TPN :: The Gadget Show

If There Is Only One Podcast

Richard Giles — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 12:04:33 +0000

I watched some Billy Connolly today. He is a genius. As it turns out, it’s a brilliant warm up to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which starts in a few short days (well, they’re longer in Scotland right now, but you get my meaning).

So if you love comedy, and lets face it, who doesn’t, then there is one podcast you’ve got to subscribe to: TPN Edinburgh Fringe Show.

My mate Ewan did such a fantastic job of covering it last year that he was nominated for a BAFTA–no joke.

I’m subscribed. It’s my lunch time listening for the next few of weeks.

The Gadget Show #55: Will Pate from Flock

Richard Giles — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 04:17:07 +0000

The Gadget Show #055 (MP3 – 12.6MB – 36min 45sec)

Download the podcast by right-clicking on this link.

Today’s guest is Will Pate who is the Community Ambassador of Flock.

Flock is a free web browser that makes it easier than ever to share photos, stay up-to-date with news from your favorite sites, and search the Web. Take our tour to learn what’s different about Flock, then download the beta to get started - and please tell us what you think.

Will and I talk about his background, and how he arrived at Flock. We also discuss his role, and what a Community Ambassador does, what tools they use, his traveling exploits, and appearances on Flickr at what seems like every tech conference. I also get his view on the recent BlogHer conference.

We also discuss Flock, it’s features, whether it services a niche or something a lot larger, it’s revenue model, and some features that the team hope to release in the near future.

Thanks again Will for the time today! It was very much appreciated.

Multitasking Maestro

Richard Giles — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 13:30:11 +0000

Multitasking Maestro

Originally uploaded by rich115.

While at BloggerCon I snapped this photo. Kevin Marks multitasking: messaging on his Sidekick, chatting in the IRC backchannel on his laptop, and live streaming video from his digital camera (plugged in to the laptop, and streaming across the wifi).

The Gadget Show #54: Chris Messina

Richard Giles — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 07:23:13 +0000

The Gadget Show #054 (MP3 – 16MB – 46min 35sec)

Download the podcast by right-clicking on this link.

I had the chance to chat with Chris Messina, aka Factory Joe, at BarCamp San Francisco on my last trip to the US. I asked him the other day if he’d be a guest on The Gadget Show, and he graciously accepted.

Chris recently setup a business with Tara Hunt and Ben Metcalfe called Citizen Agency. It’s an amazing new way of approaching business online, and I wanted to get his run down of the company.

We talk about his time with Civic Space, the design of the Firefox Browser New York Times Advertisement, Flock, and his latest endeavors with BarCamp (and how it all started), Microformats, and his thoughts on the new ways of the Internet.

We also have a chat about the design for Citizen Agency’s mark, and the need for texture.

I’ve also involved in pushing for a BarCamp Perth, so if you’re local, jump to the page and signup to help. In the mean time, you can catch up with my hijinx at Clique Communications weblog, or Web2Thing.

Also, check out TPN’s eBay auction for adverts on some of the shows. Currently a bargain!

The Gadget Show Forum

Richard Giles — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 16:51:06 +0000

TPN has opened The Gadget Show Forum.

Everything goes here. If you have suggestions, requests, questions, discussion points, or perhaps people you think would be great to interview on the show, then lets hear about it on the forum.

Let the conversation begin.

The Gadget Show #53: Gil Penchina from Wikia

Richard Giles — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 07:00:21 +0000

The Gadget Show #053 (MP3 – 10.8MB – 31min 20sec)

Download the podcast by right-clicking on this link.

Thanks to Joe Urban I spent some time chatting with Gil Penchina fron Wikia. Gil recently left an 8 year stint at Ebay to join the wiki community business, and I chat with him about his time globe trotting, what Wikia is and how it compares to Wikipedia, as well as a range of communtity and startup topics.

If you’re interest in Wikia then a great starting point is it’s List of Wikia which contains all the existing Wikia, including the one about the television show Lost and Gil’s Frequent Flyer topic.

Also please head to Podcast Alley to vote.

Headed to Supernova and Gnomedex

Richard Giles — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 11:56:21 +0000

Clay, of Minti fame, suggested the other day that I attend Supernova and Gnomedex in a couple of weeks. It wasn’t a simple decision, because I’m in the middle of bootstrapping a startup with Presence Labs, and every dime counts.

However, the opportunity to network with a bunch of people and hang out with Clay won out, and I’ve almost finalized my travel plans.

So, if you’ll be in San Francisco or Seattle around the two events, flick me an email and we can meet to have a beer or coffee.

The Gadget Show #52: Gilad Japhet of MyHeritage

Richard Giles — Wed, 31 May 2006 07:36:33 +0000

The Gadget Show #052 (MP3 – 18.6MB – 54min 05sec)

Download the podcast by right-clicking on this link.

I discovered MyHeritage a week ago when I heard about its celebrity facial recognition demo (you can see the result here). I had a further look at the soon to be released service, and realized how fantastic the possibility is of collaborating with family members with an online genealogy tool, so I sent an email asking if I could chat.

Gil Japhet is MyHeritage’s CEO, and as it turns out, is a fascinating fellow to talk to about technology, facial recognition, and genealogy. Given my mum is right into researching our family tree, I have a personal interest in what Gil is about to launch.

Gil talks about how their service will work, the technicalities of facial recognition, the problem with genealogy data, and Israel as an entrepreneur incubator.

Thanks Gil for spending the time to talk.

Ken Kennedy also sends in a audio message and mentions Yochai Benkler’s book called, The Wealth of Networks and the audio at AudioBerkman. I’ve got to check both out.

Also grab the TPN Flyer, make sure you get a photo from an unusual location to win a prize, and please head to Podcast Alley to vote.

Google Maps Australia

Richard Giles — Fri, 19 May 2006 06:20:54 +0000

Could it have been because of Zoomin?

As pointed out by Disambiguity, Google Maps has finally released street level maps for Australia.

I’m looking forward to this rolling into Google Earth.

Which Mobile Next

Richard Giles — Fri, 19 May 2006 05:59:00 +0000

My mobile phone contract is about to end, which means I can move to another provider or renew with B Digital. Regardless it’s an opportunity for me to look at a new mobile phone and contract. I currently have a Nokia 7610, on a B Everyphone Saver 77 plan.

I’m thinking I should look at a contract that caps the calls, but also includes capped data. I’d also like to get my GMail while on the go.

My one caveat is that I’d like to go Nokia, because my brother works for the company.

Anyone got any suggestions?

The Gadget Show #51: Wannabe Geek - How To Podcast

Richard Giles — Thu, 04 May 2006 13:26:38 +0000

The Gadget Show #051 (MP3 – 18.3MB – 53min 20sec)

Download the podcast by right-clicking on this link.

David Gray returns to the show for another Wannabe Geek session to talk about how to start a podcast. David recently launched the Global Geek Podcast, and so comes with a head full of useful information for a newbie podcaster.

Questions

- I have a great idea for a podcast, what makes a great idea anyway?

- What hardware do I need to get my own podcast happening?

- What software should I download or buy that would be useful?

- What is a bit rate?

- What is KHZ in my audio player?

- How should I record my podcast?

- Can I record Skype calls and are there any alternatives to buying a Mac?

- How should I record my podcast?

- OK Podcast recorded, what are the most important elements for a new
podcaster to get right, even though there will be things that are not right?

- What file format should I export the podcast as?

- What bit rate should the file be encoded at?

- What size should I expect my podcast to be and what do consumers think
is a reasonable size?

- So I have this GREAT Podcast I supose that I need to host it
somewhere, what are my options?

- If I want something fancy like a domain name how do I go about getting
one of those?

- What should I expect to pay for hosting?

- What are some ways of developing an audience and traffic on my site?

- What would a reasonable number of listeners be for my first couple of
shows?

- Can I make money from podcasting?

- Where is podcasting going and is there a place for my small production
in the future?

For those wanting to see what podcast rig I started with last year, you can find it at Flickr here, and the new rig here.

The Gadget Show #50: Craig Newmark from craigslist.org

Richard Giles — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 05:14:53 +0000

The Gadget Show #050 (MP3 – 9.2MB – 26min 40sec)

Download the podcast by right-clicking on this link.

I heard Craig Newmark on a recent podcast the other week, and decided that I’d love to hear his perspective on the current state of the Internet. With much talk about web 2.0, and social software, I thought he’d have some interesting insight into both because of his craigslist.org service.

For those not aware, Craigs List describes itself as “Local community classifieds and forums - a place to find jobs, housing, goods & services, social activities, a girlfriend or boyfriend, advice, community information, and just about anything else — all for free, and in a relatively non-commercial environment.”

Craig’s title is Customer Service Representative, which given he’s also the Founder and Chairman, should go a long way to describe his attitude to the organisation.

Also grab the TPN Flyer, make sure you get a photo from an unusual location to win a prize, and please head to Podcast Alley to vote.

The Gadget Show #49: Generation HERE

Richard Giles — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 08:00:05 +0000

The Gadget Show #049 (MP3 – 15.0MB – 43min 20sec)

LISTEN HERE

As many listeners will know, I’m a huge fan of understanding the way that technology is changing people and our culture. So I felt lucky that I was offered the opportunity to chat with someone who spent weeks researching how 3G technology was effecting different people and cultures around the world.

Stephen Armstong, a journalist in England, helped produce a publication from Motorola. Called “Generation HERE” it “is the first publication to investigate the impact of 3G on peoples’ everyday lives to reveal a whole new world of social and cultural interaction.” You can find it at Motorola Generation HERE.

I spent just over half an hour with Stephen discussing some of the amazing findings, such as the practice of gift-giving a cell phone to women in Dubai as a tactic in picking them up, and reverse call-waiting where people face-to-face are “put on hold” while an incoming call is taken. There are literally dozens of other examples like this in the report, and Stephen and I discuss some fun and amazing facts.

If you’re half interested in the ways we are changing due to technology, you’ll enjoy the discussion I have with Stephen.

Also grab the TPN Flyer, make sure you get a photo from an unusual location to win a prize, and please head to Podcast Alley to vote.

The Gadget Show #48: George Oates from Flickr

Richard Giles — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 14:28:13 +0000

The Gadget Show #048 (MP3 – 13.1MB – 38min 15sec)

LISTEN HERE

I was happy to learn, while writing How to Use Flickr: The Digital Photography Revolution, that one of Flickr’s team is an Aussie. So when George Oates contacted me to congratulate me on finishing the book, I asked if she’d be a guest on the show. What better way to get an understanding of what it’s like in Flickr, and Silicon Valley, than from another down-to-earth Australian.

We chat about George’s background, her trip to north America, working at Ludicorp, how she designs sights, and the general humanization of the Internet.

Thanks for your time George! It was good fun talking to an Aussie in the thick of it.

Also grab the TPN Flyer, make sure you get a photo from an unusual location to win a prize, and please head to Podcast Alley to vote.

TPN Mini-Listener Survey

Richard Giles — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 06:52:57 +0000

We’ve set up a new TPN survey! Only one page long! You can do it in seconds! CLICK HERE and help us out.

RIP, Amos

Richard Giles — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 00:32:59 +0000

Dave, our resident wannabe geek lost a mate over the weekend: his dog Amos.

Swing over to his blog, for the full story.

Sorry to hear of the loss Dave. A pet is always a part of the family, and it’s a hard time when you loose one.

The Gadget Show #47: Wannabe Geek - VOIP

Richard Giles — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 20:41:15 +0000

The Gadget Show #047 (MP3 – 16.1MB – 46min 40sec)

LISTEN HERE

Before I left for ETech I had David Gray on the show for a “Wannabe Geek” session. It ended up being so popular, that I had several requests to provide a seperate audio file of the discussion. So I decided we’d make it a seperate Gadget Show.

David did a heap of work leading up to this, and prepared a bunch of questions about Voice Over IP (VOIP). We cover:
What is Voip?
What is a softphone?
What is Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)?
Examples of Voip?
What is the voice quality like on Voip compared to a land line?
How does Voip work?
What are CODEC’s?
What has been the impact of Voip you as a podcaster?
Why is a Voip so inexpensive?
What are some of the limitations of Voip?
Why is it that a lot of companies are jumping on the Voip “bandwagon”?
What Voip application is the easiest to set up and use? Why?
What is the future of Voip technology?

Thanks for doing all the work David!

Also grab the TPN Flyer, make sure you get a photo from an unusual location to win a prize, and please head to Podcast Alley to vote.

The Gadget Show #46: Derek Powazek

Richard Giles — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 04:16:53 +0000

The Gadget Show #046 (MP3 – 12.7MB – 36min 45sec)

LISTEN HERE

Derek Powazek is an amazing designer. He’s been involved with HotWired, Pyra, Blogger, Technorati, and JPG Magazine. He currently appears at the top of Stylegala’s All Stars and Top Rated lists, an “online resource and inspiration guide for web agencies, designers and developers who take interest in websites that combine the powers of design, web standards and CSS.”

Derek was at ETech, and gave a presentation titled “The New Community.” It encapsulates everything that the web is today.

We discuss his background, ETech, SXSW, and the new community. I plan to have him back on the show in the next couple of weeks to talk in more detail about design, as it’s one of those Web 2.0 hot topics.

Thanks for joining us Derek.

Also grab the TPN Flyer, make sure you get a photo from an unusual location to win a prize, and please head to Podcast Alley to vote.

My Flickr Book Available on Amazon

Richard Giles — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 18:22:07 +0000

My latest book, How to Use Flickr: The Digital Photography Revolution, is now available on Amazon. The funny thing is, and a repercussion of being on the other side of the planet to my publisher, there’s a good chance a bunch of people will receive a copy before I do.

Looking for a unique and creative place to store, organize, search, and securely share your digital photographs? Welcome to Flickr?a revolution in digital photography! How to Use Flickr: The Digital Photography Revolution is your one-stop guide to the capabilities of Flickr. All the basic Flickr features are presented, including how to create and set up your account and profile and how to upload your photos. Later chapters detail more advanced Flickr features such as how to organize your collection, share your photos, utilize print services, and get involved in the Flickr community. Once you?re accustomed to Flickr, you?ll learn to take advantage of cool capabilities such as publishing your photos to a weblog, uploading photos with a camera phone, and using Flickr with other useful applications. More than just a how-to guide, this book features interesting anecdotes, interviews, tips, and real-life photos and examples from actual Flickr users. Get ready to embrace and share the Flickr revolution!

Swing over to Amazon and check it out, and if you’re so inclined you can always order a copy :).

The Gadget Show #45: ETech Wrap-Up

Richard Giles — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 23:27:17 +0000

The Gadget Show #045 (MP3 – 8.1MB – 23min 20sec)

LISTEN HERE

Todays show is a monologue about O’Reilly’s Emerging Technology Conference. I give you a review fresh out of the conference, literally hours after it finished. So, you’ll have to excuse the jetlag, braindrain, and bad quality mic.

If you’d like more info on what I ellude to, check out my live-blog of ETech at my Clique Communications weblog. It’s my 10,000 Miles to ETech special edition. Subscribe to the RSS, and stay tuned for potentially a few more podcasts while on my trip.

Anyone who’ll be in San Francisco on March 11 should register for the Geek Dinner, and I’ll see you there. Alternatively, send me an email (richard.giles@gmail.com) to hook up.

Also grab the TPN Flyer and make sure you get a photo from an unusual location to win a prize.

My 10,000 Miles to ETech Flickr Set

Richard Giles — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 06:58:08 +0000

I’ve created a Flickr Set to house the photographs I plan to take on my ETech trip, a photo-documentary of a 10,000 mile trip to a geek’s conference, called 10,000 Miles to ETech.

It doesn’t contain much right now, but it’ll fill up. If you’re ultra-geeky, like me, you can subscribe to the set’s RSS feed.

If you want to stay up to date, I’ll be live-blogging my trip at Clique Communications.

The Gadget Show #44: Mac Malware and RSS

Richard Giles — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 02:08:32 +0000

The Gadget Show #044 (MP3 – 22.4MB – 64min 55sec)

LISTEN HERE

Today’s show is long. Perhaps to do with the lack of shows that I’ve recorded with Cameron on G’Day World, or perhaps because I wanted to cram in a few segments before I headed to ETech. However, it’s almost split into two manageable chunks if you have to shorten your listening time.

First I chat with Kirk, who can be found at the Kirkville weblog. We discuss the latest virus threat to the Mac, what it means to Apple geeks, how he investigated, and the article he co-authored at Macworld. We also have a quick chat about the new Apple products, and our lackluster impression.

I also start a new segment with David Gray (check out David’s blog), which we call The Wanna Be Geek. Each segment we’ll discuss a technology topic in layman terms. So, if you’re confused about RSS, I’ll try and shed some light on the subject (or just confuse you more). Next time Dave’s on, we’ll chat about VOIP.

If you’re into technology I’ll be live blogging ETech at my Clique Communications weblog. It’s my 10,000 Miles to ETech special edition. Subscribe to the RSS, and stay tuned for a few podcasts while on my trip.

Anyone who’ll be in San Francisco on March 11 should register for the Geek Dinner, and I’ll see you there. Alternatively, send me an email (richard.giles@gmail.com) to hook up.

Also grab the TPN Flyer and make sure you get a photo from an unusual location to win a prize.