A story involving my iPhone, a QuadLock belt clip, a phone shop, Victoria Police, and Apple’s wonderful Find my iPhone application.
Category Archives: rant’n’rave
Trouble checking in?
Checking in is now mandatory at all shops and venues in Victoria. A lot of people still don’t check in, though. Why? It’s framed as a compliance problem, but I’m absolutely convinced it’s also a user experience problem, and that a simpler, more robust process, would lead to higher checkin rates. I’ve watched people attempting …
Access denied
A couple of years ago Victorian Fisheries Authority and Goulburn Broken CMA put together these excellent signs at various locations around the rivers. They gave fishermen knowledge and certainty about where they were, and were not welcome. Last weekend, I only found one remaining. All the rest I saw were just empty frames. The official …
Around about Google Maps
Been a long time since I had a whine about Google Maps, but lately I’ve been noticing some serious issues with directions when I’m out in the country. The worst instances have seen me end up five kilometres away from my intended destination. Back when Google Maps was new, you couldn’t really trust it, so I …
Apple Maps #fail : My own experience
I was quite pleased when Apple chose to break away from Google. The steady infiltration of sponsored, and inaccurate information on Google Maps really bugs me. I also didn’t join the chorus of deriders of the new Apple offering, because I remember how woeful the Google maps were when they were new. But now I …
@telstra #fail rant!
OK, so it’s easy enough to mock @Telstra, they are a pretty big target, but this most recent episode pretty much ticks all the bumbling, idiotic, #fail boxes, so I’m going to write about it. It’s long, but I hope it’s worth it for a smile or two. Last Thursday Aug 2, a few strange …
sorry, @path
So, I’ve read your ‘sorry’ post, I’ve got the latest version of the app, I’ve searched the settings screen on the app and the web. Nowhere can I find any method of opting out of your secret contact siphoning ‘feature’. Does this mean that because you’ve already done it, it’s too late and you think …
So, let me get this straight
Shane Warne has an argument with a cyclist. At a point during the argument, he drives forward and damages the bike (something he’s admitted!) so badly it can’t be ridden, he then leaves the scene without exchanging details and goes straight to twitter to put his version of the events. Meantime, the cyclist does the …
Google – more evil by the day?
I find this very troubling. Someone at Google appears to be deliberately and systematically polluting and plundering the crowdsourced data of competitors. Two instances seem to have been all but proven so far (check this post about OpenStreetMap and Mocality), it seems unlikely that it stops there. If ever an action was hypocritical and seemingly …
smooth out the haymarket kinks please
Recently, the enormous and daunting (for cyclists) Haymarket Roundabout in North Melbourne was refurbished to provide better traffic flow and greater safety for cyclists. Mostly, I’d say it’s been a success. I ride through the roundabout every day, but only from Royal Parade to Elizabeth Street, hardly ever the other way. If I did ride …
Google, the street view trike came, and went
Update: 18 months now, still prodding google, but no answers yet 🙁 Google Street View is brilliant – in fact, the whole digital map revolution is largely driven by expectations set by Google. Their tech is amazing. Unfortunately, as an organisation, they often fail to come up to scratch. A shame… here’s an example: Every …
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Nuclear : why there should be no debate
Like the rest of the world, I’ve watched, appalled as the people of Japan dealt with the triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear. Only slightly less appalling is the way the nuclear lobby have pointed to Fukushima as an example of why nuclear energy is safe and good. I don’t pretend to be an …