byteblog

We love WordPress. We use it for our blog, and are also considering it as a CMS for clients to be able to update their sites.

If you are a blogger, and haven’t tried it out yet, then check out version 2.7 at www.wordpress.org

Google have released a new version of their mapping software package, Google Earth, and this time it makes inroads into tackling the 70% of the Earth’s surface that previous versions have neglected – the bits covered in water.

Granted, you can’t really blame them for leaving it out, given that the average punter isn’t going to be interested in looking at mile after mile of water (although some people have devoted significant time to spotting boats in the midst of all that nothing).

It is only really in the past 40 years that we have begun to map the undersea surface, through the use of satellite and thermal/sonar imaging, and this understanding has allowed us to solve the problem that vexed the Victorian geologists and evolutionists – why are some species spread across the continents, and others not? The answer, the undersea mapping told us, is that the Earth’s crust is constantly moving and being replaced, and the continents, far from being static, were once clumped together and are still moving around on the surface of the molten interior.

Only 5% of the Earth’s ocean floor has been explored (by humans at least), and so scientists and technologists alike have welcomed the development of this side to Google Earth. Instead of spotting sunbathers on ocean-going yachts, perhaps those with a few spare hours could put their minds and eyes to something a bit more important, and not even get wet in the process.

The start of a new year is always an exciting time, but it is also greeted with a touch of apprehension. You never know what is around the corner, and with the doom and gloom from the media in the past 6 months, you would be forgiven for thinking that every business under the sun is having problems.

Happily, we have found that the adage that you should spend on marketing yourself during difficult times has held true. We’ve had more enquiries from existing and new clients in the first few weeks of 2009 than in any previous year since we started in 1999. Ranging from brochures, to new websites, to starting to sell online – people are asking about all sorts of things, and recognise that we need to remember that if we aren’t out there telling people we’re ready for business, then someone else will be.

We wish you every success for 2009!

Funny to think that it’s been 40 years since someone (Doug Engelbart) came up with the idea for the first computer mouse.

Made of wood, and with one button, it shook up the traditional ideas of computing and redefined how people should interact and use computers – they should help us.

Many of the things we take for granted today, and perhaps thought had only been around since the 80s and the first usable PC-based word processors, were demonstrated at that show in California in 1968. Copying, pasting and clipping text files and hyperlinking  - all things previously unheard of, were unveiled by Engelbart and the team behind NLS, the name of the system to put the ideas into practice.

What is perhaps most significant about the event was that NLS was adopted by the Stanford Research Institute who, together with UCLA, formed one of the two ends of the first link in the Arpanet network – what we now call the Internet. 

I think we should all raise a glass to Mr Engelbart today.

Read more at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7768481.stm

We have started work on an Application Tracking System for the sister company of add3 – Virtual App Factory. Purely web-based, It will allow them to track the status of customers’ software packages as they go through the process of virtualisation.

It’s late. You’ve had a few drinks. Instead of waiting until the morning to send that email, you’ve sat hunched over the keyboard and spat out a bilious missive to a client or a friend/ex, or (worse), declared undying love.

Go on, you can admit it. You’ve done it.

Now, in recognition of all those emails sent in haste, never to be recalled (wouldn’t THAT be a great invention – a “retract” button), Google has come up with a solution that although won’t stop you altogether, will at least make you think twice before pushing “send”. It’s called Mail Goggles, works with their GMail service, and the idea is that it presents you with a series of simple maths questions that you must answer correctly before being able to send the message.

It works during those key night-time hours when alcohol or just sheer exhaustion can play a big part in thinking whether something is a good idea or not. I think it’s just a shame they don’t do one for the phone too.

There’s a challenge for you, Google bods.

http://tinyurl.com/4gljkl

Despite tales of property woe everywhere, it seems, from here to Timbuctoo, Aspirational Homes have asked us to develop a property database for their current website at www.aspirational-homes.com that has been collecting customer information for over a year.

They offer a property search service for those looking to purchase in South-East Spain, and would like the facility to search a live property database added, including a wishlist so potential buyers can compile a portfolio before enquiring.

The Wormtech and Birch Farm DVDs have been delivered to the client, complete with cardboard wallets to contain the 3″ DVDs. If you’d like a sample, please contact us and we can get one out to you!

The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) has asked us to develop three interactive Flash objects for their website (www.ccw.gov.uk). The three objects will cover Wales’ Geological development in the following stages. 

• The Mineral Wealth of Wales
• Wales’ Journey Through Time
• Geologists Who Changed The Map Of Wales

Google has launched its first foray into the web browser market. It’s no surprise that they’ve extended their reach into this area, given that their business is based around the web and web marketing. Perhaps it is surprising that they’ve waited this long, but it comes at a time when both Mozilla and Microsoft have both launched the new versions of their popular browsers Firefox and Internet Explorer respectively.

At first look it is a very neat browser, with nice touches such as highlighted web addresses with the main domain of the site you are visiting in black, so you can easily see where you are – difficult on some sites with vast URLs.

No crashes yet, but we’re only a few hours in, so will keep you posted!