*updated video, longer and with some cool 2 wheel action in a lorry
I was also very pleased to get some decent times in
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Rallytastic, Dirt on the xbox 360
I have been playing colin mcrea Dirt on the 360. It is very good! A whole heap of things to try, still though the real life rally stages in the scooby are the best
*updated video, longer and with some cool 2 wheel action in a lorry
I was also very pleased to get some decent times in
*updated video, longer and with some cool 2 wheel action in a lorry
I was also very pleased to get some decent times in
Summer Fair - Odd Music
At the predlets preschool summer fair the band were playing dueling banjos, an odd choice but good fun.
Media Flower
I love this picture that Eric Rice/Spin Martin has posted on Flickr.
The centre of the media flower is where people need to be.
Web 2 is Web do :-)
Wii usability wow
Any doubts about just how clever the wii interface is. Sophie(4) got par on her first go at wii golf. Even I was amazed, as I took about 12 to get around first hole
Wii tastic
Our US wii's arrived a peoples choice award from the virtual universe community.
Being an import has its challenges, power, region lockout, hard to buy online wii points.
But its the thought that counts, and as it is the console i failed to buy on launch day, having got the others, it is very special to me.
Friday, June 15, 2007
More fun with the mobile
Out in the woods last weekend I took a video of the forest on my N95.
Whilst strolling around I then did an automatic "muvee" where the phone edits the video, adds some sound and makes it a little mini 3gp movie for sending.
I used a Cubism style and ended up making it a bit like predator vision :-)
Then I have just had the fun of trying to get a decent editor to deal with the original mp4. As Vista and windows and Nokia don't want to play nice with it.
The AVS video editor handled it well, though it claims to handle FLV's (from ustream) but I cant seem to get that working
Whilst strolling around I then did an automatic "muvee" where the phone edits the video, adds some sound and makes it a little mini 3gp movie for sending.
I used a Cubism style and ended up making it a bit like predator vision :-)
Then I have just had the fun of trying to get a decent editor to deal with the original mp4. As Vista and windows and Nokia don't want to play nice with it.
The AVS video editor handled it well, though it claims to handle FLV's (from ustream) but I cant seem to get that working
Running live and running scared in Second Life at Wimbledon
Yesterday a team of us ran a mixed mode live event at Wimbledon. It was an amazing set of thigns we were trying to mesh together, with real people, press, telephones second life and live webcasting and recording of audio and photography.
Between Roo, Andy, Mark and I we managed to hit all the areas we wanted to hit. It was an amazing bit of teamwork for teh entire day. That teamwork and trust does nto come easy, Roo and I were in the main roon Andy and Mark we in a remote room.
Also though we had amazing support and trust from the attendees for teh press conference and the IBM and Text 100 team there. The press conference had been all arranged by Bill and Karolina, and Chris (the project director for IBM at Wimbledon) put a great deal of faith in us 4 mad SL/Web2.0 crew to work this.
Picture by Roo @ Flickr
The notion of a live event with RL speakers represented in SL we had observed was one that kind of works, but needed something else. We had Ian, Anne and Ivan providing their insight, via a telephone conference. They were not all going to be able to drive the Second Life interaction, so their words were transcribed and actions puppeteered into SL by Andy and Mark, who were listening to the conference.
Roo, and to some extent me, we in SL as ourselves to act as facilitators, back channels conversationalists and reporters on the event.
I was attempting a ustream, with my video cam pointed at my screen. It became very apparent that to run a camera and provide a live feed is also a puppeteer mode of operation and makes it much harder to enagage with SL audience with the same depth I would normally.
We ran 3 events, including one aimed at IBMers. We had all sort of people turn up aswell due to the map green dot effect.
I was a little bit annoyed at the number of times I lost SL, my laptop either crashing or SL dying, and I am also getting some very weird behaviour with my ctrl alt zoom on that machine (all of which made camera work a bit rough)
I am trying to edit up some of the video as I recorded a lot on ustream, but editing FLV files seems to be a little tricky with the application I have at the moment!
Anyway, I am really proud of everyone for both doing this and taking the risk. WE all learned a whole lot, which is a feature of the metaverse and of the rise of Web 2.0. You get to learn by doing, everything is live all the time.
Between Roo, Andy, Mark and I we managed to hit all the areas we wanted to hit. It was an amazing bit of teamwork for teh entire day. That teamwork and trust does nto come easy, Roo and I were in the main roon Andy and Mark we in a remote room.
Also though we had amazing support and trust from the attendees for teh press conference and the IBM and Text 100 team there. The press conference had been all arranged by Bill and Karolina, and Chris (the project director for IBM at Wimbledon) put a great deal of faith in us 4 mad SL/Web2.0 crew to work this.
Picture by Roo @ Flickr
The notion of a live event with RL speakers represented in SL we had observed was one that kind of works, but needed something else. We had Ian, Anne and Ivan providing their insight, via a telephone conference. They were not all going to be able to drive the Second Life interaction, so their words were transcribed and actions puppeteered into SL by Andy and Mark, who were listening to the conference.
Roo, and to some extent me, we in SL as ourselves to act as facilitators, back channels conversationalists and reporters on the event.
I was attempting a ustream, with my video cam pointed at my screen. It became very apparent that to run a camera and provide a live feed is also a puppeteer mode of operation and makes it much harder to enagage with SL audience with the same depth I would normally.
We ran 3 events, including one aimed at IBMers. We had all sort of people turn up aswell due to the map green dot effect.
I was a little bit annoyed at the number of times I lost SL, my laptop either crashing or SL dying, and I am also getting some very weird behaviour with my ctrl alt zoom on that machine (all of which made camera work a bit rough)
I am trying to edit up some of the video as I recorded a lot on ustream, but editing FLV files seems to be a little tricky with the application I have at the moment!
Anyway, I am really proud of everyone for both doing this and taking the risk. WE all learned a whole lot, which is a feature of the metaverse and of the rise of Web 2.0. You get to learn by doing, everything is live all the time.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Wimbledon second life
So I am on the wimbledon build on IBM 7, but watching me on a tv ad talking about the wimbledon build in Second Life.
I was also webcasting this to ustream aswell, all wheels within wheels :-)
Monday, June 11, 2007
Yet more media coverage
Ok, this is a minor virtual worlds media bit of coverage, but I was driving home at lunchtime and Edith's show on BBC radio 1 was all about virtual worlds, and a discussion. Initing people to say has it all gone too far, do we need social networking or should we just talk.
Normally I let these ones wash me by, but I heard some good discussions going on and equally the "saddo" and "no mates" and "if you have a good first life tou have no need for a second life. ha blooming ha not heard that one before.
So I pulled over, parked, took the keys out of the ignition as the law requires and texted to 81199.
Something along the lines of "Virtual worlds do not have to just be fantasy, they allow people to communicate and understand one another around the globe and that is a good thing. Ian from eightbar"
I got home, turned the main house DAB radio on and heard my comment read out :-) Jan missed it, so I hit rewind (as thats what the technology is for) and we laughed at hearing "ian from eightbar" and hopefully adding to a sensible argument.
So Radio 4(via tims book of the week) and Radio 1 via text in less than a week.
Maybe mrs serendipity is launching me to a media career :-)
Normally I let these ones wash me by, but I heard some good discussions going on and equally the "saddo" and "no mates" and "if you have a good first life tou have no need for a second life. ha blooming ha not heard that one before.
So I pulled over, parked, took the keys out of the ignition as the law requires and texted to 81199.
Something along the lines of "Virtual worlds do not have to just be fantasy, they allow people to communicate and understand one another around the globe and that is a good thing. Ian from eightbar"
I got home, turned the main house DAB radio on and heard my comment read out :-) Jan missed it, so I hit rewind (as thats what the technology is for) and we laughed at hearing "ian from eightbar" and hopefully adding to a sensible argument.
So Radio 4(via tims book of the week) and Radio 1 via text in less than a week.
Maybe mrs serendipity is launching me to a media career :-)
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Honda, F1, Our car from Alan day
We got back from a friends 4 years old birthday party and started to watch the Formula 1 race from canada on Sky +.
It was vyer amusing that Button's Honda did not get any drive off the grid. Given our recent hassle getting the FRV and the engine management chip being broken we can only assume that the Honda part has been removed from Jenson's car and is on its way to Alan Day honda for them to finally resolve our new car teething troubles :-)
It was vyer amusing that Button's Honda did not get any drive off the grid. Given our recent hassle getting the FRV and the engine management chip being broken we can only assume that the Honda part has been removed from Jenson's car and is on its way to Alan Day honda for them to finally resolve our new car teething troubles :-)
Saturday, June 09, 2007
I want one of these
On Jools Hollands show on the BBC last night Bjork was performing. A member of the band had a reacTable. I want one please !
Friday, June 08, 2007
Web 2 is Web Do!
Increasigly I am ending up talking with people who say things like "how can I get involved in....." or "We should get our people doing ...." or "we need to initiate a project and plan to do ....."
You can replace the dots with blog, wiki, podcast, second life or anything that is about user created content and self organizing groups.
I usually have to be a bit gentle, but the answer is just get on and start doing it.
How do you find out about blogs, well.... blog. You do not have to start with a lofty goal, massive investment, huge targets. You do have to start by doing.
So web 2 is web do.
The democratizing nature of it though can be a threat to a control structure. The need to direct and tell people what to do still is part of most groups. However, even in that structure it means that the person at the "top" needs to do it as much as the person at the "bottom". Leading by example. A bit scary for some people, but thats the world :-)
"Web 2 is Web do. " my gift for the day.
You can replace the dots with blog, wiki, podcast, second life or anything that is about user created content and self organizing groups.
I usually have to be a bit gentle, but the answer is just get on and start doing it.
How do you find out about blogs, well.... blog. You do not have to start with a lofty goal, massive investment, huge targets. You do have to start by doing.
So web 2 is web do.
The democratizing nature of it though can be a threat to a control structure. The need to direct and tell people what to do still is part of most groups. However, even in that structure it means that the person at the "top" needs to do it as much as the person at the "bottom". Leading by example. A bit scary for some people, but thats the world :-)
"Web 2 is Web do. " my gift for the day.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
A packed day
I nearly entitled this post "packing it in" but that may have cuase some confusion.
I am sure between us we will write some posts on eightbar.com but yesterday was insanely busy.
Roo got invited to a social media conference in London and I tagged along with him as we both needed to be in London that day anyway.
He did a superb job on stage, and rather embarrisingly name checked me duting his pitch. I was also busy contwitting or whatever twittering when at a conference needs to be called.
We also then rand an ad hoc session for about 40 people around metaverse, both Second Life and our internal IQ metaverse, the how, where, what etc.
Then it was off to see Mindcandy, the makers of perplexcity. Even though the ARG is on ice the cards are still going to be going. This ended up being a very wide conversation with a great bunch of people.
Finally the evening was spent at Tim Guests book launch at Rivers Run Red. Tim has written his book Second Live (check you local amazon for this).
This all seemed a little bit rock and roll. The fact we are in the book, as part of the corporate chapter, and eightbar made it even more interesting.
There was even some joking, or not, about some deal and some film rights. I have no idea if that was a wind up :-) It added to the memorable nature of the event.
Then back on the train, much discussion of history, future etc then I got back home to do baby Sam's midnight feed and then into bed.
So 6am to midnight yesterday was varied
I am sure between us we will write some posts on eightbar.com but yesterday was insanely busy.
Roo got invited to a social media conference in London and I tagged along with him as we both needed to be in London that day anyway.
He did a superb job on stage, and rather embarrisingly name checked me duting his pitch. I was also busy contwitting or whatever twittering when at a conference needs to be called.
We also then rand an ad hoc session for about 40 people around metaverse, both Second Life and our internal IQ metaverse, the how, where, what etc.
Then it was off to see Mindcandy, the makers of perplexcity. Even though the ARG is on ice the cards are still going to be going. This ended up being a very wide conversation with a great bunch of people.
Finally the evening was spent at Tim Guests book launch at Rivers Run Red. Tim has written his book Second Live (check you local amazon for this).
This all seemed a little bit rock and roll. The fact we are in the book, as part of the corporate chapter, and eightbar made it even more interesting.
There was even some joking, or not, about some deal and some film rights. I have no idea if that was a wind up :-) It added to the memorable nature of the event.
Then back on the train, much discussion of history, future etc then I got back home to do baby Sam's midnight feed and then into bed.
So 6am to midnight yesterday was varied
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Bikes that rock
Our next door neighbour had some visitors today. These two awesome bikes rolled up the drive. The one on the left is a complete custom build by its owner. Just look at the tyres on it.
The sound as they pulled away was incredible. It was great the kids were so interested so I could hang around and see the bikes without looking like too much of a geek with my camera phone.
More wheels within wheels, PS3/PSP connectivity over the web
Today, mainly because the Xbox360 is being repaired, I sparked up the PS3 and the PSP. The most recent updates on both these devices launched us into a world of interconnectedness.
Previously the remote play function allowed the humble PSP to act as the wireless user interface for the might of the PS3.
So, the PS3 did the rendering of things and sent screen updates over the local network to the PSP.
Now however, if both machines are signed onto the wide world interweb, anywhere, the PS3 will act as a server in remote play to the PSP. So you can 'securely' get at your content like photos and videos on the PS3 in your home with your remote PSP device.
Just to add to it, I took this picture using the N95, wirelessly pumped it to flickr. It is the PSP talking via the web to my PS3 rendering the excellent photo slideshow.
I then used the PSP to talk to the PS3 web browser and twittered the fact I was doing.
this.
So to be clear, or try to. My hand held PSP was on the external internet, talking into my house to my PS3 which was talking back out to the web and doing some interaction with the world.
The more connections and services that things can swap around responsibility with the easier it is to just do what you need to do when you need to do it.
Very clever face recognition? Its fun either way
As per usual we end up following one another around the wide world interweb.
I popped onto facebook to add some friend requests and saw that roo had posted a celebrity look alike photo face doodah from myheritage.com
I had to have a go. The results are a little surpring depending on the photo
I did try my AV in SL, but it was having trouble finding a face, and then when I manually set it it forgets to make a collage
I popped onto facebook to add some friend requests and saw that roo had posted a celebrity look alike photo face doodah from myheritage.com
I had to have a go. The results are a little surpring depending on the photo
I did try my AV in SL, but it was having trouble finding a face, and then when I manually set it it forgets to make a collage
Friday, June 01, 2007
More Perplexcity addicts
Jan's cousin Colin came to visit the last few days. Last year we had all spent an evening without the games consoles on whilst we showed him the season 1 perplexcity cards.
So now season 2 is here, and so we got him going on a new set of cards from Mindcandy.
He got quite a few silvers in his set of cards.
we also got talking about what he had heard happened at the Radio 1 big weekend, which is all part of some things talked about in the ARG part of perplexcity.
The big weekend last year was a watershed when Rivers Run Red ran the woodstock of the virtual world with the live event in Second Life.
Also perplexcity is using twitter now aswell :-)
Mark Wallace over at 3pointd has also made some references to perplexcity and ARG's
Now I really must get on and solve some cards, I just need this crazy personal appearance roller coaster to stop
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Dear Alan Day Honda portsmouth you are completely useless
Dear all, I know its a bit of a niche but Alan Day Honda in porstmouth should be avoided at all cost.
Why? Well the work customer and service really does not seem to be part of their make up.
We have bought an FRV from them. A nice car. BUT..... Aside for the incompetent sales approach and the weeks of unreturned calls once the car was ordered, that required me to go the garage and get in their face, they then found the car and handed it over.
Well, hand over, yes right. The car did not start, so they had to hit the battery with a booster. Great.... Understandable. Then when Jan drove off the entire car has no power, engine and warning lights on. It takes us 20 mintues to negotiate back to the garage.
Sudddenly many Honda people turn up "oh this never happens" like I give a toss! it is happening and it is happening to us. The car is borked.
So they whisk it of, the less than competent salesman who we had dealt with just cant seem to cope. The bosses whisk the car out back. Then return to say, well it needs an ECu reset, you know cars and computers and modern stuff.
Anyway, they give us the demo car, we drive home. They say "we will call you in the morning". This was a good test as they seldom call back. Why? becuase they really do not give a stuff about customers and service. Anyway, no big surprise NO CALL.
So they have the money, we have the demo car, they have the new one.
At 5pm we phone to say, "hey". They make some crap excuse "oh we cant mess with it its a new car we cant mess with it without approval and ...THEY HAVE NOT CALLED US BACK" no sh1t! Their track record of never calling us back must pervade the company.
Anyway. we have no new car, they are the worst firm I have EVER come across. No excuses, this is not isloted, this is not one or two forgivable cockups.
This is Alan Day honda porstmouth being the most useless set of people for talking to customers. So the car is broken, TALK TO US !
I cannot imagine ignoring a customer, or someone that I say "I will call you" However its not just the main salesman we talked to, its the sales manager too.
I am at a loss as to what to do.
Oh and when picking up the car I ask "So the mp3 connector then?" reply "Oh I am not the expert on that you need to talk to parts". I go and see parts "No mate no idea".
Ok so its only a 3.5mm jack but for gods sake its a 18K car. You must know about the damn wire.
Incompetent Alan Day honda. I dont care what they do now, they need to not have any customers any more they dont deserve them.
We are of course going to complain on the more official channels, we have a complete record of how completely rubbish they are, but ..... Damn this is the worst customer service I have ever received and I am a brit !
*****Update
We seem to be getting some movement now on getting the thing fixed, and also in getting told what is going on. After a call just now I am reassured that this will be rectified, of course there is a long way to go to build our customer satisfaction back up, and its not fixed until we have the car and it all working.
Apparenly part of the standard engine management system is not behaving and the part needs to be swapped out, which means it has to be delivered first. Also a slight delay because "Honda Technical" were out on training all day yesterday and ignoring dealers. So lets see. where this goes and if I morph this post title over time.
******* yet more updates
So they ordered the ECU "it will be here tuesday". Tuesday comes and its "Oh, Honda did not send it it was out of stock". So today (wednesday) the demo car was taken back, the ECU was ripped from it and popped into the "new" car. Jan came home somewhat deflated. Its a new car, but still the experience is not yet done.
For a start they need to put the new new part in if it ever turns up, they also did not do the simple thing of putting any mats in the car, and finally sticking the ipod lead in (which they will do later) is not a big deal its just a start. But then given the salesman pretended he was throwing in the scotchguarded seats when we bought the car only to find its standard, I am not surprised.
So The complete log has not been sent to Alan Day, we have a car. The matter is not closed. If they work VERY VERY hard, and I am not talking a £10 cable or £20 set of mats then I may archive this post. However, for now, this post still stands and service like this, when spending this amount of money is not acceptable.
Why? Well the work customer and service really does not seem to be part of their make up.
We have bought an FRV from them. A nice car. BUT..... Aside for the incompetent sales approach and the weeks of unreturned calls once the car was ordered, that required me to go the garage and get in their face, they then found the car and handed it over.
Well, hand over, yes right. The car did not start, so they had to hit the battery with a booster. Great.... Understandable. Then when Jan drove off the entire car has no power, engine and warning lights on. It takes us 20 mintues to negotiate back to the garage.
Sudddenly many Honda people turn up "oh this never happens" like I give a toss! it is happening and it is happening to us. The car is borked.
So they whisk it of, the less than competent salesman who we had dealt with just cant seem to cope. The bosses whisk the car out back. Then return to say, well it needs an ECu reset, you know cars and computers and modern stuff.
Anyway, they give us the demo car, we drive home. They say "we will call you in the morning". This was a good test as they seldom call back. Why? becuase they really do not give a stuff about customers and service. Anyway, no big surprise NO CALL.
So they have the money, we have the demo car, they have the new one.
At 5pm we phone to say, "hey". They make some crap excuse "oh we cant mess with it its a new car we cant mess with it without approval and ...THEY HAVE NOT CALLED US BACK" no sh1t! Their track record of never calling us back must pervade the company.
Anyway. we have no new car, they are the worst firm I have EVER come across. No excuses, this is not isloted, this is not one or two forgivable cockups.
This is Alan Day honda porstmouth being the most useless set of people for talking to customers. So the car is broken, TALK TO US !
I cannot imagine ignoring a customer, or someone that I say "I will call you" However its not just the main salesman we talked to, its the sales manager too.
I am at a loss as to what to do.
Oh and when picking up the car I ask "So the mp3 connector then?" reply "Oh I am not the expert on that you need to talk to parts". I go and see parts "No mate no idea".
Ok so its only a 3.5mm jack but for gods sake its a 18K car. You must know about the damn wire.
Incompetent Alan Day honda. I dont care what they do now, they need to not have any customers any more they dont deserve them.
We are of course going to complain on the more official channels, we have a complete record of how completely rubbish they are, but ..... Damn this is the worst customer service I have ever received and I am a brit !
*****Update
We seem to be getting some movement now on getting the thing fixed, and also in getting told what is going on. After a call just now I am reassured that this will be rectified, of course there is a long way to go to build our customer satisfaction back up, and its not fixed until we have the car and it all working.
Apparenly part of the standard engine management system is not behaving and the part needs to be swapped out, which means it has to be delivered first. Also a slight delay because "Honda Technical" were out on training all day yesterday and ignoring dealers. So lets see. where this goes and if I morph this post title over time.
******* yet more updates
So they ordered the ECU "it will be here tuesday". Tuesday comes and its "Oh, Honda did not send it it was out of stock". So today (wednesday) the demo car was taken back, the ECU was ripped from it and popped into the "new" car. Jan came home somewhat deflated. Its a new car, but still the experience is not yet done.
For a start they need to put the new new part in if it ever turns up, they also did not do the simple thing of putting any mats in the car, and finally sticking the ipod lead in (which they will do later) is not a big deal its just a start. But then given the salesman pretended he was throwing in the scotchguarded seats when we bought the car only to find its standard, I am not surprised.
So The complete log has not been sent to Alan Day, we have a car. The matter is not closed. If they work VERY VERY hard, and I am not talking a £10 cable or £20 set of mats then I may archive this post. However, for now, this post still stands and service like this, when spending this amount of money is not acceptable.
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