because they are stingy with their bandwidth.)
And why can’t I download large files on my iPhone via iTunes when I’m on the go? No large podcasts, which basically means no video podcasts before you are on wifi again. (Same reason as above, I suppose).
Anyway, rant over. I don’t like it when people block (access to) content.
Rebel!
Why Twitter is Releveant for Journos
Stumbled upon this pretty good video from CNN on why Twitter is relevant for journalists.
So What IS Google Wave?
No, I didn't get in to the beta, but here's a good, if goofy, video by the devs. It actually shows what Wave is all about.
Augmented Reality for the Masses
AR for the masses is coming, point in case being NearestWiki for the iPhone 3Gs. I taped a quick video, which is viewable below. It explains it fairly well. While AR is still in the "gimmick" fase it has huge potential.
Karen26 Looking For a Guy She Slept With
I've blogged my thoughts on the recent Karen26 debacle on my Danish blog here: http://pcblog.dk/2009/09/13/danish-mother-seeking-mediestunt-fra-visitdenmark/
It's in Danish, but there's a Google Translate link there!
100 Years of Special Effects
A really amazing Youtube clip displaying 100 years of special effects on the big screen. This is why the internet is the greatest awesomeness ever.
Snow Leopard First Impressions
I’ve been running Snow Leopard for a (very) short while now, and I’d thought I’d write down my first impressions.
The install process was not good enough. I may be cursed with knowledge but not showing me if I’m upgrading or clean installing is not okay. I get that most people will upgrade and could be confused by the options, but then make an option to go “pro” or something.
I rebooted from the DVD and thought I was doing a clean install. Turns out it was an upgrade. Clean install is reachable from Disc Utility in the Install Menu. To be fair the upgrade is running well at the moment, I just would have liked to have a fresh install to clear up some other niggles with my current system. Now I probably won’t get around to it any time soon, because I am lazy. So there. Install said it would take about 45 mins, took about 1 hour.
Finder is quicker now, but still arranged stupidly (Sort By Kind etc.). Generally seems ... Well, snappier.
Expose is better when selecting windows, but the actual windows are all smaller. They are arranged in a tighter grid, which means they end up being smaller. Not a fan. See picture (Screenshot procedure has changed too, no longer called "Picture 1" etc., see image title.)
Quicktime, meh, who cares. Same as before and I use VLC anyway.
App launching seems about the same. Firefox seems to be experiencing slow downs. Probably not OSX’s fault. Latest FF hasn’t been treating me well, particularly in Windows 7. But that’s for another post.
Bonus: I can now close Mail again. Had a wierd bug before in which I couldn’t shut it down without using a Force Quit.
Next few days will tell if the upgrade is worth it - but at 229 kr. it can't be all wrong...