Author: Olly

  • Why i like twitter

    Ive had accounts on most of the top social networking sites just because they were there i suppose. I never really got on with the myspace interface, and the flashing backgrounds and 4 different songs starting at one time started to piss me off a bit. Facebook is a excellent way of finding people you have lost touch with, and sharing what you and your friends do at the weekend.  But i just see facebook as a way of sharing things we are doing with thousands of people. A marketing tool so to speak. Plus i get so annoyed having to block applications, deny gifts, and cancel all the other crap everyone sends me!

    Then along came twitter.

    Initially i had no idea what the hell use it could ever be. It was so simple, and i really saw no benefit to anyone. Then i started following a few people. I added people that made software i had bought, and i started receiving up-to-date info about the next release of that software. I added Jimmy Carr and found a funny one liner popping up every now and then. I added some people who do similar work to me, and the things they were talking about were relevant to what i do every day.

    I suddenly found myself hooked to this on the pulse news being sent to a tab in my browser.

    Then i didn’t have access to my pc for a day, and when i got back to work i had totally forgotten all about it. Once i remembered i went back on and started to notice it was quite inconvenient having to check that tab every time i wanted to see if anything had been said.

    So i looked for an app to help me keep updated. I noticed a friend of mines posts were from something called twitterfox, DING, it hit me. What an idiot. I have everything else plugged into my browser, and i hadn’t even thought to look for a firefox extension! Thanks stu!

    Now i get instantly notified of any tweets and im finding it more and more useful each day.

    I also like how they have left it VERY simple, and they have left everything else you might be able to use twitter for up to everyone else.

    Ive noticed LOADS of sites that use twitter in different ways. Finding hot talked about topics, integrating pictures even finding specific people to follow in an attempt at getting them to return the favor for use in advertising etc.

    I heard that google are looking to buy twitter, too. T hat should be interesting.

    Peace out, im now going to bed – and then going on holiday.

    Adios!

  • Ever lost a window off your screen in xp?

    When im in the office i use an extra monitor as well as my laptop screen, and i have my different windows on different monitors doing their bitniss.

    If – for example – i have my firefox browser open on my extra monitor, and i have clicked a browse button to add a picture to a blog post or something, my laptop will remember which monitor the dialog window was open on when i clicked OK, and ALWAYS open it on that monitor unless you move it, and click OK on another window.

    I got home tonight and i wanted to test our youtube style modified car video site (maxxd.tv) as i have recently updated the software. I clicked browse to select a test vid, and the window opened on the monitor that wasnt there!

    I do have it disabled in my display settings, it just seems to not understand what’s going off. Ive had the problem before and i just left that particular job until i was next using that screen.

    However tonight i wanted to resolve the issue, instead of sweeping it under the carpet.

    So i did some googling and found mostly a bunch of shite from people who obviously don’t know what the hell they are talking about, and amongst the shite was something that looked a bit more techie orientated, so i clicked and BINGO.

    Heres the solution!

    1. Hold down Alt + Spacebar
    2. Press the M key
    3. Use the arrow keys to relocate the window
    4. Press the Enter key when you have the Window in the desired location.

    Its simply the keyboard alternative to right clicking on the title bar of the window and selecting move. It never dawned on me to do that, as i wasn’t aware i could control the movement of the windows with the keyboard.

    I thought i would share it, as like i said most of the stuff i found on google was crap, so at least there will be two decent results when people are searching.

    Cheers Kevin!

  • Long Exposure Photos

    I got a new camera for xmas off Gemma, and i love it. I have taken it to a show and it works WELL, plus i have pissed around with it taking photos of everything so i can try and figure out how to use it properly. Its not a SLR camera, but it does have a lot of more advanced features to allow me to take photos with a long exposure setting..

    Not bad considering i was stood outside, in the freezing cold and with no tripod! Its the first time i have played around with the exposure settings, i still dont understand them totally but im getting there!

  • Its called eBay, and you are supposed to BID!!

    I am quite a well respected seller on eBay, i have brill feedback and im in the top 5000 reviewers – so you could say im a  seasoned eBay veteran.

    I know what to write when selling something, and i no what to ask when buying.

    So from time to time friends ask me to sell things for them on eBay, as im quite good at getting a good price for stuff. A mate of mine has recently asked me to sell his motorbike for him, and boy o boy have i had to deal with some muppets.

    First off, the description of the bike was well detailed, it told when the bike was serviced, what was done, and when it was done, whats been changed, bla bla  bla. There were about 20 detailed photos, and  more info you could shake a stick at. Auction started at 1500 quid, obviously no reserve set as it didn’t say the word reserve anywhere. Local pickup preferred, nearby local delivery possible at additional cost.

    The first question i get, is;

    “Hi mate what condition is the bike in, and is it a runner”

    What the fudge? Have you read the description? Have you looked at the 20 detailed photos?

    Second question;

    “how much would it be to deliver to Edinburgh”

    How the fuck do i know? Do you expect me to waste my time finding out? Are you buying the bike, or am i?

    At this point we had a bidder, so 1 bid @ 1500 – bangin.

    Next question;

    “how much is the reserve/buy it now price”

    There isn’t one. obviously. Or it would say reserve not met/reserve met and have a buy it now button on my auction.

    Another question;

    “hi do you still have the bike and where is Mansfield”

    Well, the fucking auction is still running – do motorbikes have a habit of blowing away in the wind?

    Same person;

    “ok what do you want to end the auction can i view it tomorrow morning”

    The auction had ONE day left, so i simply said if you want it please bid on it.

    Same person again

    “so can i come see it tomorrow then”

    Yes, if you win the auction.

    ———————

    If you want to buy something, then visit a shop. eBay is an ONLINE AUCTION SITE!

    Sheesh.