Probably only interesting to me
I have updated my bookmarklet that dynamically links to the what’s on page on the Eden Court website for the current day.
Drag the following link to your toolbar (you may get a warning regarding scripts) then just click to load. Eden Court - What's on Today
A few of the apps I have found to be most useful for my iPhone.
If you use Google’s Reader to keep up with RSS feeds from websites such as this one, then Byline is a great companion on your iPhone. It syncs perfectly, and allows for off-line reading of starred items by caching locally when you have an internet connection. This feature is also handy when travelling with an intermittent/slow connection. You can read the headlines, starring those you would like to read as you go, and these are downloaded in the background to read later.
Phantom Fish Website & iTunes Link to Byline
Quickly look up train times with this, but the best feature is live progress/arrivals/departures for trains — although it only seems to update when the train leaves a larger station. I have noticed recently that, surprisingly, it seems to be more accurate than the notices displayed on the platforms at stations.
iTunes link for National Rail Enquiries
All of the reviews from Empire magazine in your pocket, in an easily searchable database. Very handy if you’re swithering whether to see a film/what film to see. Plus, it doesn’t need an internet connection to view. One drawback is that it is a bit slow on my 3G iPhone, but not excessively so.
Empire website & iTunes link for Empire app
Listings on your iPhone. Simple idea, but useful. Although not brilliantly designed, or perhaps it just doesn’t match my mental model, but I sometimes struggle to get the view I want first time.
Some links I have previously posted on twitter, with a bit more comment. These relating to the recent announcement of Apple’s forthcoming iPad tablet.
The iPad isn’t a third device, but a third revolution
The iPad won’t kill the computer any more than the graphical user interface did away with the command line (it’s still there, remember?), but it is Apple saying once again that there’s a better way. Regardless of how many people buy an iPad, it’s not hard to look forward a few years and imagine a world where more and more people are interacting with technology in this new way. Remember: even if it often seems to do just the opposite, the ultimate goal of technology has always been to make life easier.
An in-depth and insightful discussion of the future of computing (in light of the iPad) by StevenF
In the Old World, computers are general purpose, do-it-all machines. They can do hundreds of thousands of different things, sometimes all at the same time. … but carry the burden of 30 years of rapid, unplanned change. Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X based computers all fall into this category.
In the New World, computers are task-centric. We are reading email, browsing the web, playing a game, but not all at once. Applications are sandboxed, then moats dug around the sandboxes, and then barbed wire placed around the moats. As a direct result, New World computers do not need virus scanners, their batteries last longer, and they rarely crash, but their users have lost a degree of freedom.
For now, I still need an “old world” computer to process photos, but perhaps we will get Lightroom, Photoshop, and Hugin apps for the iPad or similar someday.
Not strictly iPad, but related. Phil Gyford compares writing with pen and paper, a full-sized keyboard, Apple Newton, Palm Graffiti, Treo & iPhone. I found it interesting to see how the pen and paper does.
With the weather somewhat brighter than forecast this morning, I decided that I needed to get out in the hills. I had not planned anything, the higher tops are covered in deep snow, and a fresh dusting had fallen overnight with more forecast. Therefore I thought it wise to do something local and low.
I opted for two small hills at the southern end of Loch Duntelchaig — Tom Bailgeann and Creag nan Clag.
The hill has a radio mast at the top, and therefore a track leading up to it on the eastern side, which I followed. However this was pretty steep, and rather icy in places, which made for interesting walking. The track is not that prominent in places, so I ended up taking a bit of a detour, but after about 20 minutes walking I had reached the mast (464m). The views from the top were good, but not spectacular, although it offers an interesting perspective on Dores, the River Ness and Inverness, and south along Loch Ness.
Having moved the car round to the cattle grid to the north of this hill, I followed the fenceline up through the woods, then broke southwards up the shoulder of the hill, keeping away from the conglomerate cliffs. A steep ascent through thick heather, before an easier walk across the plateau to a small cairn (407m). By this time the sun was blasting down on me, as I walked southwards. There were good views across a frozen Loch Ruthven and towards the upper end of Strath Nairn, made more beautiful by the bright winter sun on the fresh covering of snow.
Total time taken: 1½ hours (~45 min ea.); Distance 4km; Height Climbed 380m; Photos Taken 25.
I received an email from O2 the other day proclaiming the following “Unlimited Data means no limits“ and then in small print at the bottom, noting that an “Excessive use policy and terms apply” which I would argue, and I’m sure you will agree, is a limit.
Not quite sure who dreamed up that wonderful piece of advertising.
