Today’s CES news (even though the convention hasn’t even actually started yet) was mostly just crazy TV news, but Sony announced their new Xperia Z device during their keynote and it actually looks really good. I didn’t think I’d ever say that about a Sony phone. It literally checks all the boxes:

• High resolution / pixel density screen
• Expandable Storage
• Great Design
• Great Performance
• Exclusive Features (Waterproof[!], NFC accessories)
• Incredible Camera (13MP[!])
• Hackability¹

My next phone might actually be a Sony device, they’ve finally set themselves apart. You can read more here, but the device is due out in Q1 2013. Not bad.

¹: Sony named XDA OEM of the year for support of Android development

This post has been kicking around in my mind for a few weeks now, but I’ve not really been sure what to write down exactly. Consider it a collection of notes.

I’ve been trialing the Lumia 920 since December, and have been giving it a fair go. The more I use it, the less I’m convinced that Microsoft/Nokia understand anything about the mobile market.

It’s heavy

I’m sure this drum has been beat on many times, but the Lumia 920 is so heavy that it’s a joke. It’s not the kind of nice heavy that the iPhone 4 was when it came out, nor is it the nice heavy that you know is well deserved because of some special feature. It’s just plain old heavy.

After using the device for a few weeks, I was assured by Microsoft lovers abound that I would get used to it, but I did not. Every time I picked up the device, I resented the weight. I think this is partially thanks to the fact that the outside of...

The simple answer to your question is- yes, users want multiple windows. Based on research, according to the article, the average user has 4 active windows on screen at any one time. For me personally, I kind of see this question as a no-brainer. When was the last time anyone only used one window?

Interesting discussion over on Stackexchange UX about Windows 8 and the lack of actual “windows” in the new Windows.

The discussion revolves around Microsoft’s choice to move away from the traditional tiled window desktop and to the Metro interface. The argument is that by switching to the full screen by default model in the future that users will be less productive as productivity seems to increase with window count.

The blogosphere has been buzzing with the news that Andrew Sullivan (of The Daily Beast) has created a publishing experiment in the form of an advertisement free blog that offers subscriptions to readers and has successfully raised a whopping six-figures in less than a day. Wow.

Whilst this news is inspiring, it’s also disheartening. Blogs like Daring Fireball, The Loop and Andrew’s new creation are extremely popular and fascinating but are the exceptions to the rule. As an aspiring writer, I would one day love to build a platform I could live off that didn’t end up caving in to advertisements everywhere. I’d love to go into writing full time and work from home (or a fancy web company office) one day. I love doing it, and like to think I have the ability to inspire and make people think.

The thing is, these goals are hard to reach. The online blogging space is so saturated with...

I’ve been somewhat of a advocate for Windows 8, a person who enjoys it for the most part on the desktop because of various improvements but hasn’t found Metro as “inspiring” as Microsoft claims it to be.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been trialing Samsung’s Ativ Smart PC, the flagship Windows 8 convertible for the company. What I thought would be an experience of the future of computing (with a ultraportable, tablet PC) ended up being an exercise in futility which showed just how much Microsoft doesn’t get it still.

On the first day I received the brand new, untouched device, I got it out of the box. Immediately I turned it on, booted it up and began to set it up. Then, I plugged it into a USB drive and this happened:

I figured this would be a one off, rebooted and carried on. It wasn’t. Every now and then, when I least expected it, the device blue screened. After figuring this was...

Two weeks ago, I went to a first for the city I live in (Wellington, New Zealand). TEDx, the prestigious event for spreading ideas finally came to town – in the form of TEDx Te Aro. My girlfriend and I went along to see what ideas were going to be shared(and to support her mum, who was speaking) and I came away empowered about how complacent we all are.

When you work full time for a business, you get comfortable. I mean really comfortable. Every day is somewhat the same, so living a life of going through the motions is easy. You get caught up in a world that talks about performance reviews, salaries, performance, business meetings, red tape and there’s no space to innovate. To do something new. To lead the way.

Going to an event like TEDx and hearing from speakers that are shaking up the world (and their every day lives) by doing things that would be considered crazy or risky is...

I guess this retailer in my city is desperate for people to love Windows 8.

This is just too good to not post.

If you didn’t know, Will.I.am is somehow the frontman for Intel’s innovation business. He was interviewed by BBC recently, and when asked about smartphones (or the lack thereof);

“What are you telling the guys at Intel? They’re actually nowhere in the smartphone space”

Will.I.am replies after much hesitation: “Okay. Well, these smartphones still need servers. I wonder what servers are using. Intel.”

I don’t know about you, but I burst out laughing at that point. You’ve got to see the awkwardness for yourself, check out the video at 1 minute in.

Well, the last month has been a bit insane, and I know I’ve been pretty quiet here. Just a quick update:

First, I’ve been trying to finish my degree and have been wrestling with my final paper which is due next Wednesday. I’ve learnt a lot in the process, especially patience, and how to deal with an insane amount of stress. I can’t wait for that phase in my life to be over. There’s been a lot going on at work too (I’m a Network Engineer in the real world) which has been pretty stressful and tiring.

Second, some big exciting news! I’ve been picked up by The Next Web to do some freelance feature work for the guys. They’re awesome, and I’m totally humbled to have a space/audience to write the feature pieces I’ve been wanting to do. Very grateful to the guys for giving me the opportunity. TNW is pretty much going for world domination, and it’s thrilling to be a part of it.

It’s...

I don’t know why the mainstream media hasn’t covered this more, but Windows 8 isn’t just Microsoft’s big new Operating System that is going to somehow change the way we think about computing, it’s also now an advertising platform designed to sell you, the user.

There hasn’t been that much coverage on this, but Microsoft is heavily pushing their new advertising platform which just happens to be the OS that you paid for. This isn’t really widely used yet, but the effects are already obvious in many of the bundled Metro UI applications already displaying ads.

But what does that mean for me?!

Well, this isn’t the first time that Microsoft has shown ads to users that actually pay for their services. Last year, when Microsoft launched their new dashboard for the Xbox 360, ads were in tow. Many thought they would disappear if you subscribed to Xbox Live (you know, an additional cost of...