Technology Blog

After returning from my trip to Toronto, I grabbed a cab from the airport and immediately noticed the dashboard of the cab. It was digital readings showing everything that car was registering, including the mileage consumption. Although I was exhausted from travel, I couldn’t help but engage with the driver.

“Is this a hybrid?”

“Yes Sir, it is”

I couldn’t help but smile by this. I’d like to believe that my trip was cheaper as a result of this hybrid. On a recent trip to one of our favorite parks in Ontario, my father and I got a chance to really test his mileage on his new hybrid. We were amazed by its ability to average about 5 litres per 100 km. The driver of the cab proudly said he’s seen as little as 4.5/100km on his.

There’s a lot of buzz going on about global warming these days. A lot of the time it frustrates me to no end. It feels like a fad. Politicians are finally paying attention, yet using it for their own reasons. Care for the environment from politicians is roughly 20-30 years behind schedule as far as I’m concerned. Technological advances that we’re seeing today, could have existed a long time ago.

Recently I saw a program that showcased Jay Leno’s car collection. One of Leno’s pride and joy is an *electric* car from 1909 or 1910.

Is there any wonder why it’s so frustrating for those of us who care for the environment see the potential and only now , we’re starting to get only glimpses of what’s possible?

I’ve thought about starting an environmental news blog but until then, I plan to write, comment and post news articles about technological advances that aid our ability to stop the wave of destruction. It’s ironic isn’t it? The very thing that started the destruction of our world is the very thing that could save it: Technology

I should pay attention more to tech news (funny considering I’m starting this blog).

I’ve been a happy Vonage customer for over a year. I’ve been an internet ‘phone’ enthusiast for 12 years. Watching the technology of voIP mature to the arena of regular use has been a dream come true. My wife and I are able to stay in touch since we live in separate countries. Vonage has saved us literally thousands of dollars in communication costs.

While I’m sure other companies will continue to spring up, I do hope that Vonage will continue. I don’t want the dream to end.

Vonage Chief Resigns; Company to Cut Marketing Costs (Update2)

Recently, I read an article about getting paid survey work from online sources. A click here and a click there and within a matter of minutes I landed on a “free” survey site. Surveys and claims that you can be compensated by participating in surveys have been around the internet for as long as I’ve been online. In fact, I’m sure that beside this blog entry, the adsense ads on this likely have advertisements to various survey websites.

The free survey website I went to yesterday guaranteed that if I completed their 10 buck challenge, they would promptly send 10 dollars plus a 3 dollar bonus for signing up straight into my paypal account. So, what did I have to lose?

What I lost was time and interest. I was amused by performing this stunt. I landed on sites for “free” ipods, “free” digital cameras, sign up incentives for casinos, sign up incentives for *other* survey sites. I was spinning around and around so fast, to various sites all pointing to similar survey sites, that it reminded me of landing on (or I confess) searching for adult related websites. It was the ultimate circle jerk. This is a rather vulgar metaphor, so rather than have you thinking I’m a dirty pervert, I’ll quote from my favorite website for information: Wikipedia.

They can refer to a situation, often in the workplace, politics or academia, where people are stroking each other’s ego without producing anything of value.

Quite honestly, survey filling can be rewarding if you know where to find these. I don’t have that talent, or more to the point, I don’t have the interest. It wasn’t long before I realized that pointing me to other survey sites was making this guy about $1.00-1.75 per referral. In other words, he kept his website free because he found ways to be compensated. I would have to sign up for about 15-20 websites to receive 10 bucks from him. You do the math. He was going to essentially keep half his money.

Are free websites therefore as scammy as paid ones? I’m not sure I have an honest answer to this question. I’ve decided to keep TechJobs free for now, because I firmly believe there are jobs out there available for telecommuters that do *not* involve paying a cent for this information.

If *anyone* has ever stayed on a survey site long enough to actually get direct payment for your opinion, I’d love to hear your experiences. Incidently, if you spam me with your affiliate link, I’ll simply ignore and delete your comment.

My little venture yesterday only did one thing for me: it brought me close to poking my own eyes out with the sharpest tool I could find on my desk. I concluded that as hard as it is to build a website up or a blog, I find this kind of work 1000 times more rewarding than filling out my personal information over and over again for…… essentially nothing.

For the last couple of weeks, my curiosity has peaked as a canadian commercial for blogtv.ca has made its rounds across several Canadian television networks. I’m not even going to bother to find a commercial link on YouTube. So unless anyone is really interested in seeing a singing belly promotion, I’m not going to bother.

Article link:Blogtv.ca hits the streets

I surfed over to the site today wondering about the format, not to mention how this site will make its money. This project is backed by Alliance Atlantis which explains the intense commercial campaign. But will a Canadian only video blogging site take flight the likes of YouTube?

We’ll soon find out but have mercy on us Canucks, eh? No more singing bellies.

Commercials turning into pilot projects? Hmm… As much as my wife and I giggle over these 30 seconds of pure joy, I’m not 100% sure that 30 seconds can translate into a 30 minute comedy pilot. Yet, that’s exactly what ABC is planning on doing.

ABC developing ‘Cavemen’

So, what is this exactly? Is this art imitating art? Is it the ultimate in product placement? I’m not sure. Certainly this particular commercial captured my interest enough that I went searching for it on YouTube. In fact, 9 times out of 10 the reason why I surf over to Youtube is just so I can watch something on my own time that I thought was funny on tv, be it commercials, talk show moments or political faux pas. What I don’t use YouTube for is to peer into people’s living rooms while I listen to their bad karoake.

I’m pretty skeptical about how far an idea should go. I’ve been a fan of Geico commercials for years but the question remains: will I have the patience to sit through a 30 minute spoof or a spoof of a wha…?

The answer is obvious to me. Since I haven’t made the technological jump to TiVo or a personal DVR more likely then not, I’ll just surf over to Youtube when I’m interested.

I think this is going to jump the shark before it starts.

It’s not news that YouTube is perhaps the biggest “mover and shaker” on the internet today. Who HASN’T heard of YouTube? One of my best friends I left behind on the east coast when I moved west last year doesn’t own a computer and has probably seen more YouTube clips than I have. I’m not sure any one person or thing could become as ubiquitous as YouTube. More so than say, Madonna. Another friend of mine, in fact, the friend that shares YouTube with my other computer illiterate friend once told me his theory that almost every person in the western hemisphere thinks about or stumbles upon Madonna at least once a day. Interesting theory. I don’t completely buy it. In fact, I openly disputed that idea with him. You can too. Just don’t do it while in a car with the radio on. It just might prove his theory correct (which, is kinda scary when you think about it)

YouTube is in that same category. In fact, I’ll state here and now that I personally believe that YouTube is now MORE popular than Madonna. And now they’re giving out awards! Check it out here.

I’m personally choosing not to click on “the best”. Not yet anyway.

From the site:

2006 was a pioneering year for online video, user-created content and the YouTube community. You let us into your bedrooms, created new forms of entertainment, and radicalized popular culture. Now it’s time to reflect on what a tremendous year it was and recognize the best of the best during the first YouTube Video Awards

Hmmm, I’m not 100% sure videos created from inside our bedrooms is a terribly *good* idea. I’ve never been inspired enough to post on YouTube.

But I confess, I’m one of those millions of people inspired enough to peer in. So way to go to those who are “the best”. Maybe next year there will be a YouTube show on TV hosted by Billy Crystal or Ellen Degeneres. It’s an odd idea isn’t? But then, nothing surprises me anymore.

I’ve been playing Flash Circle TD for days on end. I’m not sure if it’s as addictive as the first, but it’s definitely more challenging.

It’s now being hosted by candystand.com

There’s no interest now, so, whatever money you have, you have to make the most of it when placing towers in strategic spots. (Those who played the first version of this game know what I’m talking about)

I didn’t think I was much of a gamer, but the last week or so, I haven’t stopped.

So, be WARNED!!!

Hats off to the brit who designed this game though. I hope he was handsomely compensated while the rest of us rot our brains playing this game.

Candystand.com has been around for ages. They have hundreds of flash games, many of them promoting extensively candy products within the games themselves. Purist lovers who grew an addiction for the first version from mid January will be happy to know that towers aren’t shooting pieces of juicy fruit to would-be creep monsters. While there’s definitely a difference in strategy for this version of the game, it’s as addictive as the first.

I’m happy for the programmer. If you can create a game so popular that Candystand wants to host it, then you’ve made it big.

Direct link to the Flash Circle. My personal best so far is 2,546 points. I suspect as more and more people play this new version, that score won’t be all that significant at the “hard” level for very long.

I wonder if we’ll see more versions in the future? Either way, there’s not doubt in my mind that this is one example of an internet success.

I want to be reincarnated as a programmer.

Last week, and internet junkie friend had the “wisdom” to introduce to me a game that has kept me up at night. Err, or should I say many nights. Every once in a while, a game will capture my interest.

Flash Element TD is high addictive. It’s a flash game inspired by World of Warcraft. I’ve never played warcraft personally but something about the simplicity of this online version stuck with me.

The second part of this story fascinated my somewhat fledging internet marketing heart.

Critters aka David Scott, the creator of this game also decided to keep his fans apprised of his webserver stats, requesting donations to offset the bandwidth costs of keeping this game up. Given the obvious popularity of this game, that’s not surprising. The stats alone fascinated me The number of hits went from 13,000 the first day to over 1.5 million hits about 2 weeks later. WOW! Talk about a killer app!

There’s rumours about a newer version coming out in March. Until then, I challenge anyone who suffers from insomnia to beat my score. No, I didn’t cheat, but I’m sure if you google for tips you’ll find a ton of blogs offering lots and lots of tips on how to get top scores in this game.

Check out my best score.