Stilgherrian » nokia

Whither “Stilgherrian Live”?

Stilgherrian — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:31:20 +0000

With Thursday’s night’s episode the Alpha series of Stilgherrian Live came to an end. What next?

Across eight “proper” episodes, plus a couple of impromptu programs from a local pub and a hotel room in Canberra, I achieved my main aim. I proved that it’s possible to do a live video program on the Internet using equipment I can carry in a backpack.

I got a feel for how much pre-production is needed. I got inbound talkback calls working via Skype. And I was very pleased to sustain a regular live audience of 30-odd people. Thank you.

Recently, thanks to Qik, I was able to broadcast live video feeds from my Nokia N80 phone. They’re still viewable at qik.com/stilgherrian. However the “standard” 3G available in Australia meant the technical quality was pretty average. It really does need HSDPA, i.e. a new phone.

So, given that “we have the technology”, what sort of programs should I create?

The 8-plus-2 episodes of Stilgherrian Live Alpha, all linked off the program page, were a mixed bag. They were meant to be based on a half-hour chat show format, but some weeks I simply didn’t have time to prepare and they were little more than me ranting at the camera. Should I continue aiming at that sort of format, or something different?

Here are the random thoughts I’ve been having, numbered so you can refer to them in the comments:

Am I worrying too much about making things look like traditional network TV graphics? Where should I be on that scale of “polished” to “rough”?
Can there be different kinds of Stilgherrian Live, including more serious interviews, quick random broadcasts using Qik, the more “produced-up” weekly chat show etc?
What sort of topics should I cover?
How does this fit with my writing here on the web (both the essays, the link compilations and the random bits), what I do on Twitter and what I do for Crikey?
And, given that I only have a finite amount of time, how much of each do I do?

I’ll leave it there for now, because the Snarky Platypus and I will be meeting at the gym shortly. I do have more thoughts, but I’d like to hear from you, my adoring public, first. And then I’ll respond. Comments please!

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Technology review of 2008 (sort of)

Stilgherrian — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:58:14 +0000

The BBC’s Rory Cellan-Jones has a technology review of 2008, including:

September

Apple’s second generation 3g iPhone goes on sale. This time, as well as signing up to Apple’s network partner, customers have to bring a DNA sample to enter on the company database before the phone can be activated. “We’re just trying to make sure iPhone users all feel part of the Apple family,” a spokesman explains.

October

Nokia brings out its latest smartphone, the N99. As well as featuring music, live television, a manicure set and a device for getting stones out of horse’s shoes, it offers an ice-cream cornet with a chocolate flake. “And, unlike, the new 3g iPhone,” a spokesman explains, “it is 4g, making the mobile internet work properly for the first time.”

Hat tip to Memex 1.1.

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Nokia gets the Mac, finally

Stilgherrian — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 22:58:29 +0000

My biggest gripe about Nokia’s Nseries “multimedia telephones” was that the management software was only available for Windows — despite such a massive proportion of “multimedia people” using Macs. This has now been fixed with the new Nokia Media Transfer application for Mac. Will play tonight.

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A flawed 3G Wonderland

Stilgherrian — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 15:55:47 +0000

OK folks, an update on my continuing saga to join the wonderful Digital 3G Wonderland… now that I’ve overcome my indecision about network choice, my fears about the Nokia N80’s battery life, my frustration with poorly-chosen web addresses and the annoyance at Vodafone’s crappy telephone etiquette.

I have finally bought a Nokia N80 outright, and plugged it into Vodafone’s network. Here’s my thoughts so far — after a couple bottles of sauvignon blanc over dinner and a random play with the technology.

* I am very happy with the friendly service of Computer World, where I bought the phone.
* I am thoroughly pissed off that — despite being bought from an independent vendor — the N80 is pre-loaded with Telstra BigPond settings. Now I’m spending two hours removing the BigPond configuration and connecting it back to Vodafone. Not pleased. Even the “Music” button takes me to BigPond Music!
* The case feels a little flimsy — will this phone cope with day-to-day wear and tear?
* The high-resolution screen is very nice.

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What comms? Part 2: Which phone?

Stilgherrian — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 09:25:22 +0000

It looks like Vodafone gets the gig as network provider. I’m thinking Nokia might sell me an N80.

All of the new nSeries models have what I’m after. The N80 has the highest-resolution screen. Yes, I read text, more pixels please. There’s several known-good methods of posting directly from the phone to websites. And it’s not pig ugly and runs Windows.

But I’m worried about the short talk time, a mere 2.75 hours. Will I end up lugging a battery too? Or will that still be more than I get from my clapped-out Nokia 6610?

I have to see this screen, I think, and see if it’s worth trading off half my battery life.