JasonMonty.com redesign

I have been planning a site revamp for quite some time now.  Until now my website has been via a wordpress install on a hosted server. It worked well for me and I am a wordpress fan. But it didn’t quite fit. I wanted a site design that could take advantage of my social media activities rather than just built around my occasional blog posts. I had installed a number of plugins to feed in my tweets and LastFM content – but they always felt bolted on.

By chance I was watching the TWIT networks ‘Net at Night’ show. The CEO from flavors.me was being interviewed. He was talking through flavors.me and I was immediately impressed. It was what I was after. Essentially, an elegant page (yes a single page) that pulls in APIs from all the major social networks out there (Twitter, Flickr etc..)

Within minutes I had created a site and this morning shifted my domain over. I’m someone who is obsessed with a clean design and I think the UI is far more elegant than anything I’ve designed before, plus it pulls in my social content.

I’m really happy with the result.

What’s on my iPhone: my vital apps

Following on from my recent post attacking my iPad, I thought I would write a post on my iPhone – and how/why it is the single most important weapon in my tech arsenal.

I rely on my iPhone 3GS daily for pretty much everything. It is invaluable daily and essential when traveling. The iOS 4 update a few months ago suddenly made it even more compelling.

I thought it would be interesting to share with readers what sits on my number 1 screen and why.

1) The folders

There’s no way I can go into detail about each individual folder, but logically each folder is labeled according to function. All the folders lucky enough to sit on screen 1 are there for a reason. I’ll start with highlighting a few apps that sit in the folders which I depend on. First up ‘SlingPlayer’. My client software into the world of SlingBox. Secondly , within my productivity folder  is a scanning app known as Jot Note Scanner . Essentially, a tool that enables me to scan in any document (via the camera and the clever software) and upload to a number of cloud services. I have found this a vital workflow app and I use it daily to throw documents into my Evernote account. It pretty much handles all documents from images to receipts.

2) Apps (outside the folders)

Basically, all the apps that sit outside my folders are there for a reason. I depend on them constantly. Mail, email – obviously. Messages, SMS messages – obviously.

What’sApp is an incredible app. It enables you to SMS/picture message friends using the application. It’s also cross platform, working on Blackberry and at beta stage on Symbian. This also completely eliminated the need to send out pricey SMS messages to friends and family overseas.

Next up is Evernote . I upgraded to the premium service – so I can access my notes offline (great when traveling or without access to the web). The evernote concept is basically cloud computing. However, through its multi-platform applications it means you are never far away from your data. So for example, stuff I throw into it from my iPhone syncs up with their cloud service and is available on my other computers instantly.

3) The dock

Moving further down into the dock you will see the phone app (although these days I hardly use it). I pretty much use Twitter exclusively as my social network of choice – so the Twitter app was a no brainer. Skype is there too. I have posted a number of times concerning Skype. So no need to say anymore. However, I will add that iOS4 has really transformed my use of Skype. Essentially, I leave it on 24/7 (battery permitting). A critical app for me – given I am overseas. Not only does it eliminate the need to use the landline for calls – but I have the SkypeIn package. I still cannot believe that for around £4 per month, I get a London telephone number and can make unlimited calls to UK landlines.

4) Other contenders

Multi-tasking has also helped in quickly accessing other apps which I frequently use. One of those apps I use daily is TuneIn Radio .  I love radio, and have tested most of the radio apps in the Apps Store. However, this is the one I always return to. Not only does it have an elegant user interface – but accessing global radio stations is simple. The ability to schedule alarms and record shows also make this a killer app for me.

It also goes without saying that I still use the default iPod app. I consume all my podcasts, music and  AudioBooks via the app. However, I still maintain that Apple need to improve this key app. When traveling (without a laptop) keeping up to speed with my favourite podcasts is not easy. What Apple need to do is provide a simple way of automating podcast updates through this app. This is a big frustration for me – and I think Apple need to do something major to move us away from the tethered sync and go approach.

Also worth plugging the Kindle App too. I don’t read as much as I should. But being able to purchase Kindle books via Amazon and have them auto-sync to my iPhone and iPad is amazing. Sure, Apples’ iBook store can do something similar. But I feel much more comfortable with buying books through Amazon. It gives me more flexibility should I ever decide to ditch the iPad and get a Kindle 3 .

Last up I wanted to mention the travel folder I have. I don’t use this folder daily, but some of the apps in there are worth mentioning. First up is the Tripit app. When traveling I simply forward on travel reservations etc.. to my tripit account and they appear in this application in an elegant itinerary format. Second up, is Navigon . In my view this sat-nav app has the edge over  Tomtom. I use it when I’m back in the UK.

As much as I am frustrated with Apple these days, I have to give them full credit for the iPhone. I have been a user since the second generation, 3G and still enjoying it as much as I did when I first got it.  I have toyed with ditching the platform for a decent Android phone. But, until Android scales up the quality of its Market Place apps, I cannot see myself going anywhere else (except the iPhone 4 of course).

Apple – I am no longer a fan boy

I recently undertook an experiment.

I was curious to see if my iPad (32GB 3G model) could replace my laptop for a 2 week holiday. On paper it was promising. The device is light, portable and packed full of apps. Compared to a clunky  laptop – I was hoping it would give me access to everything I needed , from content to cloud data. I was wrong. Very wrong.

On a positive note, the iPad was portable. I did not need to carry my regular ruck-sack. Instead opting for a small ‘man bag’, which the iPad neatly sat in. This made traveling a lot easier and moving around airports was liberating. But that was it. The rest of the experience was frustrating. Here’s why:

1) Typing

I was on holiday and did not need to type many emails etc… However, when I did I found the virtual keyboard clunky and awkward. It was not neccessarily the UI that was the problem. Rather the size of the iPad made any extended use of the keyboard uncomfortable. Positioning of the iPad was  a challenge. Should I rest it on my lap? Or stand it up in the case and type? Either way did not work.

I gave up – and resorted to using my iPhone to respond to emails etc..

2) Multi-tasking

When I’m on a laptop, like most people (or perhaps just geeks), I cycle through several applications without even thinking. I often have several applications open such as an email client , an RSS reader and media etc… I found myself having to ‘think’ when on my iPad. Switching applications , put simply hampered my productivity . Listening to the radio and responding to an email……the most basic of tasks. Forget it.

I switched to my iPhone.

3) Music

I picked up a music CD and wanted to listen to it. Impossible. Absolutely no chance  of getting it onto my iPad (unless I docked it with my laptop).

4) Flash

I wanted to access a website with flash video. No chance. I gave up and used the wife’s laptop.

5) Safari

My cousin wanted to access a finance website. Sorry – not compatible with the browser. Do I get a choice of browser on my iPad – no chance.

6) Podcasts

Despite my travels – I still keep in touch with my regular list of podcasts. It is perhaps one of the most frustrating features of iOS 3 / 4 that there is no way of automatically downloading podcast feeds. I had to manually download each of my 7 favourite weekly shows…..

7) Photographs

I had taken well over 100 photographs. Sure I could import them into my iPad (thanks to the Apple USB adaptor I bought) , but I couldn’t easily upload them all into the cloud. To make matters worse, I simply wanted to upload them to my Mobile Me account . (How ironic given that Mobile Me is an Apple service).

In short I was beyond disappointed. I was bloody frustrated. Essentially, the iPad was useless. I do not think that any of the above activities are unusally geeky. They are all pretty standard for any user. There was nothing I could do on my iPad that that I couldn’t do on my iPhone 3GS. In fact, I could do more on my iPhone thanks to iOS 4 and the multi-tasking.

It was a rude awakening. It also got me thinking about the future of Apple. Patents for touch screen iMacs, rumours of an iTV running iOS apps …..There’s a trend and it’s pointing towards their version of the internet. I feel more than uncomfortable by this.

I admit I was an Apple fan. They make outstanding products. But my admiration came off the back of OS X and the fact that it is UNIX based and still (just about) the best OS out there. But all the signs are pointing towards a shift to iOS devices. They are simply toys which water down the open internet and cripple functionality for ‘user experience’ and form factor. The iPad is a shinning example of this.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not switching to a new platform in some form of protest. That would be pointless and expensive. Besides,  my iPhone 3Gs is an essential tool for me right now. (Especially as I am based overseas and have come to rely on Skype and other killer apps such as Evernote and What’s App). But I am certainly no longer blinded by Apple as I once was. On the mobile front, I wait patiently for Android Market Place to have Skype available – then I can ditch the iPhone and switch to a decent Android handset……

But for now I will resort  to travelling with my £200 Dell 9 Hackintosh. My iPad has become relegated to the sofa. In fact I am considering ditching it all together and sticking it on eBay…..

I ditched Facebook

The biggest responsibility for geeks in an age of ubiquitous internet is to inform, educate and share with friends the importance of understanding online identity and privacy.

The freedoms and foundation of the web we enjoy today are based on transparency and open standards. The most basic action of typing in a URL and visiting a web address through to emailing someone  is thanks to a community of individuals who were committed to sharing and innovating open standards to make the whole experience friction free.  Most users will not even be aware of this – it doesn’t really matter. But what does matter is when these users (500m and growing) join a website which hides behind the veneer of simply sharing and connecting people .

On the face of it Facebook is great. You get to connect with old friends, family and play the odd game from time to time. But that’s not enough for Facebook – they want more from you, much more. They now want your identity. This pitch to become the self elected owner of your online identity came to a head when they flipped your privacy settings recently. So, without your consent (or at least your approval), they decided to make your photos, friends list, date of birth, home address etc… public. Suddenly,  information that you kept private become public. Okay – they informed people. But how many people actually bothered to make any changes within their privacy settings?  And why should you – you didn’t sign up for that sort of treatment.  And frankly – where do you begin? Try reading the privacy policy which is in excess of 5800 words…

Another great concern is the new ‘like’ button which is now appearing all over sites lately. By innocently clicking on it – you are sending valuable data on the sites you visit back to the Facebook mothership. Pretty soon  – they build a neat picture of your online habits.

To compound matters further Facebook begun sharing your identity to Microsoft and other third party sites such as Yelp.

I recently made the decision to quit Facebook. I value my privacy and want to be in control of it online. However, even that experience was far from straight forward. First up, there is a difference between deactivation and deleting your account. ‘Deactivation’ only disables your account (which is kept dormant) . A simple mistake of logging on to their site will reactivate it. ‘Deleting’ your account is hidden somewhere under their help pages.  Make sure you select this option is you want to close your account – permanently. To make matters even more frustrating it takes 2 weeks to close your account!

For existing users of Facebook. I cannot tell you what to do. But, at the very least do a bit of research around the implications of Facebook and your identity. Become an informed user.

Jason Calacanis made it clear about why people should abandon Facebook. He makes the argument for leaving very compelling. Check out his thoughts below too:

http://www.youtube.com/v/Vb6wcSDjW-s&hl=en_US&fs=1&

So goodbye and good riddance Facebook.

My tech home hub

As I was sitting back in the sofa today, streaming online content through my TV, I thought I would say a little about my tech home hub.

The internet

First up the obvious. My entire infrastructure is driven by the internet. Where I live right now – my ADSL provider’s  bandwidth is, at best average, and at worse painfully slow. Although, touch wood,  it’s better lately and i’m averaging between 3.5-5.0 mbps. Far from ideal, and rarely up to the ISP’s claim of 6mb. But I’m stuck with it – so not much I can do.

Network

Piggy backing off a standard ADSL wireless router I currently use an an Apple Express (80211.n) as my main hub for the network. Not essential, but as my ecosystem is Apple dominated – I benefit from shared services such as bonjour.

Plasma TV

Central to my home hub is a 50” LG Plasma TV (50PS300). This is really the key , and certainly most noticeable, piece of kit in my setup. The TV itself is standard 1080p with a bunch of ports including 3 x HDMI.

Apple TV

Now this is where it starts to get interesting. Connected through one of the HDMI connections is my AppleTV . Described as a ‘hobby product’ by Steve Jobs himself, I have to say it really is an under-rated gadget. Hooked up to my network, it seamlessly integrates with iTunes  content from my all my computers. I also get to enjoy stunning HD content through it. Streaming music and my podcasts through this is awesome . (Particularly as the audio exits through my Sony amp surround sound setup).

I mentioned that my setup is dominated by Apple kit. A net feature that works with the Apple TV is the ability to hook up my iphone(s) as a remote for the media. This also works with iTunes on Apple computers too. It’s great. Basically I get to control Apple TV anyway in the apartment.

Windows (yes I admit it) laptop

The anchor of my hub. Connected through HDMI the Windows 7 based laptop plays the central role in my setup. This provides me with all the benefits of a fully fledged computer connected to a giant screen (I squeeze out  a resolution of 1360 x 768). Primarily I use it for the web, but also stream my slingbox client through it. Bandwidth willing, it always amazes me – streaming live UK TV miles from home. I have to also add that playing MS Flight Simulator X on this setup is incredible! But perhaps the most exciting part for me – is to stream twitlive.tv . Geeky I know – but watching my favourite shows in the comfort of my lounge  is amazing.

Tell a lie. The most incredible thing about this setup is running Skype through it. Connected via USB, and sitting on the top of the TV is a Microsoft HD webcam  Talking, seeing and hearing friends and family on this has to be seen to be believed!

Wii

Big deal. Everyone has one right. But it’s pretty fun on a 50”.

Other Kit

Running off the network also worth noting my Macbook Pro 15” and Dell 9 Mini Hackintosh complete the setup….Oh and throw in two iPhones, an HTC Hero and Revo wifi radio….

Plans…..

With growing plans for further podcasts …….I want to build a mini studio. One step at a time…..

Welcome back Microsoft

Now I’ve always been a critic of Microsoft.

But not critical of the nature of their business and market domination (that doesn’t bother me), but critical of their lack of innovation and, until Windows 7, their sub-par operating systems.

With all the innovation, elegance and success of Apple it’s easy to dismiss the folks at Redmond as a dinosaur, a relic of the past. A software company surviving on former glories. To compound these views further, with the rise of Google and other increasingly important web companies – I was beginning to think Microsoft no longer matters in a world of cloud services and internet devices.

But I was wrong. Reading the tech news blogs last week I stumbled across a story, which, if true – has the potential to bring the cool back into Microsoft.

The leaked images and video of ‘The Courier’ tablet/journal, have quite honestly stunned me. If true, this product is everything the iPhone and now the iPad will never be. Aside from the book-like form factor, the video would suggest this device is the closest to experiencing an electronic ‘paper’ notebook ever seen. The combination of being able to write and draw on the device along with web integration offers genuine human interaction never seen before.

Okay it’s not an official product yet. But I can’t help but think that even if the final product is half as good as the leaked reports then the Courier promises to be special. Very special. So many pretenders out there churn out endless poor Apple imitations. Not Microsoft . They have taken their time to really think about what human interaction means with an electronic device.

No doubt we will hear more about the Courier in the coming weeks. But for now I’m betting something ground breaking is being cooked up by Microsoft.

My top five applications and services when overseas

I got thinking the other day just how web innovation and growth in broadband internet has transformed the ways in which we communicate and consume media both at home and abroad. But I’m not just talking about the internet and email – they are too obvious. A host of new applications and services have made staying in touch seamless. Here’s my top five must have applications for stress free communication and media consumption when overseas:

5) Twitter & Facebook: Despite my views on Facebook – I have to concede that it matters. Pretty much everyone is on it – and it makes sense to use it if you want to keep in touch with your social network of friends and family. I post to it regularly via Twitter. Twitter, in my view, is superior. Much more open, cleaner and thanks to its APIs an array of clients support it.

4) Audible.co.uk : Getting hold of the latest books is not always possible. Audible is a far more efficient way to get your fix. For £7.99 a month I get to download and own a new audio book a month. Great for long flights. I’ve pretty much given up on reading books…..audible is far more convenient.

3) iTunes: Music, movies, TV shows and podcasts – iTunes is a central part of my ecosystem. Rather than lugging around DVDs and CDs I can rent and buy pretty much anything I want. Not always the cheapest option for movies and TV shows – but the cost, in my view, is off-set by the convenience of effortless downloading.

2) SlingBox: By plugging this fantastic gadget into either a cable/satellite  service of your choice back home – you can stream the content, in real time over the web and watch it on your computer or mobile device anywhere on the planet. The quality will depend on your bandwidth – but if you’re a sports fan or soap junkie – you can watch your favorites – any time or any place.

1) Skype : A no brainer and pretty much the de facto voice/video client for everyone. However, my number one pick is the ‘SkypeIn’ service. For just €4 a month  I get a UK telephone number which roots through to my Skype account. The deal also includes being able to make unlimited calls to any UK landline. Not only does this reduce my costs of calling the UK but it eliminates costs of friends and family calling me. A fantastic, if relatively unknown service from Skype.

Apple – fantastic products – yes we know Steve

Now I’m not one to post many YouTube clips on my site. But this one caught my attention. As a self confessed fan boy it does make me laugh. Welcome back Steve and keep giving us awesome, fantastic, real great and simple to use products 🙂

http://www.youtube.com/v/Nx7v815bYUw&hl=en&fs=1&border=1

Great stuff.

Running a podcast 20 shows on..

TandridgeRadio.com, the weekly podcast I set up with my friend and local journalist, Kevin Black is 20 shows old today.

Hard to believe that the show has been running now since January this year.

I can honestly say I find it some of the most satisfying and creative work I have ever done. Firstly, I have always wanted to run my own business. The fact that I am in control and running all aspects of the work is incredibly rewarding.

Secondly, I am able to be creative. For some time now I have tried (and failed) to run a podcast. What I have known and what I continue to learn is that content is always the key to making a podcast work. Without it the audience will just not show up.

The most satisfying aspect for me is the sense of creating something. I often argue with people about the nature of web 2.0 and the digital commons more broadly. With such a wealth of information out there that people draw on daily – I often ask people ”what have you done to contribute to it’. People take from the web – but do they give to it?

As I gain experience in post-production my editing is getting much quicker now. I can turn around a 30 mins show in around 2 hours. I am learning more about subtle differences in audio levels and much quicker at pulling together jingles.

The show is gaining in popularity within the Tandridge community too. We have now introduced a monthly new feature with our local MP. The show is fast becoming a voice for the local community.

But there are small challenges. Sponsorship requires more work than the team can commit to right now. We are covering our costs – but we are a ‘ for profit partnership’ and we are running the show, in part, to make a living.

There are reasons we cannot reach out for more sponsors – which we are working on to overcome.

The most satisfying part of the work is responses from listeners. It is fast becoming a talked about feature of community life. We are moving towards even greater market share with a few sponsorship deals in the next few months.

Small steps. But I am at least a step closer to my goal. Within 10 years I want to be running in this space full time. My office will be a coffee shop and my tool my laptop. I’m getting closer and enjoying every minute.

You can catch the show by visiting : Tandridge Radio

My hackintosh project: my Dell 9 netbook and OS X

I have spent most of this last weekend preparing and setting up my new Dell 910 mini netbook to run OS X. 

As most you will know Apple’s success is based around their coupling and integration of hardware and software. Yet despite their pricey but excellent Macbook Air, Apple has yet to enter the netbook market. (Although it more than likely they will release something in June/July this year.)
For Apple fan boys like myself, our only options for a netbook is to use Windows XP or Linux based versions…..until now that is. 

Introducing Hackintosh

Back in October last year some hackers within the geek community came up with an exciting breakthrough. By exploiting Apple’s move to intel based architecture they were able to take the standard OS X (10.5) platform and hack a way to install it on non-Apple intel based hardware. 

The geek community worked tirelessly on this and pretty soon a bunch of  netbooks became compatible with the hack (to varying degrees). There is a compatibility guide over on BoingBoing .

As you will see from the chart the most widely support netbook is the Dell 910 8GB or 16GB SSD. So with that in mind – I got myself a refurbished model on ebay. 

The install process

The guidance says the install is not for your average user. I would agree to some degree. It is difficult. However, most of the challenges involve being persistent and patient.

There are multiple ways to run the installation. I opted for installing a paid for OS X licensed copy and imaging it on to a 16 GB thumb-drive  (I do not own an external DVD drive). 

I want to stress the ‘paid for’ copy in my installation process. There are alternative installs that use ‘specially modified’ versions of OSX which are all over the torrents and P2P networks). I do not support this. So will say nothing more on this topic. 

I drew on the excellent tutorials over on MyDellMini.com .  It will take you through step by step on what to do. It is also an excellent resource – and will pretty much answer any questions you may have. 

 

You will also find this excellent YouTube tutorial helpful :

 http://www.youtube.com/v/Ui26Ggca4yM&hl=en&fs=1

The end product

Having been using my new Dell 9 OSX netbook over the last few days – I cannot begin to praise it enough. It is an elegant looking device and thanks to the SSD the netbook boots up very quickly. All aspects of the netbook work. I was even testing the video/audio today using Skype. It works a charm. The battery also seems to last for ages (I guess again thanks to the lack of moving parts in the SSD)

I am trying to us this (as best I can) as a ‘cloud’ device. Most of my work is stored online through google docs or my mobile me account. However, should you need more storage – the Dell 9 includes a media card slot (MMC/SD). So if I wanted a bit more local storage I can simply pop in an SD card. 

The Dell also includes a sim-card slot too. Apparently it does work (with a bit of modification). So I intend to configure my PAYG HSDPA Three Sim card at some point soon. 

 

In summary I am thrilled with this new piece of kit. 

Happy Hackingtoshing!