Google Chrome Extensions :-)

At last, and I am not so sure how many days ( or possibly weeks) ago the new extensions for Google Chrome appeared but now they are here and ready to roll don't forget to give them a try. Unlike Firefox they do not appear to cause additional headers but fit in the the right of the address bar on the browser and either open as a pop out - as bit.ly does in the screenshot below, or as new tabs in the case of something like CoolIris ( which if you haven't used yet you absolutely should)...... Go get your extensions..... now!

Google Buzz new today

Google has announced on Tuesday that it is immediately rolling out Google Buzz, a location-aware social networking tool highly integrated with its Gmail client, Google Maps and a new Android app.

It was announced on the Google Blog today:
'Today, we're launching Google Buzz, a new way to start conversations about the things you find interesting and share updates, photos, videos and more. Buzz is built right into Gmail, so there's nothing to set up — you're automatically following the people you email and chat with the most.'

'We focused on making the sharing experience really rich by integrating photos, videos, and links. No more fuzzy little pictures: Buzz makes it easy to quickly flip through photos and experience them the way they were meant to be seen: big and full-resolution. And videos play inline so you can watch them without opening a new window.

You can choose to share publicly with the world or privately to a small group of friends each time you post. And you can connect other sites you use, today there's Picasa, Flickr, Google Reader, and Twitter, so your friends can keep up with what you're doing around the web — all in one place.

To make sure you don't miss out on the best part of sharing, Buzz sends responses to your posts straight to your inbox. Unlike static email messages, buzz messages in your inbox are live conversations where comments appear in real time. '

Once again Google wait and then enter the arena - I do like the way they are continually attempting to build in real time interaction into their applications.

I am looking forward to Buzz coming to my HTC G phone - an update for Google maps 5 minutes ago does include the new app, I am now awaiting the GMail update!

Bulbdial Clock

My love of timepieces ( blog post 16 01 2010) has been sparked again today in the 'Play Section of WIRED for March 2010 on page 058( see below) where lies the amazing looking Bulbdial Clock from the Evil Mad Scientists.

The clock using LED technology is an object of beauty as you can see below thanks to Oskay they are also being offered in kit form so that you can make one for yourself..... yay

All I can say is that...... I want one!!!!! See one in action below:

OLED transparent screens..... WOW!!!

You can keep your Apple locked iPad Mr Jobs the future is OLED......

Above is the transparent OLED screen of the Samsung laptop shown as a concept at CES 2010 it now appears that this device may be on sale before the end of 2010 ( T3 article 06 02 2010). Now this device really could be a mould breaker, I agree with the article that this object certainly is desirable.... move over Mr iPad, as the OLED device not only looks 'truly cool' and highly desirable, it also heralds the use of OLED technology for things such as Satellite Navigation devices built into things such as windscreens ....... Combine this with Augmented Reality ( as seen with Sixth Sense MIT )and all I can say is WOW!!!

Just the thought of having this kind of technology built into surfaces taking the computer out of the box and beginning to develop a truly interactive UI just has to be the way forward ...... seeing these I am transported back to when I was a boy in the late 1960's looking at the fantastical devices in my coveted Look and Learn magazines.

Apple's iPad Arrives......... is it a step forward?

The much anticipated Apple tablet the iPad arrived today. My first impression was, 'why is Mr Jobs holding that XXL iPhone?' Of course we are all aware of Apple's ability to watch a market (mp3 players, cell phones... and now tablet PC's) and then enter with the killer must have machine which re defines the market. On this occasion they may have done this again, however I was not convinced prior to the iPad's arrival and now having seen it and read the specs at TechCrunch I still remain unconvinced, it is a XXL iPhone!

I am not aware of the tablet market being that huge as yet ..... does this device help this grow? E-Readers have been gaining ground of late, however I still believe to a niche market ...... am I old fashioned, I prefer a book? The iPad may see them off ...... although they still compete on price and straight usability.

The iPad is of course an Apple machine and as such is locked to Apple software and I believe would need to be hacked to run something like Google Chrome, it also lacks a card reader ( even my TV has one of these!) and a USB much as the MacAir. There is the whole 3G contract issue ( there will be a wi fi only iPad first) for contacting to the web on the move. The screen size is a bit on the small side.

Battery life looks good as of course the device does with its lineage. However I believe that this machine is only a step along the way to where computing needs to go - things such as seamless user interfaces that can be controlled by hand gestures not a touch screen.

I see people with an iPad being a little self conscious of those looking!

I hope to see one of these in the flesh soon and will then truly be able to give a full report. I can't see this tech geek getting one anytime soon............. however they are pretty!

Update 28 01 2010 - it is sad when I here people say I will buy the next generation machine......why oh, why can't companies like Apple bring out the finished article at their first attempt? I am sure that this machine has been discussed and discussed at Apple and yet they have still produced a big iPhone without a camera that you cannot fit in your pocket!
Apparently it was unfortunately being called the 'iTampax' on Twitter yesterday... sad but true!

Time is turning - literally

I really like the idea of this clock it very much reminds me of the Mr Jones Cyclops watch that I really wanted for Christmas.

BETT 2010

Great gadgets at great prices? BETT 2010

Pranav Mistry at TED India November 2010

As many UK teachers prepare to head to the BETT2010 Show at Olympia in London I happened upon the video above delivered by Pranav Mistry at TED India late last year.

Pranav was showing the 'Sixth Sense' device which appears to offer cheap(er) devices allowing us to interact with the world around us. I was particularly struck by the paper based laptop which uses the microphone from a webcam attached to the paper to act as the receiver and the webcam to fix the image this is then projected onto the paper as a functional laptop and gaming device ( watch the driving game on the paper laptop!).

My mention of the BETT Show is that even though it does promote the innovative use of simple technology by teachers in the UK this is sadly swallowed in the horribly over the top commercialisation of the main show halls - I rather feel that Pranav would be pushed to the side by the likes of Promethian and Smart and MS with their new and expensive 'Interactive Table' ( unless there was a market and they could then push product).

There is a need in the UK for a series of conferences perhaps at the NCSL in Nottingham and other venues for the specific promotion of simple technology to schools - I know that this has been attempted by NAACE however I think there is the need now to develop this from grassroots teachers similar to the Isle of Wight conference organised by Joe Dale.... come on BETT it is time to evolve!

Semi-retirement of Ddraig Goch Blog

At least for the first month of the Flickr365 Challenge - a challenge to post one picture to the web a day and my decision also to post a daily to a blog set up for the purpose, it is likely that my posts to Ddraig Goch will be somewhat sporadic. I hope that as I get into the routine of daily blog posts I may once again find the time and content to blog here...... however no promises!

One thing which is giving me thoughts about blogging is my lacklustre decision to book for the BETT2010 Show at Olympia later this month. Having had the opportunity to visit the ISTE NECC Conference in 2008 (here for 2010) which I found to be a marvellously organised event where educators spend the majority of their time at seminars or keynotes and much less time visiting show stands. I am of the opinion that the BETT Show in London concentrates too much on the 'show' and commercial content, I realise that it is a free show, however if it did have a fee it may actually be able to shake off the commercial shackles that appear to bind it and become a seminar/keynote driven event which I think may actually be more appreciated by attendees?...... Discuss.