Mobitrends

Vodafone unveiled a couple of monthes earlier its Second Life service for free calls and SMS from SL, now it’s BT’s time with the BTAvaTalk service. The free call service is a bit deceptive as it cannot use SL voice capabilites (due to real technical restrictions btw), thus limiting to 2-way call initiation.
Anyway it’s always nice to see those big companies experimenting on the Web3d Area!

Technorati Tags: BT, Second Life

Couldn’t help but publish this video found on servicesmobiles.fr, which in a few seconds brought me back in 2002 when I was living in Japan. It was amazing that now 6 years ago all my jap pals had QR-Code readers built in their mobiles and using that everywhere - including at Mc Donald’s like the video is showing.
Sometimes having an industry leader is not such a bad thing, but hey we wouldn’t want Orange to go any further than adding its Abaxia launcher splash screen on our mobiles (and hurray, it did not happen on the iPhone).

Technorati Tags: QR-Code

I just love to play with my Spykee

Technorati Tags: spykee

Just finished reading “Halting State” by Charles Stross, this novel was really amazing. The action takes place in Scotland at Hayek Associate, a startup that just went public and which is in charge of managing banks in online worlds holding for their customers the precious loot and equipment acquired during their game. Against every rule, one of their banks in an online world has been robbed and a team is set to check on the whereabouts.
Two interesting themes are developed in that book :

• Virtual worlds banks - can’t help but think about the recent actions of Second Life banning banks from their platform, but sill there’s a real need to place some stuff in a secure place. In WoW I’m always kinda scared to loose my items (got a couple of priceful two-hands maces that I’ll be only able to use when I reach lvl 68) yet I’m really sure there is a business for a banking system in virtual worlds. Moreover I’m sure that it’s not the job of the game makers and platform administrators to provide this service and as such there will be place for pure players in this area.
• SPOOKS is a cool idea developed in that book : It’s a web-ivr-RL game where you play secret agent X. Nothing new if it wasn’t that real people play against real people in real life. They get their mission orders by IVR of the web and go complete their mission in real life. This idea is w00t, I’d really love to see such a real life game come true.
  
  Funky enough, Gameloft is launching this week the CSI mobile game which includes IVR call during game phases which will provide you with special instructions to complete special missions.

Technorati Tags: book, Halting state, mobile, virtual worlds

I’ve started running again (while I hadn’t run for ages) and I’m using my Garmin Forerunner 301 as a personal trainer loadign it with selected training exercises - this month is cardio training - and although as a personal trainer it does a great job with heart & time monitoring it’s not so good when it comes to calculating speed based on GPS signals, check on the map below to see how inaccurate those are. Any one know how to enhance that ?

Technorati Tags: GPS, running

That’s what EOS is proposing with a cool set of products, one iPod docking station + a set of satellite receivers. I’m always amused to see the success of iPod plugins and how they would fill hundreds of square meter at every CES since a few years…
By the way this year is iPod’s 10th anniversary (already)… time is going way too fast !
Here’s what the PR sez:

The Eos system consists of a base unit/transmitter and up to 4 self-contained remote speaker/receivers. For listening pleasure — users can drop any iPod with a docking connector or iPhone onto the dock on the base unit, or plug any other audio source — XM or Sirius satellite radio, San Disk or Zune MP3 players, computers, CD players, stereos, etc. into the auxiliary analog input on the back. Both the Eos base station transmitter and wireless speaker/receivers feature full 2.1 Stereo with left + right channel audio as well as a ported subwoofer for rich, full sounding bass. Additionally, Eos incorporates SRS WOW! Technology that improves the dynamic audio performance of the system.
Eos is available as a Core System bundle, which includes the base unit and one additional speaker, for $249.99. EOS wireless stereo speakers are also available separately for $129.99. You can purchase EOS Wireless products at www.eoswireless.com, as well as other online retailers like www.bestbuy.com, www.costco.com, www.circuitcity.com and www.radioshack.com.

No word on the RF technology used though, be curious to know why this thing is so expensive…

Technorati Tags: iPod, dock, wireless

With about no experience in editing or DVD creating I was able to make a fantastic DVD with the pics and shorts I took at Disneyland last thursday - kudos to Apple for being able to make such an integrated and comprehensive suite - I mean iLife !

Technorati Tags: Apple, Disneyland, iDVD

Yes, you are reading well, the Time Machine function is available for USB hard drives connected to your Airport Extreme station. This feature was announced as being available at Leopard release, but was not… This is solved now and works like a charm, simply upgrade to 7.3.1 your Airport Extreme firmware and your Leopard, connect your USB drive to the Airport station, open it in your finder (it will magically appear) and then you’re set, everything will be working smoothly.

Technorati Tags: Airport, Time Machine

Yesterday was a special day - Pauline and I took almost all the team (actually most of the France-based team) out at disneyland Paris to spend some time together in a non-business environment. We all had a great time in Mickey’s place .

Technorati Tags: Disneyland, Space Mountain, team building