wake up and smell the copy
Posted in technology, writing on Aug 18th, 2008
Word processor: job number one = display text clearly on screen. Word 2007: fail. Is that two spaces to the left of the dash, one to the right? One space left, no spaces right? In fact, it’s a space on each side: But of course. Is it me? Is it Calibri? Has anyone found a [...]
Posted in digression, technology on Aug 8th, 2008
Because that’ll work.
Posted in technology on Aug 7th, 2008
While writing Sunday’s post I remembered that the Nokia Suite lets you connect your phone and browse its text messages. At least in theory. Version 6.something of the Nokia Communication Centre seemed to hang once it had chalked up a couple of bars on the progress meter, so I’ve downloaded version 7.0.7.0 – didn’t the [...]
Posted in technology on Aug 3rd, 2008
Ah nuts. My mobile, which has been hanging on gamely since going on the fritz last October, looks to be finally shuffling off this mortal coil. It’s still working, but the screen isn’t, so I’ve no idea who’s calling me, or who’s texting me and about what. I was pondering this, and what a pain [...]
Posted in marketing, technology, writing on Jul 30th, 2008
Now look, I’ve been turning a blind eye to this but enough is enough. Copywriters everywhere, please pay attention. Iconic means relating to, or having the characteristics of an icon. An icon is something ‘that stands for its object by virtue of a resemblance or analogy to it’. I think one can, perhaps, describe the [...]
Posted in internet, technology, writing on Jul 29th, 2008
Click here to go straight to step-by-step instructions. Anyone who’s used Word will know that, by default, it replaces bog-standard straight quotes (and here I’d demonstrate what they look like, but our theme will change them to curved ones) with curved ones. It also changes hyphens (-) to en dashes (–). No big deal, you’d [...]
Posted in internet, technology on Apr 29th, 2008
I’ve been writing a How it Works on OpenID. For those of you who don’t know, it’s a decentralised ID system that stops the user having to remember and provide separate login credentials for every online service. Instead, you assert ownership of a URI which becomes your OpenID login. Eyes glazing over? Therein lies the [...]
Posted in digression, technology on Apr 20th, 2008
We’ve been bashing Microsoft a bit lately, though I don’t notice anyone but Scott rushing to their defence. It’s a lazy pastime, so I promise to be nice to them. After this post. I started thinking about the opprobrium heaped on Microsoft by bloggers, commentators and anyone else who’s used its products. Much of it [...]
Posted in marketing, technology on Apr 18th, 2008
I’ve just read that Microsoft was spoofing itself with the Vista SP1 video. I’m not so sure – they’ve got a pretty long and rich history of making shite promotional films, such as this one, which just keeps on giving. Still, fair play to MS if it is a spoof – I certainly believed it. [...]
Posted in internet, technology on Apr 16th, 2008
Thanks to Adam for this. It comes from Facebook Lexicon, a new trend-tracking tool for the social network that can tell you how often certain terms appear in wall posts. The blue line is “party tonight”, the beige is “hungover”. The big fat spike is New Year’s eve. Click on the pic to see it [...]
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