Back again. Major revamp to this weblog is still to be implemented. One important aspect is to add social media parts and I did minor testing with K2 using three columns, but I was not satisfied with the result. As I’m not willing to put too much effort on the theme itself, I searched for other solutions and found a good candidate. But more of that later.
For the last few days I have been migrating my photos to Flickr. The work is still in progress, but I found a wonderful small program called Blow Up. It uses Flickr public API and some flash to present Flickr photosets in a great-looking, fullscreen display.
View albums by typing a valid flickr username here.
You can try with my flicker feed at photos.kuusanmaki.com. This address works also for me as a quick link if there is a need to present my photos. The gallery might take a while to load, but it is great and intuitive!
Just had an inspiring conversation with one friend of mine. I mentioned a documentary about skyscraper history I saw few weeks ago and want to share it now.
It is about technological innovations, seven major leaps which made Burj Dubai possible. As for now, Burj Dubai is under construction and standing 637 meter high. The structure is generally believed to top out at 818 meters, but Emaar is keeping the final height a secret. An interesting article was released in Wired Magazine, where Bill Baker (the head structural engineer at SOM) tells interesting facts of the engineering process.
Burj Dubai crane shot
But back to the documentary: Channel 5’s Big, Bigger, Biggest – The Building of Burj Dubai (April 2008). Seven key inventions (elevator, materials, etc.) are presented with seven landmark buildings and clarifying animations. Many documentaries are so-so, but htis one is really worth watching. Thanks for UKHolidaydude for sharing this. Here is the first part:
Interesting weeks ahead. Or at least for the ones who are following this blog; might include only me. However, I have planned some major changes. I just updated my backup platform and moved to Time Capsule and while I’m waiting Apple to release new notebooks to replace my MacBook (2.0Ghz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Mac OS X 10.5.2), wait to see the following noteworthy changes:
WordPress 2.5 – First of all, I’ll update to the just released WordPress 2.5 (hopefully 2.5.1 is out by then issuing some minor problems which are always present in first releases). I have had some spam problems lately which I hope this update will also address. New theme may be applied too, but I have to make some further comparisons. Wait to see a more interactive design including comments, photos and links.
Flickr – I’m planning to move my photos to flickr after all. Now as flickr just enabled short videos and has an adequate RSS support (iPhoto subscriptions are possible, but not for full resolution images), it is the best service at the moment.
Posts – There will be more posts in Finnish as I noticed I’m writing mostly in English, excluding some short emails and sms. I hope to get back on track with weekly updates too. I know, I have said this before, but now as my graduation is getting closer it might be possible…
Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.
Steve Jobs, chief executive officer and co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, gave this speech at the Stanford University’s 114th Commencement in 2005. This is an old speech but somehow I have missed watching it. It’s well spent 13 minutes if you haven’t either:
Jobs at Stanford University in 2005.
Jobs amazes once again with his fascinating performance. He also summarize quite well a few points I have been thinking about lately. Well, I’m in the stage of graduating (unlike Jobs back then) from HSE and believe I have a great future ahead. We will see. The Whole Earth Catalog “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish” back cover can be found from here and the text of the speech is also available. Below is another quote; one which I’m definitely trying to pursue.
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
Nokia unveiled Morph, joint nanotechnology concept developed by Nokia Research Center and the University of Cambridge, on Monday 25th. From Nokia’s press release:
“Morph is a concept that demonstrates how future mobile devices might be stretchable and flexible, allowing the user to transform their mobile device into radically different shapes. It demonstrates the ultimate functionality that nanotechnology might be capable of delivering: flexible materials, transparent electronics and self-cleaning surfaces.”
I find these kinds of releases stirring; they push us to think a few moments outside the box. It is also amazing to see what is the human capable of creating.
Morph in wrist mode. (image from Nokia)
The same device in open mode. (image from Nokia)
We have some of these technologies already in use like self-cleaning windows (wiper-free windshields are on their way) and researchers are reporting about further advancements like clothes that clean themselves. What is the next big thing?
Possibilities with design and user interfaces with Morph are endless. Devices become context aware and part of us. These are steps to some stage of transhumanism, which is actually one topic I’m going to cover before summer. Let’s finish with a video demonstrating the Morph concept:
Welcome to year 2008. Starting today, I’m trying to catch up and be back to the normal once a week pace. First posts will cover some gadget recommendations and software tips.
Let’s start with handsets. Below you’ll find four great phones from which the last three qualifies as smartphones. All the devices are stylish and perfect for everyday use – depending on one’s needs. I have personally tested all the four and can recommend them. Click on phone model for technical specifications and prices are for unlocked devices in Finland including VAT (22 %).
As Mac market share is rising and Leopard released, I decided to write a comprehensive list of all the apps I’m using (in addition to the ones which came installed).
Moving to a new operating system comes always with some broken apps (like Onyx, Carbon Copy Cloner) and some hacks are not needed anymore. Also using old file formats might become impossible or do you have any idea with which software to play MODs and other old music files? PlayerPro used to be the one, but it isn’t distributed anymore (fortunately I have a version installed).
Back to the topic. New Macs have almost all the software a basic user needs (like iLife) so the above list is not long, but it helps making your Mac even more compatible and connected. And what’s best, all the software mentioned below is free expect the Shareware part.
Soikko on suomen kielen oikoluku- ja tavutusohjelma (aivan ehdoton asennus, kaikessa mitä koneella kirjoitat on tämän jälkeen oikoluku).
Windows Media Components for QuickTime – you can play Windows Media files (.wma and .wmv) directly in QuickTime Player and view Windows Media content on the Internet using a Web browser.
Perian adds native support for many popular video formats for QuickTime.
Xiph QuickTime Components is a set of QuickTime plug-ins that allow iTunes, and other QuickTime-based applications, to play ogg vorbis files.
Senuti is simple application that allows you to transfer songs from your iPod to your computer.
Facebook Exporter for iPhoto is a free plugin for iPhoto that enables you to export photos directly to your Facebook account.
WireTap you can record the discrete audio output of any application, as well as all system audio, or record audio input from any microphone, line-in, or audio input hardware.
EyeTV software, together with compatible hardware, turns your Mac into both a TV and a Digital Video Recorder (DVR).
Just read at Mashable that Google is planning to add IMAP support to GMail and some accounts might have it already enabled. Well, I decided to give it a shot, and wow, the result was:
GMail gets IMAP integration meaning better features especially with email clients. Finally I can delete mails from client and read status get synced.
Update: In order to ensure Trashed, Sent, Drafts, and Junk mail messages are sorted properly between Apple Mail and Gmail’s webmail interface, a few more steps are needed: “How-to: Proper Gmail IMAP for iPhone & Apple Mail”. Basically you should “merge” Google Labels with corresponding Apple Mail folders:
Once your Gmail IMAP account is added to Mail, you’ll notice your [Gmail account] in the left sidebar.
1. Highlight “[Gmail] Sent Mail” in the sidebar and select “Mailbox” (menu bar) > “Use This Mailbox For” > “Sent”.
2. Highlight “[Gmail] Drafts” in the sidebar and select “Mailbox” (menu bar) > “Use This Mailbox For” > “Drafts”
3. Highlight “[Gmail] Trash” in the sidebar and select “Mailbox” (menu bar) > “Use This Mailbox For” > “Trash”
4. Highlight “[Gmail] Spam” in the sidebar and select “Mailbox” (menu bar) > “Use This Mailbox For” > “Junk”
I’ve covered all the big mobile/IT launches and make no exception this time. Yesterday a few friends working at Nokia told about the Nokia press conference held in London on the same day and how the organization felt a little ashamed about the public presence of their company.
The conference is available as a webcast including Kallasvuo, Öistämö and Vanjoki presenting the New Nokia. Besides the so so English speaking capabilities the major problem with the webcast is camera working. Or the total lack of it. Watching a static video recorded miles away from the scene is not a nice experience.
The presentation starts with a concept of 4th screen: screen (basically the way we experience and see) evolution starting from public places via television to computers and now finally mobile phones. Mobile devices are becoming the most popular platform for people to enjoy digital content and share their experiences. No denying.
Nokia is transforming to a service company and this was the main message carried out. Finally Nokia seems to be thinking beyond the device; services and complete experience. Vanjoki presented a new umbrella brand for Nokia’s Internet Services: Ovi (a Finnish word meaning “the door”), which will include web communities, Nokia Music and N-Gage parts. So mobile is about personality. The device is many times the first thing you touch in the morning (stopping the alarm) and the last when going to sleep (setting the alarm). Music plays a big role in Nokia’s vision. iTunes revolutionized the distribution and Nokia is now in the game with Ovi platfrom launching in november. During the conference two new music phones were introduced accompanied by two new multimedia computers with a new S60 interface. There were some words about future Nokia devices too: starting in next year, Nokia is entering the touch screen world and a concept was presented (we have seen this before):
On of the most hyped things, location based services, seems to be still years ahead. I’m slowly approaching “update all your gadgets” time, but iPhone needs an update and digital cameras have to include GPS chips before I can make any moves. Fortunately the phase of development is rapid, and we might see a hint of the future next week (September 5th), when Apple is having a Special Event where it is expected to launch Mac OS X -based iPods.
The idea for this list came from Transformers Movie which included many close-ups of F-22. The two fighters (F-22 & Su-27) have always been among my favorite aircrafts, but now the list is complemented. There are many reasons why I chose the below mentioned models and I can justify my picks if someone demands. For now: they are beautiful examples of state of the art design.
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