Roger Kemp's Net

Afghanistan, January, 2010

Roger — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:03:54 +0000

An Afghan man buys plastic jugs in a market in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Farzana Wahidy)

Another collection of photographs posted by the Big Picture, depicting the complex issue of Afghanistan. My hope is that we’ll find a way other than violence to deal with the problems facing this nation. To help them help themselves without resorting to try and kill the problem away. I don’t think we can just pull out and leave them fend for themselves. We bare a historical responsibility to provide aid, but not through the barrel of a gun.

Afghanistan, January, 2010 (The Big Picture)

Social Consolidation

Roger — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:53:00 +0000

I have been thinking about Social Consolidation these past few days, following a conversation on Facebook. There are several projects in development which strive to gather all the information and communication streams of several social networking sites and tools into one place. I first began to think about this when I was irritated about having to update my profile picture at all the different sites and apps every time I thought I had a better image of my mug. Now, with Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Foursquare, Yelp, etc. it’s becoming more and more of a chore to keep track of information and people.

I also see these sites and apps taking on more and more ideas of one another. Latest is Yelp adding a “Check in” function to their iPhone app, basically competing with Foursquare. Then I think about the fact that Yelp canceled their deal with Google. What are they planning? Or could another party have a better offer and be more suited? Could Facebook be interested?

Could there be a social consolidation wave coming? Where Facebook will go on a buying spree and thereby add more social functionality and consolidate the information stream? Or will they buy one of the social consolidation apps and provide a concentrated place for all your streams?

Social Consolidation Projects
Threadsy
Raindrop

More developments towards gadget consolidation

Roger — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:48:48 +0000

A new Apple patent points towards using your iPod (and I think iPhone) as recording and playing device for TV media. Basically creating a great portable DVR. This falls nicely in line with my Gadget Consolidation thoughts. Just add streaming to the mix and we’re halfway there.

Apple Patent Shows iPods Capable Of Receiving and Recording Live TV (Gizmodo)

Haiti 48 hours later

Roger — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:01:20 +0000

A photo released on January 14, 2010 from the UN Minustah mission of an aerial view of a flattened shanty town in Port-au-Prince following a devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010. (LOGAN ABASSI/AFP/Getty Images)

Gripping images of the devastation 48 hours after the 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti.

Haiti 48 hours later (The Big Picture)

First online court in the Netherlands online

Roger — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:02:14 +0000

After two months of hard work we launched our biggest project to date today. e-Court is the first online court in the Netherlands. It’s a complete web-based solution to resolve your legal dispute (monetary claims mainly). Within 8 weeks and for a fraction of the cost of a regular court process, you can come to a conclusion, provided in a legal binding document. With a simple sign up, verification and invitation to the other party involved you start the process after which the site will guide both parties and the judge through the proceedings on a week to week basis. From sign up, payment, case files and verdict, it’s all done online. There is an option to have a hearing, where all parties involved can meet each-other during the process at a location chosen by the judge.

All in all this is our most ambitious project yet and we look forward to making it even better and helping it evolve over time.

The e-Court website

Three days in Iran

Roger — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:45:58 +0000

The Big Picture has posted a great photo essay depicting the recent protest in Iran. Taken by anonymous photographers they show both the opposition and pro-government demonstrations, their massive scale and the sad consequences of demonstrating against a totalitarian regime.

Three days in Iran (The Big Picture)

Nexus One launched

Roger — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:11:17 +0000

Google launched it’s first Google branded phone today, the Nexus One. It looks like a great product and should be the start of the next generation of smart phones. One feature that I can see setting this phone apart from other smart phones is its voice feature (see video below). They’ve implemented this very nicely and it should be a valuable addition to making this and future smartphones a truly smart and multifunctional tool. As always, I’m looking forward to Apple’s answer at the end of the month (the iSlate?) and their next generation iPhone later this year.

More Nexus One Videos
Nexus One Official Site

DigitalColor Meter

Roger — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:39:50 +0000

Daniel Brusilovsky found a great little tool with which you can analyze the RGB value of every pixel on your screen. Like him, I didn’t even know it existed. Should come in handy for anyone who works with colors on a Mac.

Hidden Mac Gem: DigitalColor Meter (TechCrunch)

First song “The High Road” of Broken Bells available as free download

Roger — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:37:07 +0000

The Broken Bells, a collaboration between producer Danger Mouse and James Mercer (The Shins) will be releasing their debut album March 9. I’m looking forward to this one and it’s cool to be able to listen to their first song, The High Road, for free.

Broken Bells Website
iTunes link to The High Road

All the best for the new year!

Roger — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 10:28:33 +0000

And happy holidays!