Tech Talk by a Kiwi
Commentary
My place for discussing things of interest to me that aren’t really a feature or review. Basically think of it as my general news section.
My digital lifestyle and why I am so excited for your future
Aug 12th
A discussion about my current state of technology, and my Digital Lifestyle. I talk about why I love riding the cutting edge of technology and how I am starting to see friends and family get to the place today that I was four years ago. That excites me because I know what is ahead for them and how amazing that will be for them.
Microsoft still losing big online
Jul 24th
Microsoft has gone from one of the most influential companies in the IT world, to just another vendor. You get their Windows, Office and Server platforms and stick an XBOX under the TV. But outside of those four divisions within Microsoft, most people completely ignore the company. Everyone knows Bing exists, but when was the…
Google Plus – Its not Facebook
Jul 16th
To help friends and family and anyone else get to grips with Google Plus, I wanted to share with you a little bit about the mind set of using Google Plus. In this post I argue the case that you shouldn’t use Google Plus expecting it to be anything at all like Facebook or Twitter or any other network you have used in the past. It is something totally new that builds on the best of the past. To ease the shock, I discuss a little about circles and also how permissions work. I like to articles and posts that will help you set up your Google Plus environment the way you want it. Even one that describes how to create a stream that somewhat emulates the Facebook News Feed.
What Microsoft’s buy of Skype means to me
May 11th
There are several issues that I think some people are missing regarding Microsoft’s buy of Skype. Skype is fully IP based. It relies only on a data connection and its biggest user base is OUTSIDE the US. I use it almost exclusively in place of a land line. I use it on my Android phone,…
No, I haven’t become anti-Nokia
Feb 10th
Recently a friend suggested I have become “anti-Nokia” but I’d really like to set the record straight on that. What follows is a long discourse on why I gave up on Nokia and what I think their biggest failure is when it comes to guys like myself. This is from someone that has been using Nokia phones since 1995 and been loyal to the Symbian platform since 2001. This is why I gave up on Nokia and Symbian.
MS SBS – Getting too complex?
Dec 3rd
Is Microsoft Small Business Server becoming too complex as its feature set grows? What are some possible ways of mitigating the effect without compromising on capability?
The Internet from the mid-1990s perspective
Apr 12th
A 486 dx2 66 with 4MB of RAM and a mouse is all you need to get online and using the internet and surfing the world wide web! If only it were that simple today I miss those days The Netscape flashback is kind of funny now Some things haven’t changed much when you boil…
Apple’s tantrum against cellphone makers
Mar 19th
A very long piece about Apple’s behaviour in the cellphone market and their suits with HTC and Nokia. A brief appearance from Microsoft who offer their viewpoint. And we have a discussion on how Apple is using HTC to go after Google.
An interview with the inventor of the cellphone
Mar 12th
From CSPAN’s “The Communicators”, watch an interview with Martin Cooper, the man accredited as being the inventor of the cellphone. Whether you love or hate the device, they have become so much a part of modern society that it is almost crippling to be without one in general day to day life. Would you, or could you, give yours up?

Google Plus Adds Games, Gives Away Your Private Info
Aug 13th
Posted by Steve in Commentary
2 comments
Google Plus has now got Games support. Great. Except that one of the permissions games can ask for (and often get) is for a list of all the people you interact with across all Google sites, apps and web properties. Not just those limited to solely on Google Plus. This bothers me a HUGE amount.