The Filter^

When Gmail and google calender come together

Not sure if I'm the only one that's noticed this, but I find myself using the "tasks" feature in google calender as a "to do" list. The fact that it is embedded within the calender is great, but it actually goes beyond that. Although gmail allows you to view your upcoming "events" from your calender, it doesn't show you your "tasks". So it seems obvious to me that gmail should embed the tasklist alongside your inbox. In this regard, your email, calender, and to do list are essentially three different things.

Well, it looks like i'm not the only one - gmail will soon allow you to view "tasks" in the menu bar.

Website of the month: BookshelfPorn.com

http://bookshelfporn.com/archive

A ridiculous indictment of self-involvement

I use MobileMe, because I want an online cloud storage for files and I anticipate that it will become free quite soon. It's not perfect, but I have faith that Apple are working on it. One of the unexpected benefits (indeed for some the sole benefit) is that you can use it to locate your iPhone, send messages to the screen, and indeed wipe all the data remotely. Provided you set it to allow push notification (which I don't), it's pretty cool to think that if some random knobhead steals your phone, you can send a few lines of abuse before crashing the entire device.

However I was surprised to see this as an iPhone app. If I've lost my phone, I can't very well use the app! According to Apple:

if you lose your iPhone or iPad while on the go, simply install this free app on any other iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to find it

Ok, I appreciate that in the eyes of Steve Jobs we all have multiple "mobile" devices. But notice how the pitch here is to install that app on someone else's phone. I've installed it myself, because I've realised that if a friend loses their phone then now they'd be able to use mine to contact it remotely. In other words, the value of the product is that it would allow me to do someone else a favour. But note how this is the reverse of what Apple have in mind.

Tweaking the Carrington header in Wordpress

Since moving my personal website to Wordpress.com, I've been impressed by the Carrington theme but trying to find out how to customise the header. In default, the links to pages (the main navigational tool) appears underneath the title of the site (meaning people can mistake it for being part of the the title), whilst the links to categories (of less importance), takes prominence within a stand out bar. In addition, the links to site admin/log in serve no purpose that I can appreciate.

After much searching, I found a website using the Carrington theme that had solved these problems, and the owner kindly emailed me some instructions. So, for the record:

Appearance >> Editor >> "header-default.php"

1. Cut (not copy) the following

                               <div id="navigation">
                                       <ul class="nav clearfix">
                                               <?php wp_list_pages('title_li='); ?>
                                               <li class="secondary"><?php wp_loginout(); ?></li>
                                               <?php wp_register('<li class="secondary">', '</li>'); ?>
                                       </ul>
                               </div><!-- #navigation -->

2. Delete the following and replace with the text from step 1

                               <div id="all-categories">
                                       <strong id="all-categories-title"><?

php _e('Categories:',
'carrington-blog'); ?></strong>
                                       <ul class="nav clearfix">
                                               <?php wp_list_categories('title_li='); ?>
                                       </ul>
                               </div><!-- #list-categories -->

3. Delete the following (from the code above)

                                               <li class="secondary"><?php wp_loginout(); ?></li>
                                               <?php wp_register('<li class="secondary">', '</li>'); ?>

What's the point of the iPad?

Despite being a massive fan of Apple, I have no inclination to buy an iPad. I see it as a middle ground between an iPhone and an iBook, but failing to compensate for the weaknesses of either. The problem with the iPhone is that it's difficult to create content - it's merely a portable device to consume media. The problem with the iBook is it doesn't fit in your pocket, and if you're out all day it's a hassle to bring it with you. The iPad doesn't solve either of these problems - if I'm out and about I'd rather an iPhone, if I need to create content I'll use an iBook. When would I use it?

Having said that, I'm no longer a student (moving house once a year and spending summers traveling, where there's no point having a desktop computer since you don't have a desk. Now I do have a desk, so I'm questioning whether to replace my current iBook with a new one. Here's where the iPad might come in useful - as a component part of a desktop computer.

Some of the most ingenious uses of the iPad have focused on combining it with other hardware (e.g. defunct keyboards) or indeed housing it within defunct units. These all seem to utilise the iPad as being a monitor.

So here's something I think I would find useful: a mac mini (providing storage, memory and OSX), a wireless keyboard and mouse, and an iPad as a monitor. Obviously this would all depend on some form of compatibility between the mobile OS and OSX that would allow you to alternate between the iPad as a purely external device (i.e. no touch screen) when it's connected to the mac mini, and when you unplug it you have a standard iPad. This set up would have a tiny footprint, because the mac mini could be stored on a shelf, away from the desk, in the same way that external hard drives are hidden from view (could it perhaps even be wireless?) Is it possible that an iPad could be used as a passive monitor?

I find it hard to see this happening, but it's a set up that genuinely bridges the world of desktop and laptops and touchscreen, mobile tablet devices.

Social networking for hermits

Smashing magazine provide a nice overview of how to permanently delete your accounts with various social networking sites. If you think facebook is difficult, look at wordpress.com or wikipedia.

The Carcassonne app has arrived

I'm a massive fan of the tile game Carcassonne. It's simple and intuitive to grasp the basic rules, it doesn't take hours to play, it's strategic, and it's hard to know who's won until the very end. If you've never heard of it then do take a look (or come round to ours for a game). The iPhone App has now been released, and it's phenomenal. The gameplay is beautiful and addictive without quite replacing the joy of the actual game. I'm aware that there's countless "extensions" to the game, so it grows as you do. Take a look!

The improved anthonyjevans.com

For the last year or so I've used Weebly.com for my personal website. For a number of reasons (mostly pragmatic) I recently decided to switch hosts and interface. Therefore I'm now using a wordpress.org account on a media temple server. I've also opened a mobile me account to store online files and give me access to a convenient cloud.

http://anthonyjevans.com has therefore had a face lift, although I haven't altered any of the substance. Everything that's on there has been on the internet for several years. I've always used it as a place to store publications and lectures (i.e. a vitae with links) as well as some resources for teachers and students of economics. I believe the new layout makes it more likely people will visit, and utilise these resources, which is great. However the site is not intended to replace The Filter^ (yet) and there's little point subscribing to the RSS feed. The only reason I have that beautiful orange button is because it's beautiful and orange. It's a completely static repository of information. But if you weren't previously aware that I've compiled this material do take a look, and let me know what you think.

How to save money from Amazon.co.uk

Here's a nice little way to increase consumer surplus: copy the following URL:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/?node=283926&pct-off=75-99

This link provides a list of DVDs at Amazon.co.uk that have 75-95% off the price. You can customise it in two ways. By changing the 6 digit number following "node" you can change the department. You can look for different ranges of price cuts by changing the range. The URL of any Amazon link will contain the "node" of the department, so for example if you go to the homepage and click on "books" you'll notice the following in the URL: 266239. If you want to see a list of books with 90-99% off just go here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/?node=266239&pct-off=90-99

Enjoy!

20 questions...

Try this: http://uk.akinator.com/

It's correctly guessed Ludwig von Mises, Duncan Ferguson and Jack Bauer. Give it a go!