All Points North

Here is a job spec I was sent by an agency that thought I might be interested in some contract work.

We are currently seeking an experienced PR and Media Officer for this voluntary organisation.

OK super I can do that

The post is based in Bradford, the succesfull candidate will be responsible in producing, developing and maintaining publicity materials such as press releases.

No problemo

successful applicants must be organised,creative and motivated,and should have the ability to network with media and local press. They should have a strong track record in PR and have an established network of relevant contact in press. Candidates should have had a minimum of three years PR experience and approximatley three years experience within journalistic environment.

Hmm well I don’t have all that, but most of it, and the rest I could ‘busk it’ as they say

You will have a media related degree for this role.

Just like everyone else I’ve met that works in ‘the Media’ NOT.

Must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written.Excellent presentations skills Able to use Microsoft Office, Word and Excel.

Super should I send a CV? Oh hang on what’s this?

Must be able to speak Urdu or Arabic

Probably would have been better to put this at the start don’t you think? In BLOCK CAPITALS and BOLD

Now that everthing to do with WWDC has passed I thought I’d upload the pictures I took while not “on duty” and it turns out that this is the only one I still have. For those of you with inquisitive minds this is Mark Hattersley editor of Mac World UK I can’t really remember why we thought this was worthy of a picture but then it was a rather surreal meal. Jon Honeyball PCPro contributing editor, amongst many other things, kept falling asleep at the table. Meanwhile I had one of my laughing fits about something the Spanish editor of Mac World said. I can’t for the life of me remember what it was. It certainly wasn’t anything to do with punctuation on the radio. But my God it was funny. I had to excuse myself from the table and go to the gents to control my fit of giggles. Pathetic I know but my body did think it was 3pm in the morning sometime between noon and 5am on Tuesday. That’s jet lag for ya.

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Apple, MacUser, WWDC, Mac World, Broccoli

Writing an eight page feature is not always fun. Travelling to London, New York then San Francisco and back in just four days to research it certainly isn’t. For my troubles I ended up with a blister on my ass cheek about four inches in diameter from sitting in the ‘economy long-haul position’ for a total of thirty hours. I also completely lost any idea of what day or time it was for about three days after I returned. Still, if somebody asked me to do it all over again I would without hesitation. I’d wear thicker, possibly padded, underpants on all the flights but I’d definitely be there.

You see, for me, there’s nothing quite like the buzz of wandering into Borders or Smiths and seeing something you did on the cover of a magazine. It’s so easy to become blasé about what you do. However, I still think it’s a great privilege to be able to write for other people. They might not agree with you or think you can’t write for toffee but hell it’s causing some emotional response at some level and how many jobs elicit that kind of feedback? Probably loads now I come to think of it but still it’s pretty cool.

Go an buy a copy from your local newsagent (at a very respectable £3.95) Or Subscribe and get a rather spiffing free gift, if you’re in the US download it from Zinio.

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Apple, MacUser, WWDC

After a fortunate series of events (for me that is) I’ll be attending the WWDC keynote and a number of the briefings this year. I wonder what, if anything, Apple will launch.

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Apple, WWDC

I like Brad he’s an intelligent guy who’s enthusiastic about technology and Apple but this entry on his blog is beyond me.

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Blog, Brad

Online application

Supplier www.google.com

Rating 8/10

For Immediate and universal access. Simple to use.

Against Some refresh issues. Not as flexible as Excel.

Google Spreadsheet has been seen by some as the search company’s latest stab at the dominance of Microsoft in the business arena. The basic online application was released last week to those that signed up to test the application in its beta form. Making applications available that are unfinished gives the company a platform from which to grow public interest while gathering invaluable information about what real users actually want. It represents the best of focus group application building but on a much larger scale than is usually possible. The beta state of the application also protects it from criticism as each complaint is protected by the caveat that ‘it’s unfinished’.

Once you’ve signed up to the Google Spreadsheet service you’re sent a link that takes you to the application. (Fig. 1) Anyone who has used a spreadsheet of any provenance will recognise the format immediately. This basic screen allows you to enter data, choose colour for backgrounds and text, set alignment amongst other layout editing options. There are seven font options with eleven size options from 6 point to 36 point. (Fig. 2 + 3)

fig.1

fig.2

fig.3

Each sheet is one hundred cells long by twenty wide and each document can handle twenty separate sheets. To add a new sheet all you have to do is click on the button at the bottom right of the screen. To rename or delete a sheet simply click on the title and then on the arrow that appears and you are presented with those two editing options. (Fig. 4)

The three tabs at the top of the page help you to navigate around the various options Google Spreadsheet offers. Though the sort option does only allow from least to greatest and vice versa. You can exclude certain rows from your sort however. (Fig. 5) Basic formulas are available in the appropriate tab though more can be called upon and these are presented in a floating information window. (Fig. 6)

fig.4

fig.5

fig.6

One of the much-vaunted features of Google Spreadsheet is the ability to share the document with others. You can invite a person to edit the sheet in question or restrict their access and simply give them permission to view it. However, right now you can only share with others who have Google Accounts. (Fig. 7) The reason for this is unclear though it’s probably to keep sharing and therefore bandwidth usage down.

To save your data simply click on the save button and you’re presented with a dialogue box where you can name the document. (Fig.8) To open a saved spreadsheet go to file and open and you’re presented with a list of your saved documents. (Fig. 9)

fig.7

fig.8

fig.9

The easy and most appealing aspect of Google Spreadsheet is the simplicity it offers. Open the document and start creating, editing, sorting and adding formula with consummate ease. Navigating around the interface is simple and elegant and Google has managed to make it sufficiently the same yet different to Excel for the application to make just the right balance between power and usability. Mac users might be a little miffed that copy, cut and past is done through the control rather than option keyboard button but this is a minor complaint. The fact that Google Spreadsheet isn’t supported in Safari will probably cause more consternation. (Fig. 10)

There are a few nervous ticks with the software in that if you get a bit speedy when entering data you’re told to slow down a bit to let it catch up. (Fig. 11) On a few occasions the document we were working on was disconnected from the server and changes made were lost. To be fair this was only when we’d ignored the slow down command and stressed the application in way you’re not likely to in real world use. With larger documents response time is a little sluggish and deleted sheet titles and tabs often stay visible even after they’ve been deleted.

fig.10

fig.11

You can upload any .csv file to the application and also save your word in the same format to your local hard drive. If you update the file it’s possible to upload it back to the same document to add any changes. This is certainly a nod in direction of those that don’t trust Google’s servers for whatever reason.

It’s important to remember that Google Spreadsheets isn’t a direct competitor to Microsoft’s Excel though comparisons are inevitable. The online and offsite methodology certainly isn’t going to appeal to large organisations with sensitive data. Small to medium companies and individuals that need a document instantly available no matter where they are though will find the service very useful. Imagine being able to go to any room in the house or office in the building fire up a browser and edit a document without the need for expensive servers and networking and the inevitable I.T. support that entails.

This application is a very sturdy and responsive one that does nothing new. However, what it does have is the strength and image of Google behind it and this makes gives the application real power. The real debate about this application is not what it can’t do in comparison with Excel but data integrity and security. How can Google ensure that my personal data isn’t made available to all and sundry whilst it’s being transmitted from my computer to their servers? How can Google get me to trust that it’s better to open Firefox than to double click on a document on my hard drive? Still it’s a great application that has the Google sense of style and usability going for it.

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Google Spreadsheet, Review

It occurred to me earlier this evening that I’ve not seen a MacBook in the flesh yet. This is something that wouldn’t have been the case were I still in London. I’d have had a go with that insane new keyboard I’d have complained bitterly about the reflective screen and I’d have had conversations with at least three other people about it’s positive and negative aspects. All while holding one in my hands. A point of reference a review sample. We’d have discussed the pros and cons argued about them come to a consensus and then twenty minutes later somebody would have pointed out why a reflective screen is perfect for a certain type of person. A moron perhaps? But no that’s not possible when your office is six by twelve feet and you’ve only got the wall to converse with.

As it stands I saw one at a distance as I walked past the Apple Store in Meadowhall and I’ve seen various other reviews and pictures but that’s it. I’ve not had the chance to take the battery out and grin as I explore how easy it is to replace the internal hard drive or the RAM. I’m just a normal punter now. If I want to do any of the stuff I’d have done while working at MacUser I’d have to ask very nicely or buy one.

Buy one now there’s a good idea……..

The thing I miss most? That’s a secret.

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Apple, MacUser, MacBook, Sheffield, Meadowhall

MacUser have done a great job with this scoop of the Apple iPhone. I don’t think anyone else has anything like it.

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iPhone, Apple, MacUser

Nah, not really. I did see about ten seconds of the voting where some comedian or other tried to get more time than anyone else by reading out a telephone number but thats about it. Terry Wogan was withering with his criticism though and a gruff ‘oh for goodness sake’ sent him on his way*

The freelance career is off to a stuttering start with a bit of work here and there. What I find most difficult is pitching for work. As I know that the wrong approach to a magazine ends in one of two ways. 1, who’s this loon that thinks he can just suggest ideas and expect to write for us and 2. What a great idea do we know anyone who can write this for us?

How exactly do you introduce yourself as a viable producer of competent copy about all things Apple when you’re on the outside? When I worked for MacUser it was simple ‘Hey I’ve had this idea it’s something I’m interested in and it can fill that 6 page gap in issue 23′ Now it’s a bit different but I suppose that’s the difference between a successful freelance writer and someone who used to be a freelance writer.

What’s really scary is how quickly your day disappears. When I had a real job I found that some days the clock would stop at 4pm and it’d seem like the last two hours of the working day would take four or five. Now I sit at my desk at about nine thirty in the morning and the next thing I know it’s five thirty and I’ve still got stuff to do. Not all of it earning me money. You’d think there’d be loads of time to remember to do things and time to spend chatting on the phone but it doesn’t seem to work out that way.

So in conclusion, should anyone require a freelance journalist with three year experience of working for the premier Mac magazine in the UK then please do get in touch. (Insert ‘and I can put you in contact with them jokes here’)

* I understand that the rest of Europe doesn’t get to listen to Sir Terry but I like the idea that there are families all over the continent tuning in to listen to an Irish Englishman be tragically passive / aggressive about something that he either cares about deeply or couldn’t give a flying fuck about and you’ll never be able to work out which.

Yesterday was my last day working as a Staff Writer on MacUser magazine. The plan is to go freelance and see how that works out. Step one was, of course, to buy a new 20in Intel iMac. Step two is to try and get some work to pay for said iMac. I was amazed and humbled by the number of presents I received and the number of people who came out after work to help me celebrate my moving on. Working at Dennis was a real privilege and give or take a few days here or there it was really fun place to be. Three and a half yeas on it’s time to try something new and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.