Cambridge interaction… I really don’t miss you
Recent events made me realise how not being in Cambridge over the holiday period is such a sensible thing for my sanity. A common thread being uber-ignorant locals, the location in both cases being the John Lewis group a pure coincidence (albeit their shops seem to be a magnet for the type of irritating middle class people I'm going to cite). * Waitrose for lunch, once tried..never to be repeated. The place is full of old people wandering round at a very slow place. The incidence of MeatTV watching (for some reason the meat area seems to attract people who just ...
Classy dining
I think this picture from a main street in Cambridge pretty much sums up the Cambridge Dining Experience: Yep, instead of walking along the street with a Kebab, you can actually sit in having one. Unbelievable.
My Chinese Twin
Lloyds TSB University Branch, Cambridge. Saturday 18 June 2011, ca. 1:54PM. Large queue waiting for tellers. Behind me a rough looking guy, 2 simple people behind him, then a Chinese student. Bureau de Change becomes free, so Chinese guy skips the queue and goes to use it (sensible use I believe). I don't actually notice, but the simple people do. They charge up and confront him because he's technically skipped the queue, he then just hurls a load of frustration back at them about the fact that he was queuing to change money, not normal retail. Perfect, put them in their ...
Kicking myself for not responding
Several times in the past few years I’ve been in situations where people have been rude and I haven’t responded appropriately, only for it to bug me later. In this case, 4hrs have passed and I’m still irritated. British upbringing suggests that you don’t give people a hard time in public, especially to random strangers, and you especially don’t order someone to do something. The scene today... [Read more]
Watch this space
I’ve always had a bit of a fascination with technology incorporated into watches. I remember when I was about six years old Woolworths having a Zeon watch with a radio incorporated into it. It looked pretty tacky, particularly as the headphones were connected all the time, but I was fascinated at the prospect of listening to the radio on a watch. Then of course the calculator watches came along –... [Read more]
Masterchancers
I’ve randomly come across episodes and references to MasterChef over the past months. Whilst I like some TV cooking shows, I find the personalities involved generally to be irritating. I guess what bothers me the most about MasterChef is that you have 2 hosts critiquing food, but you never actually see them produce anything. That got me thinking “could they actually do a better job under... [Read more]
The perfect iPad
Ever since the iPad mini was announced I’ve been considering buying one. The day it was released I fought throw the crowds to get my hands on one. My initial impression was the weight was much better, I liked the form factor but it felt like the screen was a downgrade from my retina display iPad. My strategy was to wait until the next generation was released. However, Last Friday night reading... [Read more]
Cambridge interaction… I really don’t miss you
Recent events made me realise how not being in Cambridge over the holiday period is such a sensible thing for my sanity. A common thread being uber-ignorant locals, the location in both cases being the John Lewis group a pure coincidence (albeit their shops seem to be a magnet for the type of irritating middle class people I’m going to cite). * Waitrose for lunch, once tried..never to be repeated.... [Read more]
I’m getting older yes, but am I getting wiser or are technology updates becoming easier to spot?
I headed into the city yesterday with a mission – to look at the new iPad Mini. My iPad first impressions so far have been: * iPad original – this feels heavier than what I expected it to feel.. but the experience is amazing.. I will buy one. * iPad 2 – now this feels much lighter and much more what I would expect.. I can easily justify it.. I will buy one. * iPad 3 – this feels... [Read more]
Comet – the latest victim of the recession
Speculation this morning in the papers about Comet being in trouble, confirmed later in the day. Comet has a place in my childhood memories and one of the reasons I think I’ve always been into technology. I remember my dad taking me to the store on Friday nights (they had a store near to a large J&B whisky warehouse). Comet used to have a newspaper price list that was printed every week... [Read more]
User interfaces : how we pickup things so quickly
It’s amazing just how quickly we pick up user interface habits. I’ve been using Mac OS Mountain Lion for about 5 weeks now and any time I use another browser (including iOS) I automatically enter search topics into the URL bar ! Read More →
Only in Cambridge
Spotted this in the paper whilst waiting for food the other day. Made me chuckle given it was in a Cambridge Newspaper. I guess next week will be ‘Plot to turn Hitler into a Liberal Democrat’… Read More →
Attention to detail
I love attention to detail, whether that be well crafted things through to signs on stores. I glimpsed this from the Apple Keynote the other day… Any other company there would be a paper on the seat, or someone there saying “sorry this seat is taken”. In Apple’s case a slip cover with the words ‘Reserved’, simple to the point and effective ! Read More →