Fibre to the Dunny

 

(original image)

With Australian Politicians using “Fibre to the Node” and “Fibre to the Home” as election ploys, I think It’s Time to raise the issue to a new level:

Fibre to the Dunny.

We should not rest until every Dunny in Australia has Fibre. Face it, that’s where the best browsing occurs.

Also, with Australia’s rising colorectal cancer, an increase in our fibre diet would also help future generations.

Flikr, Windows Live Photo Gallery is goodness

Sydney Harbour

As Larry mentions in his post, the latest beta of Windows Live Photo Gallery is out.

After installing it, the first feature I tried out is the new "upload to Flickr". I am a Flickr Pro user: the ability to see and comment on my friend’s photos is like attending slide-show evenings from the comfort of your own computer.

The internal buzz in the leadup to announce even got Jeff Sandquist hyped! And Long Zheng, an excellent photographer also loves it.

Windows Vista added support for tagging photos as another mechanism for organising your digital memories. Windows Live Photo Gallery reflects these tags when upload into Flickr. Now as a Flickr user, this was a wow! moment.

Watch and listen to my (first) screencast.

Unified Communications + Windows Live = Knowledge Worker 2.0

I am a mere Knowledge Worker in a large Enterprise. Working online, my work productivity has seen some major changes of late

I’ve installed the latest Windows Live for my Windows Mobile 6 Treo. One of the interesting features is voice search.

It’s a little difficult to describe in text (and in Australia it’s a little not-ready, but US and UK Windows Mobile users should install the latest version) — we’re heading down a very interesting path. However, voice is starting to be everywhere.

Along with the Office Communications Server, the concept of presence, work, location, phones, voicemail and email start to coalesce into a connected smartness. I can dial into our system whilst driving and give voice commands to the server.

Where ever I am, my laptop is connected to the work telephone system. Outlook gets my voicemails (which are just sound files!) and my presence is connected to my Outlook calendar. Using caller ID, the incoming call is connected to our global address list.

When not on my laptop, using Windows Live on my Treo, I can chat over the Telstra NextG network.

Knowledge Worker 2.0.

Windows Live Chat on Windows Mobile

Imagine: you are out having a pleasant dinner with your parents-in-law. One thing leads to another, and you start playing with your new toy: Windows Mobile 6.0 and my new Palm Treo 750.

Minutes before leaving the house, I had downloaded and installed the Windows Live client for Windows Mobile into my Treo, and had yet to log in to the service.

Over dinner, when the conversation turned to something where I could merely "nod", I un-pocketed by Treo 750 and signed in.

 

 

 

Appearing on my "Today" screen was my Windows Live login details: Windows Live / Windows Mobile pic 1
Ooh, Messenger sign in. Tap here to sign in, let’s sign in and see who is online. pc_capture2
I nod politely pc_capture3
At 6:10pm on a Friday, Sydney time only my European friends tend to be online. In this instance, Paul Foster fellow enthusiast from the UK is online, so I start up a quick chat.

The Contacts are exactly the same as your desktop and web list. No matter where I am, with my trusty Treo I can chat with them.

Windows Live / Windows Mobile pic 4
Yes, in our chat we refer to each other as "dude" as it sounds cool.

Notice the little "Voice clip" option at the bottom left? By clicking on this, I was able to send a quick "G’day" to Paul.

Windows Live / Windows Mobile pic 5

A voice clip? Yes, just like the desktop version of Windows Live Messenger on your PC.

 

Windows Live / Windows Mobile pic 6

 

I demonstrated this to my parents-in-law to show them I was a worthy husband for their daughter. Thankfully, they were impressed.

Oh, and thanks to Paul Foster for his assistance.

Windows Home Server. @aeoth rollies FTW!!1

@aeoth wins the small competition: Melbourne Windows Home Server-install off.

Don’t know what he’s going to win yet. Maybe a new circular saw?

Well done, dude. Good server name, too

Like to make your own Windows Home Server? David Flynn from APC Magazine in Australia has some local colour on how to. Even the Windows Home Server team have found the Aussie love for a bargain and rolling your own.

Update 15th October 2007: Ars Technica Review