Beach Front Development

As it takes so long to get to Bennachie, and with the price of petrol being what it is, I decided to walk up to the mouth of the River Don and back (maplink). A couple of hours trek, watching the waves and people go by. 2 1/2 miles there and back, and more experimenting with the camera on the Nokia 6220 Classic mobile phone.

I reckon the camera on the Sony Ericsson K800i was better than it. Certainly a better interface, but the 5 mega-pixel camera holds a lot of promise. I'm just getting tired with having to use the "automatic" feature to get the best from the new phone-camera. The focus on the "landscape" view is poor in comparison.

1DR now on sale

Mike posted that the dvd of Stirton Production's "One Day Removals" is available for sale via the company's website.

I'll declare an interest here, as I gave some advice on the gear worn by the hiker in the film.

Today's EarWorm

I heard the track on the radio during my morning ablutions, and that fired up the air guitar video from Scrubs in my head. Again and again.

So, in a breach of copyright, but advertising a great track, and a superb tv series, here is my earworm.

Season's Greetings

Merry Christmas to one and all.

What do you mean, it isn't Christmas? So far in the last week on the re-run that is television programming, there's been Christmas on "Family Guy", "Friends" and "The Simpsons". Probably others that I haven't seen. As television has been getting rapped for telling lies and misleading people recently, I can only guess that my calendar is wrong, and we're in December.

Of course, there's only one appropriate song ... take it away, Mr Wood

Happy Birthday, Google Inc

Google is 10 years old today. Well, the Inc part is. Even the question, "when is Google's birthday" is met with this official answer:

The exact date when we celebrate our birthday has moved around over the years, depending on when people feel like having cake. (source)

Hence the "Inc" part.

To say they shook up the search engine market is an understatement. Unlike JFK's murder, I can remember where I was when I first heard about "Google". I was a fan of Alta Vista at the time, and used Yahoo! as a way to drill-down to find information. A comparison of results showed that Google returned more accurate results. Nowadays I have to bite back the phrase "Google for more information" and tell students to "use a search engine to find more information".

Later the Google toolbar kicked in. Placing a simple search facility into whatever browser I was using. They didn't clutter it up with adverts and the like. Their tenet was rumoured to be "build it first and then figure a way to make money from it". AdSense came in, placing adverts at the side of the search results. Easy to ignore if you weren't looking to buy things.

When the Usenet groups was forced to look for a new home, Google came to the rescue, and so discussion groups became Google Groups. Large email storage and shared documents, Google Earth, their labs facility which allowed you to see and beta test facilities. The movies site which then fed into the purchase of YouTube.

Google Maps and Earth allow people to look for local facilities in a non-text environment. With GPS being added to mobile phones, it wasn't a surprise to see a version of Google Maps available for my Nokia 6220 Classic. Although the phone has its own Nokia Maps, it isn't as good as Google Maps. Less fuss means a happier customer.

After the problems with S60 programs being written for specific mobile phones, defeating the purpose of having a standard operating system, I'd guess that Google Android wouldn't suffer from that problem. It might release more creative use of mobile phones.

Chrome - their new browser. No, not their "new" browser, but their first browser. As they are so integrated in to the Web, again I have to remind myself that this only their first browser.

If you want to see where things might be in the near future, have a look at Kevin Kelly's "Predicting the next 5,000 days of the web". You can bet Google will be near the centre of it all. Will "Google" become synonymous with the naffly-named "Cloud"? Only time will tell.

Anyone hear ticking?

Looking through the local paper's website for something else, I was stunned to read that:

During World War 2 it [Aberdeen] was attacked 34 times, earning it the unwanted nickname Siren City.

And now it has emerged that more than 20 live bombs could be buried under the Granite City.

While experts are certain the live bombs are buried beneath the city, no one knows where.

It is though that 10% of the 212 explosive devices dropped on the city are still live. Now they are posing a risk to developers. [full story]

Ah well.

MCoS Statement on Alladale

Robin across at BlogPackingLight pointed me to the Mountaineering Council of Scotland's recent position statement on the Alladale Project (pdf link). They conclude that:

The member organisations of this group find this unofficial, but well-publicised project, as unacceptable as stated. We call for a recognition that the unnatural density, probable artificial feeding and commercial nature shows that this project is a safari park, which would require a zoo licence, and hence is completely different from what it is promoted as which is a re-wilding project. A full project study should be undertaken, followed by an environmental statement stating the legal basis on which this project will be based.

And here's a link to the YouTube version

I wrote some notes earlier on the recent programme shown on the BBC, and then immediately repeated after the 6 episodes were finished showing on BBC Scotland. I didn't post anything about later episodes as I really could not be bothered reporting on the one-sided shallow programme. It was not a documentary. I don't know what it was other than merely following around people on the estate. No attempt was made to do any follow up. Unlike "Trawlermen", the estate and Mr Lister's project is not a sealed bubble, but the programme may have given that impression.

Overall, I find it intriguing that the Scottish Government does not get involved when its own access laws are being challenged, and seems to just wait for people to raise objections, despite the publicity. I find it ludicrous that the MCoS or the Ramblers' Association get involved in court cases when it is the rights of people in Scotland that are being challenged. Maybe I'm missing the point, but isn't that what our government is for?

Winner Not Announced

The non-caption competition ended (and cunningly, it also advertised Cameron's article to a few more people), and in order of what I find the funniest, the top 3 captions to the photo across here:

1. "I'm only just rehearsing for when I get my knighthood"

2. "Hmm. No, not eye-catching enough. Maybe some day-glo orange stripes...."

3. "B*gger! I'm not in Scotland now. And here come the rozzers"

Congratulations Roger. If you wish to drop me your snailmail address, my contact email is in a graphic in the sidebar.

Nokia 6220 Classic Menu

Software listing. Having followed the advice from SymbianGuru's 3-part article, I arranged software into various folders, and then re-arranged them on the screen of easy access. However, when I copied the supplied 1 gig SDHC on to the newly arrived (from Play.com) 4 gig SDHC, some of the programs installed on the card refused to swap over. So this list is really for my benefit as I'll now have to go and re-install the files.

Internet

Search. Download. Web. Share Online. WidSets. My Nokia. Music Store. Opera Mini. Spodtronic

Applications

My Own (Empty). Recorder. Camera. Games (Marble). Translation (LastMinute.com: Italian, Spanish, German, French). PanoMan. ScrnSnapS60. Location Tagger. CellSpin.

Nav

Maps. GoogleMaps. GPS Data. Landmarks. Sports Tracker.

Office

Converter. Calendar. Quickoffice. Calculator. Active Notes. Dictionary. Adobe PDF. Notes. WorldMate. Enhanced Calculator.

Media

Podcasting. Radio. RealPlayer. Msg Reader. Nokia Audiobook Player.

System

Help (Tutorial. Welcome. Help). Archive (Print Online. PTT). Y-Browser. Log.

Settings

Sett Wizard. Profiles. Voice Comm. Themes. Phone Sett. Connectivity. Speed Dial. Data Mgr. Speech. Call mailbox. Conn Mgr.

I like the phone, and think I might actually buy the Opera browser when the trial period ends. Unless FireFox port a version to the S60 Symbian language before then. I was out with relatives last night, and used the BBC Sports live feed to keep them informed of the Andy Murray tennis match. It was gibberish to me, but meant something to them. Until a cousin found there was a 5 minute delay in the report, and got round it by nipping to the pub next-door to the restaurant. Sneaker-net is alive and well.

And finally, I switched the camera's location detector off on Wednesday, even though I had left it with only the option of picking up the location of the phone from the network rather than the battery-draining GPS system. By Saturday night, I was down to 3 bars of energy (from 7), despite 'normal' usage plus Internet. A more reasonable battery life than I had experience on Monday and Tuesday. Signal strength has been good, far better than the returned Sony Ericsson c902.

First Tai chi lesson

I finished off the work day with a tai chi lesson in the works gym. My first ever, Also the first time in my 10 or so years that i've been go this gym. Time flew by and i enjoyed it. I don't know if i will be able to remember all the stages of the 'form' that we're being taught, but i'm keen to give it a go.

Now back to the mundane matter of replumbing the washing machine and getting the messages.

A veritable goldmine

The US Geological Survey is scanning and posting some of their old photos. It might not sound exciting, but …

Even the opening page has a photo of Main street in Cheyenne. Laramie County, Wyoming. 1869.

http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/

The section on pioneer photographers lists some of the expeditions, not only photographing landscape features, but locals too. E.g., Apache Lake in 1873, with 2 Apache scouts in the foreground (I love the look on their faces):

http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/show_picture.cgi?ID=ID.%20Wheeler%201873,%20%203

Use of a tarp in 1868

Devil's Den, Gettysburg

Fort Ruby, Nevada

I picked up this site from the Goat's newsfeed. Thanks.

No doubt there are more hidden gems in there, but I must get on with some paperwork.

cellspin2 test

I am sending this via cellspin.A couple of carriage returns and i might get a blank line. As it is text only, i can't append a photo, but vince posted to say i can cancel posts and send them when i get a signal later. Needs some more exploring.

test via cellspin

I am sending this via cellspin.A couple of carriage returns and i might get a blank line. As it is text only, i can't append a photo, but vince posted to say i can cancel posts and send them when i get a signal later. Needs some more exploring.

This is not a caption competition

I don't think I can run a caption competition with someone else's photo.

http://www.cameronmcneish.co.uk/2008/08/wild-camping-in-scotland/

But if I did, I'd offer a goody bag of Scottish foods to the value of a fiver (cos I'm a tight Scottish git).  Macaroons, Tunnock Caramel Wafers, and oatcakes - maybe even get to some fudge. All unhealthy food, high in sugar content and what makes us prone to heart disease. So, some people couldn't eat the prize even if I was running a caption competition. Which I amn't.

The closing date would be Sunday 31st August, 9pm, Eastern Scottish time. No sweary words.

But I amn't running a competition.

Don't be a div, wild camp responsibly

There's a good article by TGO's Cameron McNeish across on his blog: Wild Camping in Scotland

There is still confusion in Scotland about wild camping. The law is clear on the matter. If you do not follow the "leave no trace" rules, you have given up the right to access. If you are not lightweight, you have given up the right to access. Further information posted earlier (epetition-scotland).

Many of the car campers that I have seen (eg outside Braemar) have taken a huge family tent out of the car and pitched it by the road. Sometimes large open fires are started. This is not wild camping. I have heard second-hand of the police going out to move them on, and a couple of people who were hiking got caught up in the sweep.

Outdoor-Access: Be a responsible camper and poster (290kb, pdf download)

We have all heard of landowners dragging their heels about access legislation, and the bias of the media on recent tv. So, don't be a div, make sure you wild camp in a responsible manner (even if you don't use an Akto, and the tent is red).

At beach with 6220

At beach with 6220, originally uploaded by dimacleod.

Took some comparative photos with the nokia 6220 classic and figured out some focussing issues with the zoom.
I switched the geotagging feature on flickr and downloaded the additional program from nokia last night, but the phone comes with the feature anyway. Back at the car, i switched off the gps before closing the tagging program and locked the applications running. I had to switch the phone off and on again. Still, it is fun to learn there idiocyncracies.

--added later--

The focus on the camera requires a gentle touch, especially when zoomed in. After an experiment, it seems that the focus when in "landscape" mode doesn't kick in as the focus is set on infinity, but I'll need to experiment more. Two photos below, one with the full optical zoom. I didn't bother with the digital zoom, as I can do that with the software.

And if you go to the Flickr pages (click on the image), there's a geotag been added by the system for the latter two images. I wonder if it was because they weren't edited. Personally, I'd be happy (or happier) with the data being picked up off the network instead of the GPS. The system was useful in that it backdated the images when the satellites had locked in to my phone. Sadly, there is no easy kill-switch for the GPS ... and now the "positioning" menu (where the options are) has disappeared from the easy to remember Settings -> Phone Settings -> General.

Test sending active note

Test sending active note

Attachment includes the note and its objects

Snaps with Nokia 6220 Classic

I still have the Nokia 6220's camera to get to grips with, having just found more settings in the extended camera toolbar (white balance, ISO, etc). Here's a couple of shots taken on my way to the shops.

Outside HMT.

Looking back at the once Triple Kirk.

Full sized images are up on Flickr if anyone wants to see them. I have switched on the geotagging feature, which meant that every time the camera was used, the GPS system fired up to source the location. It seems to stay on too. Also, no location information was uploaded to Flickr. Having to manually switch off the GPS became a nuisance, so I've switched it back to using the phone's network to obtain the location.

I'll leave the GPS system for when I need detailed satnav.

The guns of august

The guns of august, originally uploaded by dimacleod.

Macro setting on nokia 6220 camera. 28mm ww1 late war german figures. I'm still not good at painting, but it is relaxing.

Nokia 6220 "classic"

I spent last night downloading software from Nokia's "app store" and then finding that most was demo ("free to try" means just that). I found download.com's mobile software better for finding appropriate software for the Symbian s60 (the operating system used).

This morning I went through software uninstalling most as the programs wouldn't run on my phone.

I can't find decent blogging software. Tried "CellSpin" this morning (having seen it last night), but I'm not keen on it. It requires a Net connection when writing. Think I'll stick with emailing to the blog and Flickr. The screen can be rotated (it doesn't do this automatically) and so the web can be read easily, and easier than I did on the c902.

Official Nokia site

Cnet's review of Nokia 6220 "classic"

I have downloaded Google Maps and changed the customisable side "my own key" to open that. Photo shows GoogleMaps, the location is picked up from the cell's network (the GPS didn't work indoors), so has an accuracy of 1.8km.

A 4gig SDHC is on order, and I'll need to get a new case for the phone (though it fits into the K800 bodyglove with some extra space). All sounds and photos from Sony Ericsson's phone ported across last night.